We experience a lot of highs in this wonderful life we've been given but not all of them are a "good thang". Take high blood pressure and high cholesterol for example. There is a natural tendency for blood pressure to rise with age due to the reduced elasticity of the arterial system. Age is therefore one of the factors that needs to be taken into account in deciding whether a person's blood pressure is too high. Uncontrolled blood pressure and lead to stroke.
The top number is your systolic pressure.
- It is considered high if it is over 140 most of the time.
- It is considered normal if it is below 120 most of the time.
The bottom number is your diastolic pressure.
- It is considered high if it is over 90 most of the time.
- It is considered normal if it is below 80 most of the time.
Pre-hypertension may be considered when your:
- Top number (systolic blood pressure) is between 120 and 139 most of the time, or
- Bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) is between 80 and 89 most of the time
If you have pre-hypertension, you are more likely to develop high blood pressure
Our cholesterol numbers can also rise with age due to the choices we made in our younger years, genetics, lack of exercise and improper diet. When there is too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this buildup causes "hardening of the arteries" so that arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack.
Knowing your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol can give you a general idea about your cholesterol levels. If your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL* or more or if your HDL is less than 40 mg/dL, you will need to have a lipoprotein profile done. See how your cholesterol numbers compare to the tables below.
| Total Cholesterol Level | Category |
| Less than 200 mg/dL | Desirable |
| 200-239 mg/dL | Borderline High |
| 240 mg/dL and above | High |
* Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood.
| LDL Cholesterol Level | LDL-Cholesterol Category |
| Less than 100 mg/dL | Optimal |
| 100-129 mg/dL | Near optimal/above optimal |
| 130-159 mg/dL | Borderline high |
| 160-189 mg/dL | High |
| 190 mg/dL and above | Very high |
HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so for HDL, higher numbers are better. A level less than 40 mg/dL is low and is considered a major risk factor because it increases your risk for developing heart disease. HDL levels of 60 mg/dL or more help to lower your risk for heart disease.
Triglycerides can also raise heart disease risk. Levels that are borderline high (150-199 mg/dL) or high (200 mg/dL or more) may need treatment in some people.
So enough with educational facts. What we really want to know is how to lower it if we have it and how to prevent it from coming on since aging predisposes us to it.
Many of today's medications have serious side effects that our damaging to our liver......which is insane because cholesterol is produced by the liver! There is an alternative using essential oils.
For overall wellness and help in controlling cholesterol, doTerra has the Life Long Vitality pack (LLV). This pack includes a multi-vitamin complex infused with essential oils, a herbal complex that is food based that helps control pain, inflammation, circulatory function and cardiac function also infused with essential oils and of course, the Omega 3 complex consisting of marine (fish) and pomegranate oil. These "fish" oils have been formulated to break down in water and absorbed in the intestines which is where our body metabolizes food nutrients. So with the LLV supplements "food based" your bodies metabolizes these as food and absorbs the nutrients at a cellular level. I can speak for these supplements myself as I won't go a day without them. I take them in the morning and evening; my energy level has greatly increased, my cholesterol is still in the normal range along with my blood pressure. I actually feel that my supplements are working; I've never felt that before which is why I never consistently took "vitamins and supplements". doTerra back the LLV up by giving a 30 day money back guarantee so if you don't feel a difference in 30 days you can return for a refund.
Along with the LLV pack, I recommend 4 drops marjoram, 4 drops Ylang Ylang applied to chest over heart in the morning and before bedtime. There are other essential oils that are great too such as Lemongrass, Slim and Sassy, Lavender, and Eucalyptus.
All essential oils in a pure form are beneficial for the body. I wanted to share these specifically with you as so many of us are effected by heart disease whether it's ourselves or family and friends.
Happy Oiling!
Jeannie
