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LafayetteLady -> RE: Ideas to ward off a heart attack? (6/15/2013 4:35:24 PM)
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Those things are all taken into account, but there is still an "average" range that falls within normal. I think the range is around 20 points. Being at the bottom or top of those ranges would indicate to "Joe Average" they should see their doctor.
For instance, up until a few years ago, my normal BP was around 108/74, which is on the low end of the average scale, but normal for me. So when they would get readings of 130/85, while it was still within the average range for the "masses," for me, it was starting to get high.
This is why people should know what is normal for them, because then they can know what is different for them. Sadly, most people don't pay attention, and many nurses and doctors don't tell patients the numbers they get for anything, so the patient never knows what is normal for them. One doctor that I saw (only briefly) would just say "it's fine," when I asked him the numbers for anything, BP, Vitamin D, A1C, fasting blood glucose, etc. I would push for the actual numbers and find that they were not fine for me, being either too far above or below *my* normal range.
One time when I was hospitalized, they did blood work (naturally). I asked about my cholesterol number (I think it was LDL or triglycerides). The nurse looked at me and said, "well, it's a little high. It's 160." The poor guy was trying to be so gentle in telling me, so when my eyes lit up, he was quite confused. Then I explained that the last blood work that was done, the number was 325, and we both laughed. Granted, we aren't talking about a normal range here, but the nurse only knew the "normal" range for everyone, without any idea what an improvement that number was for me.
People need to take an active role in their healthcare, without trying to diagnose themselves, or being hypochondriacs. You don't need to fully understand what the diastolic and systolic numbers mean, but you should know what the normal number is for you. Same with Vitamin D, A1C, fasting blood glucose, thyroid, temperature, etc.
I've never understood people who don't know their own normal numbers and choose to rely on their doctor just telling them whether it is good or bad or whatever.
Obviously, part of this is not directed at you in particular, just general "you."
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