DES MOINES, Iowa – High blood pressure poses a significant risk for stroke, but low blood pressure also causes problems – and that’s why it’s important to know your numbers.  The American Heart Association says most people who’ve had a first stroke also had high blood pressure. For Tinika Raymond, new-student orientation coordinator and academic advisor with Des Moines Area Community College, hypertension runs in the family. But when her 21-year-old son experienced dizziness and nausea that led to stroke, it was due to low blood pressure and other complications. As an African-American, she’s particularly aware of the risks.
“It’s been impacting African-Americans at a higher rate than any other race,” says Raymond. “So that’s why I think it’s important for us to get the word out and pay attention to your body, know your body, know your numbers.”

Two numbers represent blood pressure. The new guideline for normal blood pressure is below 120 over 80, which means numbers that stay over that average for any length of time qualify as high blood pressure.
Hypertension damages arteries throughout the body and elevates the risk for stroke. A stroke can threaten your ability to think, move and function, affect language, vision and even cause paralysis or death. Raymond says when it runs in families, earlier detection is better. “If you go to the doctor and find out what it is, sometimes they can get ahead of it and if they can detect it, soon enough then there’s medication and other ways to treat whatever the symptoms are,” says Raymond.

Raymond notes you can’t control race or age when it comes to high blood pressure, but medication combined with more walking, reduced sodium and fewer carbohydrates help her control the numbers. “So the lifestyle could be the exercise and the diet or it could be stress-related,” says Raymond. “So we have to pay attention to the environment which we’re in.” The American Heart Association says managing blood pressure is a lifelong commitment which may require those afflicted to learn how to monitor blood pressure at home.

(Iowa News Service)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A popular Democratic candidate in Iowa’s crowded race for governor is suspending his campaign, after a newspaper reported three women had accused him of sexual misconduct. Des Moines state Sen. Nate Boulton announced Thursday that he’s leaving the race. The allegations appeared in The Des Moines Register on Wednesday. The women have said Boulton touched them inappropriately during separate incidents.

One woman alleges Boulton repeatedly grabbed her buttocks at a bar in 2015. Two other women said he rubbed his clothed crotch against them more than a decade ago. Boulton hasn’t denied the accusations but argues the alleged incidents didn’t equate more serious instances of misconduct. He apologized to the women in a statement. Boulton’s departure comes less than two weeks before the June 5 Democratic primary for governor.

A report from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition says six bicyclists were killed in crashes with vehicles on Iowa roads last year, another 15 cyclists were badly hurt. Lindsey Pavlick, a spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says now that the warmer weather has arrived, motorists across the state can expect to see more bicyclists in traffic.  “Cyclists’ deaths are on the rise and a big reason for that is there’s more bicycles on the road,” Pavlick says. “It’s so important, especially if you’re a motorist, to put down the cell phone, eliminate those distractions, and for bicyclists and motorists, examine your habits while on the road so we can all get to our destination safely.”

The number of cyclists killed nationwide is on the rise, with 840 bicyclists killed in crashes in 2016, the highest number on record since 1991, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pavlick says cyclists are well aware of the risks. “In a recent survey, AAA found that bicyclists are most concerned about being hit by a vehicle and distracted drivers,” Pavlick says. “That’s understandable being that distracted driving is so prevalent among motorists these days and is a huge traffic safety concern.”

Traveling on the road requires care and courtesy, she says, and it’s imperative for motorists and bicyclists to be aware of each other. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of people out there who don’t know the rules of the road and they are not aware that bicycles are vehicles,” Pavlick says. “It’s so important that motorists and bicyclists know the rules of the road and share the road so everybody can get to their destination safely.” Cyclists need to follow the same rules of the road as everyone else, including riding in the same direction as traffic and following all the same traffic signs and signals, she says. Motorists need to stay alert, avoid distractions and when passing a cyclist, slow down and give at least three feet of clearance.

(Radio Iowa)

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities ordered an autopsy on the body of a man found floating in the Mississippi River in Davenport. A fisherman spotted the body a little before 11 a.m. Wednesday near the Credit Island causeway, and it was recovered later. Authorities have not said whether they think the body is that of a man who was reported to have fallen into the river while working on a boat upriver Saturday, near the Lake Davenport Sailing Club. His name hasn’t been released.

With temperatures expected to rise near or above 90 degrees beginning today and lasting through the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans to keep health in mind during the hot weather. IPDH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says “People suffer heat-related illness when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn’t enough. Although people with cardiac and other medical problems are especially at risk, even young and healthy individuals can have a heat-related illness if they are very active during hot weather or the heat index is very high.” To protect your health when temperatures and humidity are high, remember to keep cool and use common sense.

The following tips are important:

• Increase fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. The best way to tell you are well-hydrated is if your urine is light yellow. If it gets dark, stop and rehydrate by drinking water immediately.
• If experiencing a lot of sweating, replace salt and minerals by eating foods like bananas and salty crackers, or drink rehydrating beverages that contain salts such as sports drinks and special rehydration fluids.
• Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and wear sunscreen.
• Wear hats that shade your face such as sun hats, visors, etc.
• Keep in the shade or air conditioned areas as much as possible.
• Work slowly if you are not used to working or exercising in heat and humidity. Stop immediately if you get dizzy, nauseated or feel weak. Go into an air conditioned space and drink cool liquids.
• Use a buddy system. Watch others for heat-induced illness, since some people may not realize that they are suffering heat-related illnesses and can become confused or lose consciousness.

As Iowans enjoy more outdoor recreational opportunities and events, it’s important to remember some basic summer safety guidelines, which can be summarized with the word “SHADE”:

• S – Sunscreen. Put on sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and reapply throughout the day, especially if swimming or sweating.
• H – Heat safety. Drink lots of water and other non-alcoholic, sugar-free fluids; wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing when outdoors, especially when active; and when temperatures soar, stay in the shade or air conditioning as much as possible.
• A – Animal contact. Remember to wash your hands after touching animals at places like petting zoos or county fairs. Avoid stray and wild animals; they may carry diseases like rabies.
• D – DEET.  To prevent being bitten by ticks and mosquitoes that can carry diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus, use insect repellent with DEET (follow the label directions when using, especially on children).
• E – Eating outdoors. Grill all meats until thoroughly cooked and always keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.

For more information about preventing hot weather health, visit http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ExtremeHeat/.