As if the holidays weren’t stressful enough, you could now have high blood pressure, according to the country’s leading medical groups.
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have eliminated the diagnosis of pre-hypertension and instead will classify people as having normal blood pressure, elevated, stage one hypertension or stage two hypertension.
Dr. Cori Repp with U.S. HealthWorks says it’s going to change what many hear at the doctor’s office.
“I think a lot of folks are going to be a little bit concerned that when they go into their physician’s office, they’re going to hear ‘You have high blood pressure,’ and unfortunately that is going to be the case for a lot more people,” she states. “The good news is, you can do things about that. ”
Diet and exercise are the most effective ways to alleviate high blood pressure. The new guideline is designed to help people take steps to control their blood pressure earlier.
Repp estimates there will be a 30 percent increase in the population of people who have a diagnosis of high blood pressure and hypertension.
While there are medicines available to treat high blood pressure, experts don’t believe the change in standards will lead to an increase in medication.
Repp says looking at all-natural approaches is the best step toward reduction.
“What we’re trying to do is encourage people to lead a more healthy lifestyle, to watch their diet, to decrease that salt, really watch what you’re eating over the holidays, decrease stress,” she states.
People with readings of 130 as the top number or 80 as the bottom one now are considered to have high blood pressure. High blood pressure used to be defined as 140/90.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol received traffic safety grant funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to provide increased enforcement and public awareness campaigns in an effort to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes on state highways in 2018.
The THP received $100,000 in grant money for the BELTS program, which will target seat belt usage across the state.
The JUST DRIVE program, which focuses on distracted driving, will receive $100,000.
The SOBER UP TN program, which will increase the number of checkpoints and DUI enforcement, will receive $600,000.

Each year in June entertainment is at a premium in Tennessee. Nashville with the CMA Fest, Manchester hosting Bonnaroo and Chattanooga has its Riverbend Festival.
Riverbend Festival 2018 announced one of their headliners on Thursday. Opening night, Friday, June 8 will feature Hank Williams Jr. at 8:30 PM central time.
Jr.’s extremely impressive resume has spawned 70 million albums sold worldwide, six platinum albums, 20 gold albums, 13 No. 1 albums and 10 No. 1 singles. Marking 52 years since his first album in 1964, Hank Jr. released “It’s About Time” (Nash Icon Records) in 2016.
General Admission Festival Wristband are only $44 and are good for all 9 nights. Wristbands go on sale starting January 1st. Children 10 and under are admitted FREE with an adult. Wristbands are available at all gates for $60 each once the festival begins. One-night wristbands are sold each night at the gate for $30.

On Friday, (December 15, 2017) Manchester Police Officer Daryn Gadeken responded to a call at 325 Greenbriar Circle in reference to a vehicle burglary. The arrest warrant states that when Gadeken was patrolling the area, he discovered a white male who matched the description of the person that the victim saw in his driveway. Gadeken says he approached the man, finding him to be 24-year-old Brandon Donald Tenney of Manchester, a convicted felon. After the man provided ID, he was arrested. Tenney allegedly broke in to three vehicles at three separate locations.
Tenney was also found to be in possession of a Smith and Wesson 40-caliber automatic pistol.
Tenney was charged with unlawful carrying or a possession of a weapon and 3 counts of burglary of a motor vehicle. His bond was set at $40,000 and he will appear in court on Jan. 26, 2017.

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department sent out information to the public on Wednesday morning that they were investigating a theft of property case. The theft apparently took place around Thanksgiving in Hillsboro. The sheriff’s department was needing to identify two male subjects.
By thanks Wednesday afternoon the sheriff’s department sent out a release to thank the public for its help. The case was solved, and charges are pending.

An alleged attack on an inmate has led to the firing of a correctional sergeant at the Bedford County Jail.
Sgt. Ronald Wayne Crowe allegedly punched Levi Wheeler, 18, once in the face on Dec. 5. Wheeler’s injuries were described as “minor” by officials.
Crowe, 32, of Fayetteville gave Bedford County detectives no specific reason for his alleged actions.
Wheeler was being held in restraints at the time of the attack, according to Sheriff Austin Swing.
Crowe had worked at the jail for six months and had no disciplinary actions on his record. He has no previous law enforcement experience.
Wheeler is serving time for rape of a child and assault.
Swing added that the Bedford County Jail was built for 68 inmates and is currently housing between 165-170 daily. (Shelbyville Times-Gazette)

Road construction will not delay travelers during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is again halting all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. No temporary lane closures will be allowed for constriction on Tennessee roadways beginning at 8am Friday until 6am Tuesday, January 2nd.
AAA predicts holiday travel will increase 3.1 percent in Tennessee this year, with over 2.4 million motorists expected to travel by automobile in the Volunteer State between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. According to AAA, 107.3 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more, with a record 97.4 million expected to drive to their holiday destinations.