Hypertension, I has it

[viscousmemories]

It's just borderline really, diastolic of 90. I went to the doctor last week because I had been sick and coughing for two weeks and although they thought the cough would blow over (which it mostly has) they scheduled a follow-up for this week 'cause of the 90 diastolic. Turns out it was high when I went in for back pain in March, too, so with three readings spaced apart they've decided to start treating it like real hypertension. That is, I have to modify my diet and go back for a full physical, blood work, ekg, etc. in a couple months. If I haven't got it under control by then they want to start giving me drugs.

I guess this is just "Member News" (if that), but I figured I'd start a thread in case anyone wants to share tips or tricks for dealing with hypertension in their life.

[Qingdai]

Stress reduction and exercise in general.

Also in my case Chinese herbs, but no diagnosis over the webs.

[Dingfod]

I'm on medication for "borderline" hypertension. However, even on medication it's still too high according the the so-called experts. In the past, strict adherence to a low carb diet and losing 25 or 30 pounds made the problem go away. So, I expect to make it go away again in a few months.

[fragment]

Any history in your family?

[Deadlokd]

Just did a huge section on hypertension in Pharmacology. Whatever the exact diagnosis as to the cause the treatment is easy. First one, as Qingdai already said is stress reduction and a change in diet. Reduce fats and salt. The rest is up to your GP.

[Demimonde]

Contra was just diagnosed too. He picked up a blood pressure cuff at the drugstore at his Doc's recommendation and has been recording the results in his iPhone several times a day. That was he can keep tabs on what he's doing that works or doesn't.

The first thing we realized was that his coffee intake was spiking the pressure. So we have become a decaf house.

Next was smoking and he has worked hard to cut back.

Exercise helped amazingly well. After waking up it would be between nintey and a hundred. A thirty minute power walk later it would be in the high to mid eighties. After a couple weeks of walking morning and night it has gone down as low as 79 which is great!

Stress is a biggie as well and certain times and certain classes get him really biggigitty. So he is learning quick relaxation techniques for before and during those stressfull ments.

Those cuffs run about $20 and are easy to learn to use, I really recommend you get one.

Hope everything works well for you!

[Ymir's blood]

Pets?

[LadyShea]

Everyone I personally know with hypertension (like my mom and my MIL) is a huge stressball just in general. Like they live with a higher than normal baseline of stressedness or worry all the time. As I tend towards that (being a stressball) by nature, I have to consciously keep it in check, and frequently examine things and find perspective and actively seek stress reduction.

Stress relievers are a must, IMO, and you might even find something fun and interesting to do for it...Tai Chi or Yoga, a new hobby, volunteer work, writing, music, hiking, biking. I found hypnosis beneficial for the limited application I used it for. Some people have told me the real benefit of therapy is unloading and learning coping strategies. I know you work out, or have in the past, does it help?

[Doctor X]

Can I have your stereo?

show spoiler

"Lose 20 pounds, lose a pill" is a good rule of thumb. Sadly, few can do that. However, losing 20 pounds is always a good idea unless you are Amy Winehouse and the crack is causing the hypertension.

--J.D.

[fragment]

omg is vm amy winehouse?

Good luck with managing it and looking after yourself, vm.

[Kyuss Apollo]

Walking and liposuction is the fastest way to take off 20 pounds. And no pies.

[viscousmemories]

Originally Posted by fragment

Any history in your family?

I'm not sure actually, and my Mom isn't sure either. I'll have to ask my siblings.

Originally Posted by Ladyshea

I know you work out, or have in the past, does it help?

I haven't been working out much this year and ironically I've been eating a lot more red meat than usual due to my natural/organic foods kick.

[LadyShea]

Since it's borderline, you might be able to get it under control rather quickly just by minor changes in your diet and increasing your exercise.

[seebs]

Me too! I'm on pills, but next up is stress reduction and exercise. Actually, I'm doing the exercise at least some already.

[teasasue]

I would go with watching what you eat and excersize and try to keep the stress down. I wish you luck for that if you are anything like me.

[The Lone Ranger]

Hypertension runs in my family, and my b.p. will go up to dangerous levels rather quickly if I'm not careful about my diet and exercising.

[Sock Puppet]

You might want to avoid trying to reason with mick, then.

[The Lone Ranger]

Coincidentally, I just got back from a check-up. I had gone in because when I checked my blood pressure last week, it was alarmingly high.

So, they gave me a full workup. They took my blood pressure, did an EKG (which was kind of neat; I've given other people EKGs, but this was the first time I'd had one done on me), took a urine sample, checked my heart sounds and the blood flow in the carotid arteries, checked for retinal degeneration -- the whole nine yards.

The doctor said that he wanted to schedule a follow-up so he could get some blood samples, but I told him there was no problem with getting the blood now. I had anticipated that he might want to do blood work and had thus avoided eating or drinking anything since the night before. He was a bit surprised at this, so I explained what I do for a living and that I'm well-aware of why it's important that the patient be fasting.


Anyway, except for the blood pressure, he certified me to be in excellent shape. I'm active, I get lots of exercise, I never touch alcohol or cigarettes and almost never drink caffeinated beverages. There are no signs of kidney or eye damage, and my heart looks and sounds good. And yet I have dangerously high blood pressure (thanks, Mom). As he pointed out, except for the b.p., I'm practically a physician's dream patient.

I'm hoping I can bring the blood pressure down "naturally" by stepping up my exercise routine. (It wouldn't hurt me to lose a bit of weight anyway.) But in the meantime, he gave me a couple weeks' worth of pills to bring the pressure down. It's a combination treatment: a vasodilator coupled with a diuretic (oh joy).

So, I'll be going back for further evaluation.


Cheers,

Michael

[The Lone Ranger]

I should point out, by the way, that this is why hypertension is called the "Silent Killer." Even people who are otherwise in excellent shape can have dangerously high blood pressure, and there are no overt symptoms. But it greatly increases your chances of having a stroke, among other things.


So it's a really good idea to get your blood pressure checked every now and again, even if you have no reason to think you might have high blood pressure.


Cheers,

Michael

[Qingdai]

Also if you're pregnant it's important to check the blood pressure, it's a big reason why prenatal visits are so important.

They gave me magnesium (IV) to keep my blood pressure down, I bet foods that have magnesium in high concentrations wouldn't be a bad addition.

[Dragar]

Funnily, my father has hypotension. He can get a bit dizzy standing up suddenly.

I suspect (without very good evidence) I have inherited something of this.

[The Lone Ranger]

I'm just-about the calmest, most laid-back person I know, and I get plenty of exercise, and I eat well (lots of fruits and veggies, hardly ever use salt, etc.), but I still have to worry about my blood pressure. Doesn't seem fair, somehow.


Still, I was in for a follow-up visit today and the results are encouraging. After just four days on the medication, my b.p. is down to the high-normal range. So the physician and I are both hopeful that we can bring it down further. He wants to keep me on medication for another two weeks, and then we'll do a re-evaluation.

I'm stepping up my exercise routine and I've lost 3 pounds in just the past few days, so we're hopeful that with careful attention to diet and exercise, I can get off the pills.


Cheers,

Michael

[seebs]

My doctor's biggest recommendation has been that I should lose weight to get my blood pressure down. I'm down about 18 pounds since I started, give or take.

[Clutch Munny]

Originally Posted by The Lone Ranger

And yet I have dangerously high blood pressure (thanks, Mom).

This reminds me of a famous family moment at a barbeque some years back at which one of my cousins asked another cousin about his health. At which this other cousin, who had spilled a few cold ones by this point, looked daggers at my uncle and said he'd been to the doctor not long before. "Thanks, Dad," he said. "Diabetes, and a two-inch dick!"

[The Lone Ranger]

Now my pressure is down to almost borderline hypotension. I've noticed over the past couple of days that if I stand up too quickly, I feel a bit faint for a few seconds. That hasn't happened in quite some time.

I'm continuing to monitor it, and if it continues to fall, I may have to call the doctor. (I'm supposed to go back for an evaluation on the 28th anyway.) I've also lost a few more pounds with the increased exercise, so that's good, and I've noticed that my stamina has improved. (I can run further before I start to feel winded, you perverts.) Hopefully, the boosted exercise routine will allow me to be weaned off the pills.


Cheers,

Michael