High Blood Pressure

[Mamala Bay]

I think he is doing the right thing. Get off the junk food and doing all those activities keeping the body moving and heart pumping.

I would be looking to get the weight off...eat small meals rather 3 meals a day make it 6-8 meals. Eat apples, banana, grapes or other fruits in those meals so you don't get hungry. Also it's important when you cut done the sodium intake from junk food(**** sodium) you must understand your body still needs salt. I use quality sea salt a pinch in hot water like drinking coffee or tea.
Reason is when you work out the body needs more salt. If the body doesn't have enough salt it will take it from your bones and the bones in years will weaken.
Construction workers in high heat needs more salt or the body will weaken. The lose all that water and it's salt water that's being sweated out.

SO even if you watch your intake when working out you will need more salt. Do you have cramps at night? Cramps are cause by a lack of salt in the body. Rather drink hot salt water as it goes directly what the body needs.

I take 3 intake per day of hot saltwater with quality unrefine sea salt. If I cramp up at night from workouts one hot seawater does the trick..cramps gone..knowingly my body is asking for salt.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Forgot to mention forget table salt that what kills you. For example if you made sea water from fresh water with table salt for fish to survive they will die from table salt. Use sea salt the fish lives...junk food sodium like table salt!

 

[andyd]

You're s'posed to cause HBP, not catch it. I have had my BP taken a zillion times lately. It is ok. Danged if it has stuck in my head yet. 165 over 90, does that sound right? I have had waaay too much doctoring lately. The more you get, the more you need to get ,it seems to me. Right now, I'm just taking an anti-depressant and vitamins and fish oil. I am of the less is more persuasion when it comes to meds. The stuff all comes with a list of side effects and contra- indications. Very much "Your mileage will vary" stuff.
I went through the AC half of my chemo and the meds worked quite well.
Then the Taxol to complete the ACT therapy. I think I had every side effect that was listed. Three weeks after completing chemo I am still nowhere near right.

Live right, eat right, is my belated advice.

 

[Chuck1986]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Any REAL reason you refuse to take Meds?


Because I can fix the problem by exercising and eating better, and I'm not lining a doctor or a pharmaceutical companies wallets. Plus, blood pressure meds can have serious side affects. I'm generally don't agree with prescription medication and it's overuse in today's society. I know people, to include my father, who gets prescriptions and takes pills for EVERYTHING, and they're generally not healthy at all because they and their doctors are trying to solve problems with pills instead of fixing root causes. It's a giant money making scheme if you ask me.

Obviously some meds are legitimate, and as I age, if I can't keep my HBP under control, I'll take meds.

But I can't believe you can watch a TV commercial advertising a prescription medication, then go to your doctor, and get it! That's insane. Make it OTC if you're going to commercialize medicine that much. Or legalize narcotics for crying out loud - can't do that or the Pharmaceutical companies lose big. That's the number one reason why narcotics are illegal.


I applaud your will to make lifestyle changes. But $4/month for a generic ACE inhibitor wouldn't put much (if any) money in the pharmaceutical companies' pockets. Pharmacological management is often times a necessary evil, especially for genetic conditions that need a little extra than lifestyle changes. If you stay hypertensive long enough, down the road your heart and kidneys will fail and that's when thing you'll really make the pharmaceutical companies rich.

I do wholeheartedly agree with you on the greed of pharmaceutical companies. I'm currently going to school to get my PharmD and I'm shocked at how some of the most widely prescribed meds (Lipitor, Nexium, Lexapro, etc) cost about 30x more than older similar drugs whose patents expired, yet the research clearly states that the "new" drug is no more effective than the old one.

 

[buster]

Originally Posted By: SrDriver
4 years ago next month ended up on the heart ward.

Worked hard to get off of high blood pressure meds, heart meds, fluid pills, etc.

Have been off that stuff now for over 3 years between diet and exercise.

No red meat, low fat, no salt diet. No more than 6 oz of meat a day. No things like bacon, eggs no more than a couple of times a week.

Lots of fresh vegetables and fruit.

Blood pressure now runs around 123/70.

Had some Thyroid issues too which is often overlooked by doctors when they order blood work.

Will be 68 in a few months and feel great.


Impressive. I want to fall back to this type of diet. I was on that for awhile and doing very well. It's easy to get side tracked in this country.

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: Whitewolf
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Maybe you have high BP from work related stress and the stress your woman gives you for being a 'lethargic turd'

Are an emotional eater... eating to relieve stress ?


I'm afraid I'll have to leave this thread. I thought we were having an informative and open discussion about high blood pressure. But after these personal and offensive remarks, I've decided to leave the thread.


i don't think he was making specific reference to you, rather to the OP. the quick reply automatically includes the last post's username.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: hate2work
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
I've become a lethargic turd


Is there another kind of turd?

Given some of the foods that Andrew Zimmern eats on the Bizarre Foods TV show, possibly yes....

 

[PT1]

Drew: I have had HBP for 30 years. I have taken meds for 25 years. They are very benign and can save your life. HBP is hereditary in my family so all my siblings have it. My older brother who also refused to take meds suffered a brain hemorage at age 40 and required 4 surgeries and is now disabled for 19 years. The surgeon who did his operations said if he had taken his BP meds he would have not burst the blood vessel in his brain. My meds cost me $3 a month and many are available at Walmart or similar generic discount programs. Note: My older brother was only about 10 lbs heavier than his high school weight when he has his hemorage. He was bending over to pick up a wrench he dropped when it first hit.

Lose all of your weight...but protect yourself with medication until you have it 100% under control. Trust me on this one. You DO NOT want to end up like my brother.

BTW, I work out 60-90 minutes a day in the gym. I have quit drinking & smoking and am in excellent physical shape. But I still take a very small dose just to be sure. Ask your MD about 81 mg. asprin daily to protect you against stroke as well.

 

[Silk]

I've been trying to reduce my blood pressure for the last couple of years.I didn't know I had it until I went to the doctor for something else unrelated.Being a vegetarian my diet is pretty good,and my blood tests come back with everything ok.Trying to stay off the pills.I have taken a very low stress job(and low pay),push bike to work,walk an hour a day when not push biking.I think some of the high readings are caused by being in the doctors surgery as mentioned previously,I don't like being there and get pretty nervous....if I relax and try to ignore what he is doing then the readings come down.Perhaps I should get my own kit and do it at home for a more realistic reading.

 

[PT1]

Originally Posted By: Silk
if I relax and try to ignore what he is doing then the readings come down.Perhaps I should get my own kit and do it at home for a more realistic reading.


Get a good home meter. You should be relaxed, sitting for 20 minutes to get an accurate reading. Get as much salt out of your diet as possible without becoming a salt nazi. See if that helps.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Originally Posted By: PT1
Drew: I have had HBP for 30 years. I have taken meds for 25 years. They are very benign and can save your life. HBP is hereditary in my family so all my siblings have it. My older brother who also refused to take meds suffered a brain hemorage at age 40 and required 4 surgeries and is now disabled for 19 years. The surgeon who did his operations said if he had taken his BP meds he would have not burst the blood vessel in his brain. My meds cost me $3 a month and many are available at Walmart or similar generic discount programs. Note: My older brother was only about 10 lbs heavier than his high school weight when he has his hemorage. He was bending over to pick up a wrench he dropped when it first hit.

Lose all of your weight...but protect yourself with medication until you have it 100% under control. Trust me on this one. You DO NOT want to end up like my brother.

BTW, I work out 60-90 minutes a day in the gym. I have quit drinking & smoking and am in excellent physical shape. But I still take a very small dose just to be sure. Ask your MD about 81 mg. asprin daily to protect you against stroke as well.


Thinning the blood you can take herbs garlic and such to do the same. Fish oil also but having thin blood during surgery can cause you to bleed to death. Salt regulates blood pressure and help to clean the blood out...don't kid me about brain hemorage ... I'm aware of it as my blood genes is in me.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
Exercise, diet will not help.


I think many will disagree with this, but I will say that controlling hypertension is difficult.

I am no longer hypertensive. I have a lousy diet and a more pathetic exercise program ..none.

The only thing I can attribute it to is the elimination of stress. When my routine BP checks started showing up normal I asked how could this be so since we're told that once you're hypertensive you're always hypertensive. Various physicians (cardiologist, internist, and a pulmonary specialist) had no explanation .. I even asked ..is there some condition where loss of hypertension was a symptom. They said that they were aware of none, but if I died from it ..they would probably name it after me.

Stop sweating your future. That will probably do more than anything else.

The good side effects of the vascular dilator that I was on is that I never got cluster headaches during or after it's usage for a few years.

The bad side effects were in the form of E.D. ..which didn't retreat when the meds were stopped. Viagra is expensive.

 

[Mamala Bay]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Quote:
Exercise, diet will not help.


I think many will disagree with this, but I will say that controlling hypertension is difficult.

I am no longer hypertensive. I have a lousy diet and a more pathetic exercise program ..none.

The only thing I can attribute it to is the elimination of stress. When my routine BP checks started showing up normal I asked how could this be so since we're told that once you're hypertensive you're always hypertensive. Various physicians (cardiologist, internist, and a pulmonary specialist) had no explanation .. I even asked ..is there some condition where loss of hypertension was a symptom. They said that they were aware of none, but if I died from it ..they would probably name it after me.

Stop sweating your future. That will probably do more than anything else.

The good side effects of the vascular dilator that I was on is that I never got cluster headaches during or after it's usage for a few years.

The bad side effects were in the form of E.D. ..which didn't retreat when the meds were stopped. Viagra is expensive.


I'm in good shape...being in top shape it was unusual having high blood pressure years ago. Genes of brain rupture ranged from 3 weeks to 45 years old. I corrected the problem and no longer afraid.

 

[bigmike]

I'm not sure if I agree with everything here. Being overweight and out of shape might have nothing to do with your blood pressure being high. My father meets both criteria but his blood pressure has always been normal or even on the low side, same as his cholesterol. I'm overweight but I wouldn't say out of shape as I'm very active and mine is normal as well. Alot has to do with genetics, I believe.

I will say that diet plays alot into the role as well. Even if you are overweight, eat right and that takes care of alot of other problems. Besides, it tastes good and makes you feel better.

 

[Lurch]

What I do, which lowers BP, balances minerals, and removes or reduces arterial plaque, is take oral chelation therapy using EDTA. I take a product called Cardio Chelate made by Metabolic Response Modifiers [MRM].

I'll be 59 in late May. I felt it's time to do something about health prevention. I feel it was necessary in my case. Many things will lower BP but IMHO this is one that will do many things.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: XS650

My wife has a coffee cup that says "There are people in this world who can eat anything they want and not gain weight. We must find them and hurt them."


Actually, I want to be in the 135-140 lbs but could not achieve that goal. The most I weight was 132 lbs long times ago, it seems I can loose weight very easy and very fast and I have a very difficult time to gain any, regardless how much fatty food I consume.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Preface: everyone is different.

But MOST people with high BP are also insulin resistant. Eating sugars and grains, any type of pasta, bread, rice, corn, potatoes elevates insulin. Then you don't store magnesium, it flushes out and your blood vessels constrict. You will also retain sodium, which leads to fluid retention, which eventually leads to congestive heart failure.

Google "metabolic syndrome" and read about what's going on.

Honestly, if you simply never ate anything in a box or a package you'd feel much better faster!

 

[Drew99GT]

I don't know what to think. You say don't eat grains - yet the DASH diet, which is proven to lower HBP, is focused on whole grains!

I'm trying to just eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains, and leaner meats and fish, and cut out as much garbage junk food I can.

My dad has a few BP machines and he game me one. Wow, my BP is all over the place! I think I have the white coat hypertension mentioned earlier in this thread. The instant I hit the button and hear that air pump, my heat starts racing, my pulse is 90 bpm and my BP is 160/110. If I sit and calm down and do some slow breathing, I got 138/83.

It's gotten better - that's all that matters - before, I was consistently in the 160/110 range and that's the lowest I could get at the Drs. office.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Unless you have a particular condition, just do what you are doing now.

1. regular exercise.

2. Eat in moderation.

3. Reduce salt intake as much as possible.

Good luck.

 

[calvinnnnnnnnn]

lay off high sodium foods!!!!! especially foods that use MSG

Jogging helps relax the body(lower blood pressure)