INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Perhaps the most important thing you need to know when measuring your blood pressure are key target levels. Without knowing your target levels, blood pressure results won’t tell you anything.  120/80 and below are normal blood pressures for most people. Between 120 – 139/80 – 89 indicates prehypertension. If you fall here, you should put more effort into adopting a healthy lifestyle. Between 140 – 159/90 – 99 indicates stage 1 hypertension. If you fall here, you and your doctor need to consider a plan to lower your blood pressure. That plan may include medication. 160/100 or higher indicates stage 2 hypertension. If you fall here, you will almost certainly need to take blood pressure medication. Since cuffless technology is in its infancy, you should take a reading of your blood pressure with a cuff before you start taking readings at home without a cuff.  Have your blood pressure read at your annual or semi-annual physical. Visit a drugstore or other location that has a blood pressure reading machine available for public use. Compare any measurements you take at home with your baseline measurement. Record your baseline measurements and home measurements so you have a record of your blood pressure over time.

SUMMARY: Familiarize yourself with target blood pressure results. Use a cuff to get a baseline reading.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Your stomach growling is caused by your digestive system doing what it’s supposed to do: mixing food, fluids, and gastric juices and pushing them through the intestinal tract. The rumbling occurs when the walls of your gastrointestinal tract contracts and relaxes to squeeze everything through the intestines. Even with a proper diet, growling is bound to happen sometimes and is no reason to be embarrassed. When you eat too much food, it will put your digestive system into overdrive. The growling can occur more often when this happens, because there is more to move through the intestines. When your stomach has been empty for two hours, the growling sounds louder. This is because there is little or nothing in the stomach to absorb or muffle the noise. When you go hours without eating, your body releases hormones that let the brain know it’s time to clear anything left in the stomach to make room for whatever food is to come.  Have small, healthy snacks with you at all times. Constantly hydrate yourself with liquids. Use water, juice, tea, etc. Certain carbs are resistant to digestion. Don’t avoid carbs completely because they help supply you with energy and play a main role in the health of your digestive tract. Simply eat them in moderation to keep your stomach healthy but less likely to growl.  Resistant starch: potatoes or pasta that has been cooled after cooking, sourdough bread, and unripe fruit. Insoluble fiber: whole-wheat flour, wheat bran, cabbage, lettuce, and bell peppers Sugar: apples, pears, and broccoli Remember that growling can happen both when you’ve just eaten and when you haven’t eaten in a while. To avoid over-eating and excessive stomach growling, know when you’re actually hungry. Learning the timing scheme your normal eating regimen is the best way to keep track and avoid mindless eating. People who swallow a lot of air usually experience more stomach growling than others. If you eat too fast or talk a lot while eating, you are likely swallowing a lot of air. Eat more slowly to avoid this.

SUMMARY: Understand what is normal. Try not to eat large meals before class. Avoid an empty stomach. Limit indigestible foods. Know your hunger cues. Eat slowly and chew properly.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You have many options, and the type of child you want will drive who you work with during the adoption process. Spend some time considering the following:  Do you want to adopt a child in the U.S.? This is called a domestic adoption. However, you might have to wait a long time for a child to become available. Do you want to adopt a child internationally? You might have a better chance at finding a child, but international adoptions can be complicated and more expensive. Do you want a baby, or are you open to adopting an older child? Would you like the child to be the same race, ethnicity, or religion as you? You might need to wait longer, depending on your preferences. Check your phone book or perform an Internet search to find private agencies. Generally, private agencies provide full service, including adoption education, counseling, home studies, and post-adoption services. Adopting a child will cost you around $4,000-30,000.  Make sure the agency is properly licensed. Call the Department of Social Services (DSS), Children’s Division, at 573-751-4954. Also check with the Missouri State’s Attorney General’s Office to see if the agency has been sued. Instead of working with an agency, you can hire a lawyer. They can search for a child to adopt by contacting doctors, advertising in the newspaper, or helping you create a website.  Make sure the lawyer specializes in adoption and not in another field. Obtain a referral from the Missouri bar association by calling 573-636-3635 or visiting www.mobar.org. Discuss fees ahead of time. Lawyers charge different amounts depending on their experience and the complexity of the adoption. Generally, they charge $5,000-40,000. Missouri’s Department of Social Services handles the adoption process. There are about 2,000 foster children in Missouri awaiting adoption. You can either become a foster parent first or adopt the child directly. Some foster children are special needs, but don’t let that deter you from considering them. You can get money from the state, around $200-300 a month. Many people adopt from China, Eastern Europe, or Latin America. You should find an agency approved for Hague intercountry adoptions. International adoptions are complicated, so thoroughly research the adoption agency. International adoptions can cost up to $35,000.  Ask for three or more referrals from people who have adopted through the agency and be sure to call them. Ask the referrals how complicated the process was. Did the parents feel like they had sufficient support? Did someone from the agency travel with them to the foreign country? Find out if there were hidden expenses or whether everything cost about what they expected.

SUMMARY:
Assess your situation and preferences. Work with a private agency for a domestic adoption. Hire an adoption lawyer for a private placement. Work with the state to adopt a foster child. Find an agency that specializes in international adoptions.