Blood Pressure

[Kenneth in Texas]

got the best of me, put me in the hospital a week ago at 235/175.

Anyway, better now (not dead anyway) but now a life of BP meds. Lisinopril and Labetalol daily for apparently the rest of my life.

Im 57, overweight, always have done what I wanted, when I wanted, regardless of heat or cold, now I feel that part of my life is gone.

Anyone in a similar boat as me? Anyone have any words of encouragement that things will get better or will they decline from here on out?

 

[prichard]

I was put on lisinopril in my 40s. BP has been low to normal since. I have not changed my life at all. I'm 52 now and 20 or so pounds overweight. Dr is now taking about cholesterol, he put me on statins I didn't take them long. I've had high cholesterol most of my life and don't buy the hype about it.

 

[QRTRHRS]

got the best of me, put me in the hospital a week ago at 235/175.

Anyway, better now (not dead anyway) but now a life of BP meds. Lisinopril and Labetalol daily for apparently the rest of my life.

Im 57, overweight, always have done what I wanted, when I wanted, regardless of heat or cold, now I feel that part of my life is gone.

Anyone in a similar boat as me? Anyone have any words of encouragement that things will get better or will they decline from here on out?

My wife has three leaky heart valves, irregular beat, high BP if not treated, sleep apnea, low BP in her lungs. Top that off with reflux so she has to limit the salads that would otherwise be good to eat. She has it basically under control trying to eat the right things, remembering to take the meds, regular doctor visits because the pills will need adjustment.

It took a long time to get to the point where you are at, it's going to take time to change. Try to eat right but don't be afraid to "treat" yourself on occasion. Be honest with your doctor and yourself. A challenge? Yes. But then take a look at the people around you and ask yourself if you want to maintain those relationships. And good luck.

 

[jeff9366]

Hey, the passing years exact a toll.

High blood pressure is the KEY indicator for stroke potential. There are other factors but they are less certain indicators.

To lower high blood pressure medication is important, but more important is weight loss, a low salt diet, which you did not mention, and consistent exercise. As we age, walking, bicycle riding and swimming are manageable forms of good exercise for most. Got a bike? A scheduled 'Senior's' exercise class is very good but you are on the young side to exercise with the old folks.

I have found I will not exercise at home. I just won't do it. So I drive to a scheduled exercise class twice per week, practice Yoga twice per week in a Yoga studio, and bike six to eight miles either Saturday or Sunday. This works for me. (I am on my tractor ten to fifteen hours per week, but tractor time does NOT count as exercise.)

In my case, if my weight is at 205 or below, my blood pressure is 'normal' with the aid of Lisinopril and very low salt diet. I have to exercise almost every day for an hour to maintain 205. It I get to 215, my blood pressure zooms regardless of medication. My Cardiologist tells me MOST patients with high blood pressure have a similar "tipping point" with their weight.

PRIORITIZE TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF. Too many want to think a couple pills should do it. Medications are a help but only one of several factors. If you have a first stroke, the probability of further strokes is high. So, avoid the first stroke.

Both my Internist and Cardiologist recommend the low carbohydrate South Beach Diet for weight loss. South Beach also decreases likelihood of diabetes. If your blood sugar increases until you are diagnosed as diabetic, which for most males again gets back to body weight, and you have high blood pressure, your potential for a devastating stroke is WAY up there.

So, cookies, pie and cake are out; sugar is the enemy. Potato chips are out too. No salt nuts are OK.

What is your blood sugar and what did your doctor say about salt?

I am age 69.



Blood Pressure : Salt's effects on your body

Consuming salt raises the amount of sodium in your bloodstream and wrecks the delicate balance, reducing the ability of your kidneys to remove the water. The result is a higher blood pressure due to the extra fluid and extra strain on the delicate blood vessels leading to the kidneys.

 

[jeff9366]

According to the National Stroke Association, a stroke is a “brain attack” that can happen to anyone at any time, and results in brain cells being deprived of oxygen. However, having any one of the top 10 identified factors could put a person at an increased risk. Those who have multiple factors have a greater risk of stroke. Memory and muscle control are the first to go following a stroke, and more than two out of three survivors will end up with a disability.

By eliminating all of the following top 10 factors, participants could reduce their risk of stroke by 90.7 percent:

Hypertension (high blood pressure): 47.9 percent
Physical Inactivity: 35.8 percent
Lipids (transport cholesterol): 26.8 percent
Poor Diet: 23.2 percent
Obesity: 18.6 percent
Smoking: 12.4 percent
Heart Problems: 9.1 Percent
Alcohol Intake: 5.8 percent
Stress: 5.8 percent
Diabetes: 3.9 percent

 

[Ed of all trades]

Get the video forks over knives, there are answers just not what you might think. Ed

 

[Gunny]

I'm also on blood pressure medicines (been taking them for ten years), but my mother died because of a stroke, so I make sure I take my meds and check my pressure daily. As I get older, I have to force myself to stay active, but with the meds and some pretty intense walking, my systolic stays right in the 115-120 range.
So, other than taking the meds and doing a bit more walking than I used to do, my lifestyle hasn't changed, certainly not enough to consider it a real lifestyle change, just a couple of new habits.

 

[brown40]

Where you're making some changes now, this'd be a good time to see what level of hydration and dietary potassium you've tended to maintain through the years. Historically salt was used as currency--all sorts of uses for it, and a great source of sodium. Sodium is one of the ions that's not so plentiful in most of the natural environment, so we've adapted to try and keep it in. You may be able to up your K+ and water, drop your Na+, flush and relax your system a bit. I understand there are times medication is called for, but our bodies are such an exceptional self-balancing machine when given the proper inputs and environments... I can't tell you how many times I've seen the cascade of meds start getting heaped on in people's 60's to "solve a problem" then keep adding to fix the problems created by the original solution(s). Much of chronic disease is self-inflicted--and it usually starts at our mouths--too much salt, too much sugar, too much fat, not enough water, not enough natural antioxidants.

 

[Kenneth in Texas]

yes im working on it all, salt-using much less now, weight-lost 22 pounds since my er visit, exercise-always was very active but will get even more. Yes I hit a certain weight and a certain stress level and must have reached my limit because it almost killed me. Just feels like i turned from a young man to an old man in a day but I know that isnt the case, age/weight/stress all caught up with me.

 

[Deere Dude]

t now a life of BP meds. Lisinopril and Labetalol daily for apparently the rest of my life.

10 years ago I had to go on Lisinopril for blood pressure.

Shortly after getting the prescription for a year I had to go from Wisconsin to Florida for a 10 month school. A few weeks later I got a cold and started to cough so I got cough drops/ That took care of my sore throat as long as I kept taking cough drops. That nagging sore throat continued for 10 months. I had to suck on them constantly to keep the pain and cough down.

As soon as the next yearly physical came I told the doc I must have asbestosis from my handling of asbestos 30 years ago. I had a chest ex ray and some other things to verify if I did or didn't.

Come to find out, Lisinopril, was noted for that side effect. Shortly after that I personally know 3-4 friends that had the same reaction to the drug.

I am sure it doesn't happen to everybody, but take note if a cough begins..

 

[jeff9366]

yes im working on it all, salt-using much less now,

To reach stroke prevention goals you need to cease adding salt to food at the table. You need to eliminate salty snacks. You need to buy LOW SALT alternative ingredients and canned goods labeled LOW SALT, NO SALT OR HEART HEALTHY in the grocery store. Even with this, you will have plenty of salt in your diet, if not to your taste, initially.

Yellow rice is OUT. Pizza is OUT. Ham, Spam, sausage of all types and lunch meats are OUT. Most pickles are OUT. Almost all frozen entrees are OUT. Tough changes, but a matter of life and death.

Fortunately, smoked meats without salt are OK. My wife seasons with no salt smoked Turkey legs and wings, and no salt smoked ham hocks.

"Using much less salt" is a relative term. For most, perhaps all, high blood pressure patients using 'less' salt leaves them way, way OVER stroke-prevention dietary recommendations. Discuss with your doctor.

Ten years ago there were few no salt ingredients. Now, most categories have at least one no salt alternative.

 

[flusher]

Been on Lisinopril for 20 years. BP has always been on the high side.
When I owned my ranch (2004-2015), most of the work there was upper body exercise. Not much lower body work. Not much cardio.
Sold the ranch in Jan 2015, moved to the city. Started walking in the park- 3.5 miles every other day. BP is now 124/63. Will be 75 in Nov.
Need to lose 15 lb. Back to the salads, beans and seafood for a while.

Good luck

 

[kcflhrc]

10 years ago I had to go on Lisinopril for blood pressure.

Shortly after getting the prescription for a year I had to go from Wisconsin to Florida for a 10 month school. A few weeks later I got a cold and started to cough so I got cough drops/ That took care of my sore throat as long as I kept taking cough drops. That nagging sore throat continued for 10 months. I had to suck on them constantly to keep the pain and cough down.

As soon as the next yearly physical came I told the doc I must have asbestosis from my handling of asbestos 30 years ago. I had a chest ex ray and some other things to verify if I did or didn't.

Come to find out, Lisinopril, was noted for that side effect. Shortly after that I personally know 3-4 friends that had the same reaction to the drug.

I am sure it doesn't happen to everybody, but take note if a cough begins..

I had the same exact thing happen. Didn't start until I got a cold. Doc knew exactly what it was when I told him. He changed my medication to Amlodipine and all is good.

 

[turnkey4099]

Exercise, healthy diet and good health is no insurance against stroke. Last Saturday night I wound up in the ER with what looked like a stroke. 3 days later after many tests they could find nothing that needs attention.

I am 81, BP runs around 130 resting, get 4 hours of heavy exercise (cutting/splitting firewood) several times a week, etc.

Symptoms had disipated by the time I was in the ER and after all the tests they settled on 'it was a TIA" and gave me a prescription for a statin.

 

[TheMan419]

I am 46 and fighting high bp. On Lisinprol and some other med that I cannot remember for the life of me right now.

I am fighting salt as much as I can. I find that if I do indulge and have Pizza or something that the BP shoots up and it takes a day of being very good.

When I get exercise BP goes down. For me stress does a little to make it go up, but not as much as poor diet and lack of exercise. I also find doing something that keeps me in the moment rather than thinking about EVERYTHING does a good bit to help.

I am obsessive about checking my BP. I can go back about 3 months and tell you what it was at least 2x per day, if not 4 or 5 times per day.

It is something you will have to deal with for the rest of your life. However I have found the low fat and low salt diet agree with me. I have more energy and clarity of thought.

 

[/pine]

I had to go on BP meds (Metoprolol, Enalapril) early this year...
Worst side effects are lack of energy and Tinnitus...

 

[zzvyb6]

Well, if you have no self control, here are some options:

Have the stroke and get the benefit of a feeding tube as you will be bed ridden.
Get your pie hole tye-wrapped so you can only ingest small amounts of food at a time. Break a tooth off so you can get that McDonalds shake or Speedway Super Gulp onboard.
Get into a straight jacket to minimize your food intake capability.
Buy smaller plates and bowls. This is a mind game for all those "clean your plate" prisoners.
Go on a trip to North Korea and steal a flag or some other political momento. The 10-20 years of prison will do wonders for your waistline.
Tie yourself to a tree and invite the neighbors to serve you dog food and a pan aof water like a 'favorite' pet.
Get the Old Lady to help you by planning meals together that will probably help BOTH of you.

These suggestions will produce results, unlike the Food-a-holics meetings, ice cream socials, beer and wine tasting cheese events and other feel good distractions.

And NEVER shop for food wnen you are hungry.

Finally, take a look at pictures of your kids, are there enough of them to haul your fat azz to down the aisle to the hearse ? :thumbsup:

 

[MarkF48]

Watch the intake of diet soda. My BP is generally pretty good (120/65) and am taking Amlodipine, but if I have a couple glasses of diet soda the BP gets jacked up. I've taken to drinking a flavored seltzer water as an alternative.

 

[jeff9366]

I also take my blood pressure and pulse four times per day and record the numbers in an Excel spreadsheet.

If find this helps me focus on my weight and NOT eating between meals. Readings reveal what food ingredients make the blood pressure jump; i.e. SALT.

 

[JRobyn]

I am trying SO hard to get over myself at the annoyance that up until a couple of years ago, I could eat all the salty stuff and added salt I wanted and never have systolic BP much over 120 or 130. Then I had a bout of sepsis that shut down my kidneys totally (and liver, and everything else). Spent 10 days in intensive care with the docs telling my wife that it was unlikely that I'd make it. And then got to experience dialysis for several months.

So the nephrologist now says "NO SALT". I cheat, and it goes up to 150/160 even with Lopressor. So now they've ALSO added Metoprol. Old, lifelong habits die hard, but I keep telling myself that it's better than ME dying hard!