It all began last week. I had a headache for two days so my mom told me to go and get my blood pressure checked at the school health services office. So I did.
When I first got there I was worked up over a house we really wanted to get approved for and the general rushing to get there. So when the nurse took my blood pressure the bottom number was 100 = hypertension. Needless to say I was scared cause it does run in the family. So they told me they couldn’t in good conscience let me walk out of there, so they sent me back for the doc to check me out.
She did her thing. Told me a funny story about her mother and then proceeded to tell me I was too young to be put on medication. She noticed that I carried my weight around the middle and she called this the X factor. Carrying the weight around the middle on such a short person leads to diabetes, stroke, heart problems, hypertension, high blood pressure, etc. and those things lead to other things. So she told me I had to exercise everyday, drink 64oz of water a day, and cut my carbohydrates in half. Then she took my blood pressure again and it was back to normal, the bottom number 80 in one arm and 78 in the other. So hypertension was ruled out but she suggested that I come in for blood work so I would know where I stood. I agreed.
Friday morning she called me with my results. Allow me to introduce myself:
My blood sugar: 105 … Normal: 65-99
My Total Cholesterol: 200 … Normal: 200
My Good Cholesterol: 36 … Normal: 40
My Bad Cholesterol: 141 … Normal: 130
My Ratio for future heart problems: 5.6 … Normal: 4.4
As I told my cousin: I WILL NOT Die before my time. I WILL NOT have diabetes. I WILL NOT drop dead of heart attack at 21. I just won’t. Change is now. I’ve tried before and thought I was doing something now but failure is not an option. The numbers do not lie.
Tomorrow is not promised. Diabetes, hypertension, and stroke are no respectors of age nor person. I’m glad my mom made me go in and get my blood pressure checked. I will not let bad food choices put me in an early grave. Change is now.
Serenity
