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Taking Care Of Your Blood Health

by Chontae Cuellar

February 22, 2022 1K views
 
Oh, The Blood: Taking Care of Your Blood Health
 
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many people are still adhering to work from home orders. It’s safe to say our mobility has lessened during this surge.  
 
Stay-at-home orders were implemented across the U.S. between March and April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For most of the population, work consists of extended hours in front of a computer screen or two. There’s minimal intermittent exercise, no walking to a coworker’s office, no trips to the break room for coffee, no frequent trips to the restroom from all the coffee we consume. This has caused our bodies to become more stagnant by default. 
 
Has adaptation working from home been a challenge for you?  Do you unusual or abnormal symptoms occurred in your body since working remotely?  If your answer is yes, it’s no surprise. 
 
According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease. With the ongoing pandemic, nearly 75 percent of all cases remain above the recommended blood pressure levels. In addition, stay-at-home orders have resulted in a shift to remote health care for numerous chronic health conditions including high blood pressure and had a negative impact on healthy lifestyle behaviors for many people.
 
The body naturally requires movement to burn calories and to enhance blood circulation and filter blood through other organs. Blood flow is imperative to keep the body healthy for various reasons.  When we are stagnant, or have decreased movement in the body, it impacts blood vessels, arteries, and major organs. Lack of movement can also cause weight gain, water retention and thickness of the blood.
 
When the blood becomes thickened due to lack of hydration or other medical conditions, it makes it difficult to flow through the vessels as freely.  This causes more pressure applied to the blood vessels. It’s like drinking a strawberry shake through a straw.  When a chunk of strawberry gets stuck in the straw, it cannot pass through, the shake becomes stuck on the opposite end, and there is an interruption in flow.  With enough pressure, the substance gets through, but it takes a lot of force. Much in the same way, blood circulates throughout the body and is filtered. When our body does not excrete the toxins, it should, or, blood does not filter through the liver and kidneys, we store these toxins in our tissues and other areas, which causes many other ailments.
 
Knowing this, we can adjust our daily schedules by selecting to be conscientious of intentional movement moving forward. Stand up every 45 minutes to stretch or jog in place; even yoga has been known to benefit our health.  For good ergonomics, a footrest and a supportive computer chair are helpful for posture.  An new chair is a small investment, but isn’t your health worth investing in?  We can invest on the front end with quality, less fashionable sneakers and an ergonomic chair, or on the back end with costly medical bills, medication, or a disease or disorder.
 
As someone with over a decade of nursing experience, I can tell you our bodies often speak to us through symptoms. Are we listening by seeking medical attention? Or do we pop a pain reliever or use old school remedies for temporary relief? Disorders aren’t always heredity, and now, there are new circumstances that have changed the trajectory of our daily lives. Pay close attention to what your body is saying to you. After all, your blood is your livelihood.
 
Now that we know better, we must do better. Your life literally depends on it.
 
Chontaé Cuellar
Freelance Writer
chontaespeaks.com
 
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Chontae Cuellar
From former nurse to author to educator, Chontae Cuellar is blazing her own trail! Our current state of affairs has warranted her to become a business owner. With a passion for words, she now assists others as a ghostwriter, editor, technical writer, writing coach and project manager through her company Bold Enough to Say LLC. chontaespeaks.com

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