Hypertension or high blood pressure can either be a condition on its own (primary hypertension) or can come as a symptom or a byproduct of another condition (secondary hypertension). High blood pressure affects about 27% of American women that are aged eighteen to 74. The number rises with age however and 70% of women ages 65-75 have some level of high blood pressure. The condition affects African Americans at a higher rate than other ethnicities. (Source: Ammer 2005)

There are a number of diseases and conditions that can leave a person unable to physically or mentally care for themselves any longer. There are several options for the person and the family that is dealing with these conditions: they can seek long-term care facility placement, they can hire professional caregivers who give drop-in or live-in care or they can care for the family member on their own. A 2005 survey showed that between 1.3 million and 1.4 million children between the ages of eight and 18 provide at least some care for a chronically ill or disabled family member.

The number of people who are medically defined as obese (weighing more than 20% over their ideal weight) is near 34 million. (Source: www.med.Stanford.edu) The number of people who are currently on, have recently completed, have given up on, or are about to kick off a diet of any kind is 20 million at any given time. Dieters will spend around one billion dollars every year on fitness and nutrition plans, pills, supplements, and equipments. (Source: www.thriveonline.com)

During the early stages of most kidney diseases, the patient will be advised to limit protein intake to some degree. Because protein is so vital to the entire body, this limitation should only be made under doctor’s orders and with the guidance of a dietician or nutritionist. The protein that is left in the diet at this point will be high-quality with certain additional restrictions as well. However, once the patient reaches end stage kidney disease, the restriction on protein will not only end but the patient will also need to increase intake (Source: The National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse).

The largest organ of the human body is not inside of it, it covers it. Skin covers an area of approximately twenty five square feet and weighs, on average, about six pounds. The skin is vital to our health and well being by providing a protective barrier against germs, bacteria, and viruses. It also protects the more delicate tissues and organs beneath it from harm, regulates the temperature of the body, and helps to rid the body of some of its waste products. The skin also protects the body from some of the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation and transforms sunshine to Vitamin D. (Source: MacLean, editor, 1993)