I have high blood pressure.

[redwitch]

Went to give blood at a Red Cross drive and they wouldn't let me. Calling the doctor first thing tomorrow. I have been having headaches lately, this would explain them. Anybody else in the same boat? I am hoping to not take a pill for this but to get it under control with diet and exercise.

[TZ]

1. I have hypertension.

Really don't be afraid of the meds, they work well. But if you want to try to lower it naturally try to cut out as much sodium from your diet. Also get your cholesterol checked. That could contribute.

[redwitch]

2. Yup, probably time for a recheck on cholesterol.

I got scared yesterday when they wouldn't let me donate. No history of high blood pressure in the family.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear redwitch...

It's good that you found out the safe way...

Absolutely, go see your doctor ASAP...

And yes, losing weight and getting some healthy exercise in are the best ways...

But often pills can be very helpful...

I do all of those...

Routine exercise, continue to get the weight down, and take my meds religiously...

Please take care of yourself!

You matter, to us, and to so many others...

:hug:

[redwitch]

5. Thank you Peggy!

:hug:

[trof]

28. About exercise:

My BP is ALWAYS down to decent levels following my daily morning 3 mile walk.

I do Nordic Walking.
You use ski poles.
It's like cross-country skiing.
Gives some upper body, cardio workout.
Supposed to burn about 20% more calories than just walking.

You can buy whiz bang graphite poles for $90, or...
make some out of 1/2" pvc pipe, bicycle handlebar handgrips, and rubber crutch tips.
For 5 or 10 bucks.
:-)

[trof]

4. Yep. I'm on a beta blocker and an ACE inhibitor.

They help some, but not as much as I'd wish.

During my flight career I had to take an FAA physical every 6 months.
BP was always a rock steady 120/80.

After I retired I gained some weight and my BP soared.
I've lost the weight (still losing) and that seems to have helped a little.

Just checked and it's 148/84.
Still too high.

Warning...IF you drink alcohol in the evening, takes your meds in the morning. I was taking one a.m. and one p.m.
And sometimes in the evening (after a few Scotches) if I stood up too quick I'd black out. Alcohol consumption can cause a temporary lowering of BP, I am told.

I can take them both in the morning and now no problems.
Good luck with it.

[redwitch]

7. Good to know, thanks!

My goal is to get back to that 120/80! I hope you can continue to lower yours.

[trof]

10. I think I need to go in and get my meds tweaked.

I'm taking really basic generics.
There are meds that give you more bang for the buck.

[Raven]

31. No name calling Trof! I take a beta blocker and have for years.

High BP runs in my family and weight control (I'm thin) isn't an answer for me. But you're right about when to take the meds...as a scotch drinker I can vouch for that!

[trof]

32. Scared the crap out of me when it happened.

Stroke?
Brain tumor?
OMG!

I always go for the worst.
Thanks for not making me report you to Will.
:hug:

[Brigid]

45. I'm taking Metoprolol aand Lisinopril . . .

after a heart attack. I'm not experiencing any problems with them, and they've been working pretty well. I think the trick is finding a doctor who will listen if you do start having problems. There are always other meds to try instead.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Me too. I am under orders to cut out sodium and take walks.

[trof]

8. What my doc said about sodium: READ FOOD LABELS.

It ain't the salt shaker that does you in.

A lot of packaged mixes, prepared foods, etc., are LOADED with sodium.

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Yep. And all of our food is just that. It's what the food bank has the most of

[Brigid]

46. Yes indeed.

I am horrified these days when I look at the labels on some of the foods I used to eat on a fairly regular basis. I hadn't been wating the sodium content closely enough. Watch out for canned soups too. Even the reduced sodium ones could do better in that regard.

[redwitch]

16. Good thing spring is coming!

It is hard to walk in Maine in the winter! (Upstate NY too).

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. Ayuh! I just went for a long walk. I am doing really badly about cutting out the sodium, tho :^(

[Haole Girl]

9. May I please give you some advice?

No on the beta blocker (at least an emphatic NO on Metoprolol...otherwise known as the drug from hell to me) if you are even the SLIGHTEST prone to depression. I suffered through the worst period of depression, in my entire life, last December (about 3 weeks into that drug).

Once I started taking a calcium channel blocker (Verapamil) my bp went down...plus, the headaches I had almost every day, went away!

It's good they caught your high blood pressure. A lot of people don't get theirs checked often enough and end up having a heart attack or stroke (got this whole lecture from dozens of people when I found out mine was high). That is why it's often called "the silent killer."

[Gidney N Cloyd]

12. I'm on Metoprolol. No problems here but I've never actually been diagnosed with depression. nt

[Haole Girl]

19. That medicine took me to a very dark place.

At first, I just became irritable. I remember a fight with my husband. He said, "I think that medicine makes you irritable." And I snapped at him, and said, "Well, YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE!" It got worse from there. I started remembering, vividly, details from my mother's suicide... by the time I called and begged the nurse to tell me how to wean off of it, yelling, "At this point a stroke would be preferable!" people finally believed me. Oh, and before I managed to get "weaning off instructions," there was the time I started crying, uncontrollably, at work. :eyes: It hurts to even think about how I behaved during that period. Thank God I now go to a better doctor-- who thoroughly believes I had a depressive reaction to the beta blocker. whew. I wonder, sometimes, if that med might be partially responsible for the spike in the suicide rates among middle age adults.... just thinking out loud.

p.s., I apologize if this was TMI.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

22. I've got my dark days, too (always have). So far the metoprolol actuall seems to have helped >

> with that, tho more so with anxiety.
I appreciate the info and it's good knowledge for others reading this thread. Drugs don't affect everyone the same way and we should always monitor for side effects.

edited to add "(always have)" in subject line.

[Haole Girl]

23. You're right. Not every individual is the same...

I would just hate somebody to have to go through the side effect I suffered, unnecessarily.

[TZ]

15. yeah

I was told by a doc a loooong time ago that beta blockers are NOT good for people who have any hint of depression in their family.

[redwitch]

20. I already deal with anxiety. And depression is not uncommon in my family.

No beta blockers for me!

[Haole Girl]

21. Since I have anxiety also, the first doc I went to sold me on it...

...with the line, "This is what they give to people who have stage fright." And, I'd already done my homework, and was skeptical. I remember the whole conversation... the doc basically talked me into taking it against my "inner voice" or best instinct. I don't know if it's my customer service/airline training, or what, but when I talk to people in person they very rarely see the depressive side of me. Only when I have a full blown reaction to something do they finally believe me!!

Don't be afraid to get blood pressure medicine, though. The benefits far outweigh the risks. At my Dentist, I learned from the Dental Hygienist that high bp - left untreated over time - can enlarge the heart and cause permanent damage. THAT's when I decided I better do something about mine.

Take care of yourself & "stick to your guns" if you have a bad feeling about anything to do with your health!! :hug:

[trof]

24. Thanks. I'm on metoprolol.

Haven't experienced any depression.
At least not outside of my normal 'background' level brought on by the Bush** administration.
:-(

[Lex]

38. No problems with me and a beta blocker.

Thank goodness.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

11. I've got stage 2 hypertension but never had a headache. Symptoms vary.

There's some interesting developments with chiropractic techniques lately, too.

[laylah]

14. Grab the garlic oil!

One of the best ever things the Creator, whoever S/he was, gave us. Good luck.

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. Is garlic a blood thinner? I thought I read somewhere you have to be careful about

taking garlic supplements and aspirin together.

[Raven]

25. Alert for you!!! I have a friend whose son is 37 who just had a

stroke, a TIA. Docs said it was his blood pressure and managing stress. Take the medicine. It has no side effects. Take this seriously!

[redwitch]

42. I am taking it very seriously!

I manage stress badly and I know the combination is bad news. And if the doc says I need the meds, I will take them. Thank you Raven and everyone who has responded here. It would seem I am in good company! :-)

[Hangingon]

26. I have had hypertension for at least 25 years

We changed our diet - went to olive oil for cooking, read labels for sodium and eat lots of fresh veggies. I exercise three times a week at the gym and play golf (walking). Still I take meds. I feel good and have no headaches.

[Lex]

39. Sounds like you are doing all the right stuff

and staying healthy! :thumbsup:

[cordelia]

27. So do I

So did both parents and all 4 grandparents. Every doctor I've seen tells me I'm hardwired.

I resisted medication for a long time, but I am now taking my medicine, and have had no adverse reactions.

And, if you are prescribed meds, please take them as directed. A friend's husband is in a wheelchair because he had a stroke - because he stopped taking his medication.

[trof]

29. I have an electronic BP wrist cuff.

I've checked it against the doc's arm cuff and it's accurate.

[Lex]

35. My doc asked me to bring my electronic BP wrist cuff in to

his office so he could check it against his--and it was accurate too.

I check mine every day. I'm on meds to keep it down.

[cordelia]

40. This is good information

Thank you both - I will be looking into this.

I need a new machine anyway.

Best wishes.

[Lex]

41. Mine is an "Omron" brand which is what my doc recommended

as being very reliable.

It is just exactly like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Omron-HEM-637-Pressure-Advanced-Positioning/dp/B000083CUD/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1206921182&sr=8-2

[SPKrazy]

30. Had it since I was 25

well it is controlled fairly well although I had to add a diuretic to my regimen this year. :grr:

I've pretty much taken the same thing for a long time though.

Took some pretty crazy stuff that made me ill before I changed docs and got on a med that worked.

[lost-in-nj]

33. I have it

even after losing weight
exercising
and stop smoking

I STILL FRIGGEN HAVE IT!!!!!!!!


I take a pill...

:hug:


hope its not so so bad.....


lost

[Skittles]

34. I've been turned down for a donation because of low blood pressure

my top number is never more than two digits and the bottom number hovers around 50 :o

[lost-in-nj]

36. my stbx

has low blood pressure to....

when he was going to cardiac rehab he drove them
crazy...

and he couldn't donate either.......



lost

[Skittles]

37. they piss me off sometimes!

"I've seen better blood pressure in coma patients" - HAR HAR - makes me sometimes wonder why I've donated 27 gallons :D

[redwitch]

44. I think I would prefer your bp problem!

:-)

[Skittles]

48. NOW GET THIS REDWITCH

a new gal at the blood center said to me, "YOU MUST BE A VERY CALM PERSON." HA HA, OMG I cracked up - then when the other people at the blood center (who know me very well) asked what was so funny, I told them - and they all laughed their asses off. :D

[Firespirit]

43. Aww

145/90 here, and I'm in my mid 20s with a BMI of 17. It's genetics and severe stress in my case.

[Brigid]

47. Oh, and one more tip:

When * appears on your TV screen, CHANGE THE CHANNEL IMMEDIATELY. :evilgrin:

[redwitch]

49. You bet!

I can actually FEEL my bp rise when I hear his voice or see his face!

[datasuspect]

50. i really had to curb my emotional responses like anger

in addition to a regimen of different pills and some exercise, it seems better. had a heart attack in when i was 36.

[ThomCat]

51. I hope you can control it simply on your own.

:hug:

I don't want you to have any side effect or symptoms. Ever. Be well! :hug:

:loveya:

[redwitch]

53. Thanks!

:loveya: back at ya!

[SoxFan]

52. Same here

God, I love hitting my forties...

It probably doesn't help that I serve on the local city council, and my district is home to the loudest, most belligerent, nastiest RW activist in town. he has been sending me threatening emails, making snide comments about my wife, and accusing me of everything short of the OJ Simpson murders on his cable show. Not a situation that helps lower the ol' hypertension!

[redwitch]

54. Hubby just ran for mayor and won.

Might have something to do with the bp problem! Although he is handling it calmly and capably. Little ole mayor's wife me is stressing. And he hasn't taken office yet!

[SoxFan]

56. Congratulations!

A toast to the First Couple!

:toast:

[redwitch]

58. Thanks!

:-)

[dembotoz]

55. in terms of things to be stuck with

high blood pressure is not a big deal AS LONG AS YOU TREAT IT.
Couple pills a day, generic so not expensive.
It has prodded me to start to take better care of myself-so who knows.

[pitohui]

57. see what your doctor says but my hubby's experience was good

part of his metabolic syndrome was a high blood pressure reading, but he was lucky and his body responded very quickly to a low carb diet -- his blood pressure was one of the first readings to return to a normal range

he does not exercise, didn't before, doesn't now, probably can't hurt tho

[redwitch]

59. Update.

Dr says I have temporarily elevated blood pressure due to unusually high stress level. EKG was perfect, blood pressure dropped over 20 points after we talked. We are working on the stress, reducing sodium, and taking home readings with a bp cuff. I am so relieved!