I really should find a replacement for my primary Dr. as I'm procrastinated this long as I dreaded going.... I knew he was going to yell at me about my weight.

Last time I had my BP/RHR checked it was bad news.. bp was elevated (I was at work-- DUH) and before I started cycling. It in fact was one of the things that made me realize I needed to do more for my health as my family has a history of high bp and various other heart related issues.

Grandma had a stroke in her 60's and they thought she wouldn't make it as she had major blocked arteries. She survived for about eight years, and then passed away after another stroke, but never really regaining her independence so I question the quality of live those last eight years.

Mom has been on bp meds for QUITE some time and she's dropped some weight in the last few years and had surgery on her foot (total ankle replacement) that had always been very painful after even moderate activity.

She's more active and able to work in the garden and do some of the stuff she wants to do now. She even mentioned riding a bike again when I started riding, but she also has a slight balance problem, so we'll have to see about the bike. She does have a 200cc scooter, tho I don't think they've ridden in a little while, but if she can ride the scooter I'm sure she can ride a bike. She fell while outside and hit her head, giving herself a good lump and a minor concussion... only to find out that she had a slow growing tumor that was affecting her balance. Benign, but still.

She'll be 59 this July, so I am concerned as last year was a horrible year for her health wise (concussion, ankle, week in the hosp. from a cat bite and infection), but she's taken a more proactive role in her health care and doing the right things now. She mentioned a year or so ago that she feared her approaching the age in which her mom had her first stroke, so I think that's been on her mind too.

I think I've digressed pretty far from the OP topic, but I think it takes all kinds to have a "huge" heart... Mom defiantly qualifies!!

Shannon