Just Found Out I Have High Blood Pressure

[leftyladyfrommo]

Is this common? I haven't ever had high blood pressure before but most of my relatives have it.

No more salt for me. Yuk. I love salt.

So I guess my brave new world will be full of tasteless stuff. I am glad I love oatmeal.

[Beware the Beast Man]

1. I think it's more common now than ever.

With processed foods, obesity on the rise, anxiety a common factor in people's lives, etc.

I'm on BP meds right now- Diovan with a diuretic. I've also lost about 12 pounds in the last 10 weeks. My BP's gone down a couple points. Good luck to you!

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. I did lose about 5 pounds overnite. I guess that is a good thing.

I am taking triamterene - it's just a diuretic. But I have to be careful and not eat much potassium.

I really would like to lose at least 10 pounds. I think I would feel a lot better about myself. And I'm exercising now but that walking every day is kind of fun. I go down to the park and it is really pretty there. Lots of wildlife.

And I'm switching over to a completely vegetarian diet. I hardly eat any meat now but I'm just going to quit. Vegetarians have better blood pressure and cholesterol.

[RebelOne]

7. I'm a vegetarian, but I have high blood pressure.

My doctor told me to blame my parents because they both had high blood pressure. I am not really overweight and get a workout every night when I walk my dogs. I have to go down a hill to a big field, then run around after them. Then I have to climb back up that hill, so I do get exercise. I try not to use too much salt, but salt is in everything we eat. I smoke, so that could be one thing that contributes to it. It's a good thing that I am a vegetarian. Otherwise, my blood pressure would be through the roof.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. What kind of vegetarian? Do you eat dairy? or Fish?

I'm trying to ditch all of it except for a little fish once in a while.

[RebelOne]

17. I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian,

which means I eat dairy. I do eat some seafood, so I guess I am not 100% vegetarian. I am trying to wean myself off fish, but it's hard to give up shrimp.

[leftyladyfrommo]

23. I tell myself that shrimp are just little bugs so they are OK

I still eat a little fish. And I have eggs once in a while. But no meat and no dairy.

[RebelOne]

24. I'll have to use that reasoning for the shrimp.

That way, I won't feel so guilty when I eat them.

[leftyladyfrommo]

25. It works to a point. But then you realize they are still living

things and it probably be better not to eat them.

I guess lobsters are really just big insects but I feel bad when I see them in tanks.

[matcom]

2. i've had it for years

of course the smoking doesn't help :eyes:

10 mg of Zestril every day and a 30 minute walk every morning (most anyway) and all the salt i want :D

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. All the salt you want? Awesome. I love salt.

But I can't eat it any more.

[trof]

4. Tried to talk about this months ago and got locked.

"Soliciting medical advice".

Maybe this time.
I wanted to know if anyone had had any success with herbals, supplementals, non-prescription, etc.
I'm trying bananas, chocolate, garlic pills, co-q 10 enzyme, all with no noticeable effect.

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. They don't want people getting medical advice on the board.

But I looked into the DASH diet that is just for high blood pressure. There is lots of stuff on it. It is just lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains and beans and lentils and lot-fat dairyand low salt and fat. It is a great diet for anybody to be on - but especially for people who have to watch their hearts and blood pressure.

I'm kind of afraid of supplements and stuff when it comes to something as important as blood pressure. You really need to be sure a doctor is helping.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[marions ghost]

8. consider acupuncture

(in combination with your meds of course);)

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. DiovanHCT, Toprol 100 MG, and Tambocor. It's under control and

I eat salt in moderation.

[skygazer]

10. It is pretty common

My SO has high blood pressure. I guess diet, exercise and genetics have a lot to do with it. You may find that once you get used to eating less salt, things taste BETTER. I stopped eating salt (except a little to cook with sometimes) many years ago and once I got used to it, I found I could taste the actual food better. Salt covers up a lot of flavors, rather than enhancing them.

How high is yours, if you don't mind my asking?

[leftyladyfrommo]

12. I'm still borderline but the diastolic is high 112/85

I think that is what is worrisome. My mother and aunt both have very high blood pressure so I want to be careful. Our family is full of heart problems.

[skygazer]

13. Always smart to take action before things get out of hand

Good for you. :applause:

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. Wow! 85 is not so bad. 85 is a good day for me.

:hi:

[leftyladyfrommo]

22. Yea. I'm still just borderline.

But with medicine I'm down to 106/75. That's a lot better.

[NewWaveChick1981]

14. It's more common than most people realize.

I have hereditary high blood pressure myself, and I was diagnosed with it when I was 34. I'm almost 43 now, and I've taken medication to control it since then and it's been fine. It's a good thing you found it sooner rather than later because doctors call it the silent killer. It can do a great deal of damage to your blood vessels and circulatory system (and organs) if it's untreated.

Doctors usually start you on a prescription diuretic and then check things again in a couple of months. If you need additional medication or need to go on a different one, the doctor will let you know. Be sure to follow dietary guidelines and take your medication religiously. Also, if you are given a potassium-sparing diuretic, you shouldn't overdose on potassium in your food (i.e. don't sit down and eat a dozen bananas at once, etc.).

It's not so bad as long as you keep it under control. You'll pee a lot more frequently, that's for sure! Drinking lots of water will help keep your sodium levels under control (and also make you pee!). However, the consequences of untreated high blood pressure are far worse than dealing with that. :)

I hope for the best for you, sweetie! :) Just listen to your doc and you'll be just fine.

[leftyladyfrommo]

15. I'm doing my best here.

I am walking every morning. And have switched to practically vegetarian diet. I really would like to get my weight down another 10 pounds or so. I feel better when I am in the completely normal range weightwise.

And the medicine seems to be working. My blood pressure was 106/76 last nite. And this medicine doesn't seem to bother me very much. I feel a little light headed right after I take it.

I read that about the potassium so have deep sixed the bananas for a while.

[NewWaveChick1981]

21. You're doing great!

It takes a while to get used to, but you'll even feel better once the changes start to be permanent. :) Hang in there!

[Robb]

16. It's in my family. Big time.

Grandbat had his first heart attack at 35. Dadbat had his at 62.

Doc told me I'd either have one in three years, or 30. :D

Back in the pool for young Robb.

[leftyladyfrommo]

18. That should scare you into taking care of yourself.

[cmf]

19. I finally got diagnosed a few months ago

Previously my doctors would blow it off as white coat hypertension. I have a family history of early onset heart disease, so I try to live healthily - I'm thin, I work out regularly and I eat healthy foods. But my resting pulse would often be in the 90's, and my diastolic BP was never lower than 90. So my new doctor put me on Beta Blockers and I can actually feel a difference because it keeps my heart from working so hard all the time. The only lifestyle change I am making is trying mediation.

Don't worry about giving up salt. The first few days the food will taste bland, but after that you will start preferring low-sodium food. Once you cut out the salt, you appreciate the flavor of the food much more, and you can get creative with spices and herbs to flavor your food. We hardly ever eat out anymore because I can't stand all of the salt in restaurant food, which is good because it saves money and calories!

[rug]

26. Stay out of GD.