Anyone got high blood pressure....

[Pam]

Yep I do! About two to three years ago my primary doctor picked it up when I was in to see him with extreme knee pain. He thought the pain was elevating my pressure so he let it pass. Then maybe a few months after that I had a dental visit. My dentist takes BP prior to beginning any procedure and it was up again. He thought, too, that it might be due to "dental anxiety" even though I am completely relaxed there. (He has never hurt me! ) He said to keep an eye on it. Well, the last straw was when I went for my routine OB-GYN appointment and it was high there 150/90. My OB-GYN was alarmed even though, once again, that type of visit can generate anxiety. When I told him about my other two times he sent me right back to my primary doctor where it was once again 150/90.

I have been on BP medication ever since and my blood pressure is terrific. I had no side effects with this medication (Diovan) and couldn't be happier to have this under control. There is a history of stroke in my family so I am very relieved. Please don't be fearful of beginning medication. It could save your life and prevent a stroke.

[carole]

Thank you so much for your input Pam, i know what you are saying, yes i am not afraid to take medication,but if i can lower it by continuing to loose weight, and exercise more then so be it ,I will, but i am realistic enough to know that might not be all that is needed, it is just that i already take two medications, so not keen to add another, but yes i certainly do not want to suffer a stroke, i nurse aided a stroke patient, when i was 16 and i have never forgotten it,my uncle has one at 68, so i am not going down that road, if i can help it, great to hear you had no side effects,that is the worst about medication eh.?

[Pam]

Thank you so much for your input Pam, i know what you are saying, yes i am not afraid to take medication,but if i can lower it by continuing to loose weight, and exercise more then so be it ,I will, but i am realistic enough to know that might not be all that is needed, it is just that i already take two medications, so not keen to add another, but yes i certainly do not want to suffer a stroke, i nurse aided a stroke patient, when i was 16 and i have never forgotten it,my uncle has one at 68, so i am not going down that road, if i can help it, great to hear you had no side effects,that is the worst about medication eh.?

At least it has been brought to your attention so you know to keep monitoring it. Many people who don't go to see a physician very often have no idea. Good luck with the weight loss and exercise. It may very well make a difference, and it is always better to adopt positive life changes rather than rely on medications if you can help it.

[Karen]

My parents both had high blood pressure, though both were overweight as well. My dad has been on blood pressure medication since I was a little kid, and never complained of any side effects. I am just glad he knew about it, and has taken care of it as, at a healthy 78, he is several years older than his parents were when they died, both from conditions that may have been caused by high blood pressure, I don't know.

[slick]

I've very familiar with this and I've had HBP for years now. Ask your doctor if you can try a diuretic (water pill) first. I will make you pee more but it gets rid of excess water in your body. I think it's alot easier on your body than BP pills. I take two pills for my HBP - Atenolol and Cozaar - each once a day and they have done wonders.

[carole]

Thanks everyone, yes Slick my mother was put on diuretics when she was about my age, very mild one i believe, i did not know if they still did that, hey does it help you loose weight then? lol, would be nice plus wouldn't it? I heard they can deplete the potassium out of your'e body,well i love my bananas, so i guess i will just have to eat more of them, yum.

I am not that overweight, but i am sure if i lost what i need to it might benefit my BP,but the exercise i am not good at, i really need to up that one for sure to see if it all helps.

I am willing to try these first, i think i would tell the doc to give me six months and see if there is a change, if not, then i will opt for the meds i guess reluctantly though.

[sirrahbed]

Yup - in our family in seems to be hereditary and may be related to thyroid?? My bloodpressure is due to kidney disease and so I take medication. I had hoped that the weight loss would help me but it did not in my case. My current med is Micardis. Have been on a few others too.

Glad you are on to this possible problem early Carole!

[lizbud]

I've very familiar with this and I've had HBP for years now. Ask your doctor if you can try a diuretic (water pill) first. I will make you pee more but it gets rid of excess water in your body. I think it's alot easier on your body than BP pills. I take two pills for my HBP - Atenolol and Cozaar - each once a day and they have done wonders.

I have HBP too & am not overweight. I take Atenolol & 1/2 of a water pill
every day per Doctor's orders. The scary thing with HBP is you can't tell
you have it by symptoms. There aren't any.

I too, hate taking any medication if I can get by without it, but HBP is too
dangerous to ignore.

[Grace]

I too, hate taking any medication if I can get by without it, but HBP is too
dangerous to ignore.

Absolutely!! And once you start any medication, don't stop without your doctors approval. That's what happened to Cindy McCain. She stopped taking her meds for hypertension - didn't check with her MD. Then she had a stroke. Fortunately for her, it was a mild stroke.