Strange New Foods

Healthy Food: The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of David…his new-found mission to explore strange new foods…to seek out new meals, and new dietary options…to boldly go where David has never gone before.

Yes, I am serious. The reason is simple – the 40 hours that I spent hospitalized last week because my blood pressure was in the red stage – “hypertensive crisis.”

Not just above the line – WAY above the line. My systolic was above 200, in fact.

And until last week – thanks to the amazing physicians and nurses at Great Falls Clinic – I truly did not understand exactly what “high blood pressure” meant, nor what caused it, and nor how to reduce it. More about the clinic staff and experience – and what led me to heading to the ER at 9:30pm – coming soon...

SO! There are many changes in order. Some already made, many more to come. Some pharmaceutical, some behavioral, many dietary.

For instance, I have consumed more bananas, Greek yogurt, and Grape Nuts cereal in the last seven days than in the previous…decade? And grilled skinless chicken? Yes please! Some salmon? Sure!

And coffee and tobacco consumption has decreased by about one-third already. Coffee is now sugar-free. Eggs are now salt-free. Pepsi is now sugar-free. Small changes, but it’s only been a week 🙂

And the addition of twice-daily blood pressure checks at home – fortunately, my results are trending down slowly. NJI’m still borderline between Stage 2 and Crisis – but progress is being made!

I am so grateful for the love and support of my wife and family and friends. My newly-minted RN daughter has been amazing.

Oh, and did I mention the bonus diagnosis of diabetes? But thankfully I don’t need insulin – just daily meds and needle-sticks for glucose levels.

(UPDATE, AUGUST 11: Good news! Doctor today said that the hospital diagnosis of diabetes may have been premature – need more tests. But definitely in the “pre-diabetes” zone. And my blood pressure has indeed come down in just the past several days – medicine is helping, diet is improving!)

Parting message? Um…don’t skip annual health checks/exams.

Also – learn why knowing your blood pressure is such a critical piece of information. Just since last week, I’ve learned that two acquaintances (both men over 45) are also dealing with newly-diagnosed hypertension and dealing with the implications. There’s a reason that hypertension is often referred to as “the silent killer.”

Here’s a good overview about hypertension from the American Heart Association.

And if, over the decades, you tried to tell me (often jokingly, sometimes sincerely) that I should at least TRY to eat healthier, I have this to say: YOU WERE RIGHT. I should have listened.