Wellness Advice and Prayers from the Road

High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for global mortality.

As alarming as that is, know this: By lowering your numbers early on, you can reduce your risk of the devastating consequences of high blood pressure. However, if left untreated, hypertension (the medical term for high blood pressure) will increase your risk of heart disease, vascular disease, kidney failure, vision loss, and yes, even death. In fact, each 20-point rise above 115 in the higher number (the systolic number), doubles your risk of death from heart disease or stroke!

Discovering a skin cancer early can make the difference between life and death. "The difference between life and death…” Wow. As frightening as that might be, never underestimate the power that comes with knowing the techniques for early detection. Remember, skin cancer is almost always curable — if it’s detected and removed early.

In Part 1, you learned important facts about skin cancer: the impact in the U.S., the three major types, and the risk factors — the ones you can modify and the ones you cannot modify. These facts give you a strong foundation for the subject of this article: protecting yourself and your children from skin cancer by reducing your exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which is the number one modifiable risk factor. Let’s get started.

“Now that I’ve had a skin cancer, it’s hard to believe I was so unaware of the danger for so many years. I was happy to be tan and liked the way I looked.” — Judy Fraser: How Skin Cancer Changed My Life

It seems everyone I meet wants to start a program of increased physical activity. Why? Maybe to improve stamina, mood, or physical capabilities. Maybe to decrease fatigue, stress, risk of disease, or complications of a pre-existing condition. Any of these goals is attainable by following a moderate program of walking!

I understand the pain behind your question. But I cannot tell you why — why you specifically — are an alcoholic. But if the heart of your question is ”How can I stop drinking?,” then I can offer you some practical advice on achieving sobriety — a battle plan for victory.

Whether due to your own drinking habits or those of someone close to you, it's likely that every reader of this bulletin, including myself, has been affected adversely by alcohol abuse. Abusers — and, yes, those close to them as well — may lose friends, family, health, jobs, and, of greatest consequence, their faith. Alcohol abuse hurts us all.