“Love Your Neighbor as Yourself … so you must love yourself first. This month is perfect to begin to do so. February is the month of love and all sorts of ways to spread it. It is also National Heart Health and Self Check Month. What better way to begin than with a little self care.

First up, let’s discuss self checks. A self check is just as it sounds. Performing self health checks to monitor your health such as, taking your temperature regularly because high temperature can indicate a health issue (like viral or bacterial infections), can often be the first line of defense. You also begin to learn your base range.

Next, self examinations for cancer for men and women. Breast and scrotal exams can be done in the comfort of your home and only takes minutes to complete. You can check for unusual pain, lumps or changes in size or shape. Self exams put the power in your hands. For more information, visit these websites for details: www. nationalbreastcancer.org, www. kidshealth.org and https://lifehacker. com/three-self-exams-everyone- should-perform-regularly- 1539837210 (this one comes complete with video instructions) Another good self check is blood pressure. Knowing your numbers is key to maintaining good pressure or knowing when to contact your doctor for help leveling your pressure when elevated. What is a healthy blood pressure? According to the American Heart Association (AHA), for a blood pressure reading to be considered normal, the top number/systolic pressure should be between 90 and 120 and the bottom number/ diastolic pressure should be between 60 and 80. Having normal blood pressure is a sign of a healthy heart. According to heart. org, high blood pressure threatens your health and quality of life.

In most cases, damage done from high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) occurs over time. Left undetected or uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to:

• Heart Attack - High blood pressure damages arteries that can become blocked and prevent blood flow to the heart muscle.

• Stroke - High blood pressure can cause blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to become blocked or burst.

• Heart Failure - The increased workload from high blood pressure can cause the heart to enlarge and fail to supply blood to the body.

• Kidney Disease or Failure High blood pressure can damage the arteries around the kidneys and interfere with their ability to filter blood effectively.

• Vision Loss - High blood pressure can strain or damage blood vessels in the eyes.

• Sexual Dysfunction - High blood pressure can lead to erectile dysfunction in men and may contribute to lower libido in women.

• Angina - Over time, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease including microvascular disease (MVD). Angina, or chest pain, is a common symptom.

• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) - Atherosclerosis caused by high blood pressure can lead to narrowed arteries in the legs, arms, stomach and head, causing pain or fatigue.

Hypertension can cause other problems. When your blood pressure is high for too long, it damages your blood vessels – and LDL (bad) cholesterol begins to accumulate along tears in your artery walls. This leads to narrowed arteries and increases the workload of your circulatory system while decreasing its efficiency.

As a result, high blood pressure puts you at greater risk for developing life-changing and life-threating conditions. All the more reason to do a heart check this month. Take care of yourself then you can take care of others.

For more information, visit www.heart.org and access the information sheets available for download.