In Sophie Kinsella’s popular book Confessions of a Shopaholic, the protagonist Becky Bloomwood lives a posh life; she resides in one of the hippest places in London and has a closet filled with the season’s latest fashion. The only flipside to Becky’s ultra-glam life is that she has a mountain-high debt. Her bank is chasing her around with warning letters filled with big numbers in red. Becky has to face all these problems all thanks to her indiscriminate spending habits with her credit card. While the book has been slotted under chick-lit and romance and incorporates all the elements of this genre, a substantial part of the plot revolves around Becky’s silly but quite effective ideas to delay paying her credit card debt. This is until a debt collector from her bank catches up with her during the climax and everything starts going downhill.
Thus, it seems, unless you are careful enough, credit cards will either make you (or your credit score) or break you, just like Becky Bloomwood. Although Becky has a happy ending, you may not have the same luck. Hence, it is always good to think beforehand what you expect to do with your credit card: shop, pay your bills, increase your credit score, collect miles by booking air tickets or make hotel reservations. Another crucial factor to consider while applying for a credit card is the repayment amount. So that your situation does not resemble Becky’s, we have listed here 10 best credit cards of 2018, which will give you a head start on researching about the top credit cards suitable for you:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card
Among the 10 best credit cards, this Chase Sapphire card has been adjudged as one of the best travel credit cards in the market. There is no annual fee and no APR in the first year. After the introductory period, the regular APR is 17.49%-24.49% and the annual fee is $95. You can earn bonus points of up to 50,000 if you spend $4,000 in the first three months.
Citi ® Double Cash Card
There is no annual fee and the intro APR includes 0% on balance transfers for the first 18 months. The regular APR is 14.99%-24.99%. You can earn 2% cashback on your shopping. Among the 10 best credit cards listed here, this is one is the best for earning cash back on your purchases.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
The annual fee is $95, and the intro APR includes 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months. The regular APR is 14.74%-25.74%. You can earn 6% cash back on making purchases at any supermarket and 3% cash back when you swipe your card at any gas station and select departmental stores.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card
This credit card lets you earn 1.5 points for every $1 you spent on purchases. There is no annual fee and the intro APR includes 0% on purchases for the first 12 billing cycles. If you spend at least $1000 in the first 90 days, you can earn 20,000 online points.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Among the 10 best credit cards, this one is most suitable for students. There is no annual fee and intro offer includes 0% on purchases and 10.99% on balance transfer for the first six months.
SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express
This card is best suited for small businesses as it lets you earn 5% cash back on purchases made from any supplies store and on wireless telephone services. There is no annual fee and the intro APR is 0% on purchases for the first 15 months. The APR after the introductory period is around 13.99% to 20.99%.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Among the 10 best credit cards listed here, this one is quite popular as a flat-rate travel rewards card. There is no intro APR and a regular APR of around 14.49% to 24.49% applicable. There is no annual fee in the first year and later one, you have to pay $95 every year. After you spend $3000 on purchases in the first three months, you will earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles.
The other credit cards in the list of 10 best credit cards include Citi Simplicity® credit card, Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card, and Discover it® Secured. Make sure you research well before applying for any credit card.
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High blood pressure chart and its meaning
Read moreWhen a doctor takes your blood pressure reading, he gives a fraction. This fraction is the blood pressure reading. The number on top is known as systolic pressure and the number on the bottom is the diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure signifies the amount of pressure in the arteries during the contraction of heart muscles. Diastolic pressure signifies the amount of pressure of the heart muscle in between the beats. Both the numbers are important for the determination of the health of your heart.
Normal reading
The normal reading for blood pressure should be 120/80. The systolic pressure must be in the range 90-120 and the diastolic pressure must be in the range 60-80. The American Heart Association considers blood pressure to be normal only when it is in the range. Both the systolic and diastolic readings should be within the above-stated ranges.Blood pressure readings are usually given in millimeters of mercury. That is, a normal reading would be known as 120/80 mmHg. If you have a normal reading, then you do not need any medical intervention. In order to do so, you must follow a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise, balanced diet, and weight management can be of great help.
Prehypertension
If your blood pressure reading is more than 120/80 mmHg, then you have to be alert and switch to a healthier lifestyle. You are suffering from prehypertension when the systolic pressure is between the range of 120-139 mmHg and the diastolic pressure is between the ranges of 80- 89 mmHg.The above-stated numbers are not considered as high blood pressure. But they are beyond the normal range. There is a good chance of prehypertension turning into high blood pressure. You are at a high risk of a stroke and other heart diseases. Pre-hypertension does not require any medication, but you have to start leading a healthy life. A balanced diet, weight loss, and daily exercising will help you bring your blood pressure down to the normal range.
Stage 1 of hypertension
You will be diagnosed with high blood pressure when the systolic pressure is in the range 140-159 mmHg and the diastolic pressure is in the range 90-99 mmHg. This is the stage 1 of hypertension or high blood pressure. Stage 1 of hypertension is usually diagnosed when the blood pressure reading remains high over a long period of time. Your doctor will help you to keep track of your blood pressure reading. He/she will prescribe medications if your blood pressure does not come down after starting a healthy lifestyle.Stage 2 of hypertension
The second stage of hypertension is when the blood pressure reading shows the systolic pressure as 160 or more and the diastolic pressure is 100 or more. The doctor will prescribe one or two medications to bring down the high blood pressure to the normal level. But you must never rely only on the medications. A change in your daily lifestyle is always recommended to keep your blood pressure in check.Hypertensive crisis
If the blood pressure reading is more than 180/110 mmHg, then it signifies a serious health issue that needs to be checked immediately. You must go in for an emergency check-up if your blood pressure is that high. It is best to visit the doctor immediately, if you are also experiencing chest pain, sweating, dizziness, blood in urine, and other difficulties. -
Ways to reduce high Triglycerides in your diet
Read moreWhat are Triglycerides?
Triglycerides are a type of fat present in your blood that the body uses for energy. But the excess of triglycerides in your body are termed as bad cholesterol (LDL), paves the way for heart disease, stroke, and many other heart-related diseases.How to cut down the intake of Triglycerides?
Every meal you eat should have a balanced intake of all nutrients. The macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats) and micronutrients (Vitamins and minerals). Excess of anything is unhealthy and leads to different health problems. Triglycerides are the major cause of heart problems and it causes thickening of the artery walls. High triglycerides (levels above 1000 mg/dl) can lead to acute pancreatitis. The high amount of triglycerides is present in sugary foods, packaged food, and commercially baked goods. Hence, reduce the intake of Trans fats and saturated fats.Diet chart to reduce high Triglycerides
Incorporate fish in your diet:
Fish are a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids that reduce the levels of triglyceride present in your blood and helps to keep your heart and brain healthy. Salmon, co, and tuna are types of cold water fish that has the power to reduce the levels of triglycerides. Vegans or non-fish lovers can take omega 3 fatty acid supplements.Soy protein is beneficial:
Soy protein works 12 times faster than animal protein to reduce the number of triglycerides. A research proved that 25 grams of soy protein a day as a part of low diet will reduce the risks of heart-related disease. It also controls the levels of serum cholesterol, LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) and triglycerides. Soybeans, tofu, and soy milk have rich soy protein in them.Consume Monounsaturated fats:
Instead of your regular cooking oil like sunflower oil, coconut oil, palm oil or rice bran oil choose olive oil or walnut oil. These oils have monounsaturated fats that reduce the lipoprotein levels. Nuts and avocados are also rich sources of monounsaturated fats.Fiber foods:
Food that is rich in fiber, like the beans, legumes, peas, lentils. Nuts, like almonds, cashew, walnuts, pecans. Cereals and citrus fruits are must in your diet as it absorbs the fat or sugar present in your small intestine and helps in reducing the triglyceride levels.Reduce the intake of alcohol:
Alcohol has a high amount of sugar and calories. Regular intake of alcohol stores triglycerides in your fat cells. Hence, avoid alcohol as much as possible.Do not skip exercise:
Regular exercise is necessary for your body to reduce the triglyceride levels. Plan your day, so that you can spare at least 20 minutes in the morning for your exercise or brisk walks. Simple push-ups pull-ups and squats can help you stay healthy.