High Blood Pressure Diet

Are you overweight?

^^^ No, I am 6'2" and weigh 205.

[quote] I also broke my foot which stopped me from my usual morning run. Today, my pressure is 160/100, even with the medication.

The missing morning run is the problem here. Plus, Lisinopril takes a while to 'kick in', it's a long-term agent.

Cut way back on your sodium. Drink at least 80 ounces of water a day. And when you can, get back to excercising.

Definitely get a salt substitute, Nu-Salt, I believe the most popular. You’ll have to get used to it, but definitely give up salt and only consume the salt that’s in the food already.

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil in place of butter. Give up dairy.

I have high blood pressure that’s genetic, and this helps, it’s not a magic bullet, but it helps.

OP, for my high blood pressure diet I eat lots of organ meats with extra salt and butter, plenty of sugar, a pint of Scotch in the evening, and I cook on my "All Service" couch hotplate and

That should do it. I'm usually at 165/120.

Although you're doing fine by yourself. Has anyone in your family ever made it to 50?

Unsalted pistachios are also a great snack for high-blood pressure.

I went vegetarian because of my blood pressure. I’m only 43. But I gave up salt and dairy. I don’t exercise anymore, I’m burned out from exercise, but I focus solely on diet. You’re on the right track, OP. Great you gave up drinking and vaping, and you run.

R5, I mean^

Thanks for the advice r6. My dad had three strokes and died at 75. So, this is probably hereditary. It scares me cause I really feel fine, but so did my dad. I think the burgers and fries gotta go.

Ask her about using angiotensin receptor blockers, such as Telmisartan, Losartan, or Olmesartan.

They work differently from ACE inhibitors like Lisinopril.

Also, often blood pressure medications are often taken in combination of up to 4 different types. Ask about adding something like a calcium channel blocker like Amlodipine.

The little blood pressue machines for home also suggest you do 2-3 readings, rather than 1. Take your pressure, then wait a couple minutes and take again. You may find that there is a dramatic drop in reading.

Once you get it down with medication, the focus on lifestyle adjustments.

OP, try the Mediterranean diet. My doctor suggested it a while back. It's great for reducing blood pressure and a host of other issues. I swear by it and proudly hawk it to anyone within earshot. It includes a lot of vegetables, legumes, beans, whole grains (translation: brown, not white, rice, pasta, bread, etc.) and fish. It's just common sense. It's helped lower my BP and cholesterol significantly.

Essential oils will fix you up in a jiffy, OP, and you can kick Big Pharma out of your life for good!

[quote] high blood pressure victims.

Victims? That's an odd term.

Diet is always a factor. Others have mentioned the obvious - don't add salt or get a salt substitute - but it's also really important to take a close look at packaging to see what exists in the things you buy and consume.

My BF and I really liked a lot of Trader Joe's meals, but some of them have 40 percent or more of a daily sodium intake per SERVING. So if buying something at the store, whether it's a prepared meal or even something like spaghetti sauce, it's good to look for things that are in a more reasonable range (15 to 20 percent is OK) and then be careful to have only the serving size.

I take two BP meds, one a "sartan" as R10 describes and the other is a BP med mixed with a water pill, I think (Metoprolol). Luckily, these meds are widely used and tend to be inexpensive.

I had a bad reaction to Lisinopril. I don't know why.

R10 Thanks. I will ask about the meds your suggest! I bought a OMRON Platinum Blood Pressure Monitor and take multiple readings, but this machine is good and stays right around 160/100. Are you a doctor? How do you know so much about the meds?

BP not a joke, even for this crowd! Drink lots of water, find a way to exercise. Even with the broken foot, you can do upper body. No red meat, no salt. Cook your own meals. If it can be nuked and it comes in a box or bag, avoid it !

[quote]I had a bad reaction to Lisinopril. I don't know why.

Even within a category, like ACE inhibitors such as Lisinopril, the different drugs work slightly differently on different people.

Some people will have varyng results using Losartan vs. Telmisartan (Olmesartan and Telmisartan seem to behave more similarly in clinical tests). Based on clinical tests, Olmesartan and Telmisartan appear to be more effective at lowering blood pressure. Telmisartan seems to work best in terms of lowring cholesterol. Telmisartan has a blood sugar-lowering effect that the other two don't seem to have.

Some people also have a side effects using ACE inhibitors that ARB don't have.

You should discuss your treatment plan with your doctor and ASK questions. There are always tradeoffs among different drugs and combinations of drugs, and it may take a while to get the right drug or combination of drugs.

My two cents.

R16 I have discussed many times w/many doctors - no one knows why I had a reaction.

With Lisinopril my fingers would curl a bit involuntarily.....*shrugs*

The DASH diet is recommended for hypertension.

What about Rilmenidine?

To get the most accurate reading, measure your bp later in the day. Keep your arm at heart level when doing the reading and do some breathing exercises before you take the reading to relax as much as possible. Don't talk when you're getting your reading done.

Hopefully your doctor will have a different medication for you to try. If you are on any other supplements or medications, make sure you discuss it with your doctor to be certain they aren't contributing to your high bp.

You may want to try brown rice and vegetables. Wasn't really my thing though recommended to me several times.

[quote] No, I am 6'2" and weigh 205.

Your BMI is 26.3, so yes, you are overweight. Even a slight difference in weight can make a difference in blood pressure. It’s time to stop the denial and stop overeating. I have a healthy blood pressure and my BMI is 21.5. For you to get to 21.5, you need to lose 37 pounds.

You need to track how much sodium you are consuming each day and shouldn’t have more than 1200 mgs a day. You need some sodium so don’t go too far below that.

Bread and baked goods are loaded with sodium. Ezekiel bread, which you can find in the frozen food aisle has none or very little. Stay away from prepackaged food like soup, sauces, gravy, seasoned rice. Make your w salad dressings without salt. Swiss cheese is very low in sodium compared to other cheeses. Boars Head has low sodium turkey, ham and roast beef. If you are planning to eat out, try not to consume any sodium that day. I either fast or eat oatmeal. When you go out, order your food prepared without any salt. They can usually accommodate if you are getting a piece of meat, fish or chicken prepared to order. You can have a steak, baked potato and a salad well within the daily range that way. Avoid Asian, Indian, Mexican and Italian food until you get your BP readings down.

Your insurance might cover a consultation with a registered dietitian who can help you come up with a food plan. Ask your doctor for a referral.

Also bring your home machine to your next doctor visit so you can compare it and check accuracy. You might need a larger cuff to get an accurate reading.

Try these. I have eaten these foods almost exclusively, starting a month before my check-up, and my blood pressure lowered dramatically. The key is to avoid foods with sodium, especially if you are going to a restaurant.

R22 During 2020 I was 275 and got down to 195 using nothing but green juice, rice and vegetables. When I added normal stuff to my diet, I went to 205 and have stayed there for the past two years. I am sure the exercise helps, but without running it's hard to get my cardio up..

OP it sounds like you are on top of it and the suggestions here are good - any anxiety will make your blood pressure rise too so try not to get too stressed out.

[quote] Swiss cheese is very low in sodium compared to other cheeses.

Oh, so that's why it tastes like shit!

Well Op, that's good news. You can make Swiss cheese fondu with Ezekiel bread.

[quote]What about Rilmenidine?

Rilmenidine seems to target a different aspect - imidazoline receptors - than other medications.

Rather than getting caught up in the idea that one brand or category of medication is "better" than another, you may want to think more broadly: There are multiple categories of medications that work to reduce blood pressure. Their relative effectiveness varies and will vary from person to person. These can be prescribed alone or in combination to achieve results. In addition, each drug and drug category may have different side effects, interactions, and contraindications.

There is no one "right" drug or combination of drugs for every person.

Lifestyle can also have a huge impact, so should be modified in conjunction.

I was on lisinopril 10 mg for years and had a slight problem controlling my blood pressure, especially at the dr's office. He put me on 20 mg per day and it has dropped into the very good range.

"Victims?"

^^ As in victims of heredity. Things we have to accommodate because of our inheritance.

I need to lower my BP, but I’m busy and lazy. I would kill for healthy pre-made food. I need to find the willpower of my youth where the threat of having to plan and prepare food just made me skip eating altogether 😂

[quote]I need to lower my BP, but I’m busy and lazy. I would kill for healthy pre-made food. I need to find the willpower of my youth where the threat of having to plan and prepare food just made me skip eating altogether

Two words: Portion Control.

Redue whatever you're eating by 1/3. Use smaller plates and bowls and serve yourself less food at each sitting. Eat some cookies, but eat only 1/2 what you normally eat. Eat the cake, but take a smaller slice. You'd be surprised how well something as simple as portion control works, even if you don't change anything else.

[quote] It’s time to stop the denial

Bitch, no need to act like a pious cunt here.

This is a damn good thread, Dr Dataloungers. I’m in a similar boat as OP only younger- and fatter.

Thanks for all the diet pep talk and med info.

And what would we be without fat shaming pious cunts?

[quote]No, I am 6'2" and weigh 205.

[quote]Your BMI is 26.3, so yes, you are overweight

6'2" and 205 lbs. is overweight?

[quote]Thanks for the advice [R6].

You know r6 is trolling, don't you, OP?

Reduce sodium, more fruits and vegetables, exercise (cardio), and you’ll probably need an additional med or two to get it under control.

OP seems lacking in awareness on several levels.

[quote]6'2" and 205 lbs. is overweight?

Technically, according to BMI it is overweight at 26.3 (overweight is 25-29.9). 30 is obese.

However, if you were to calculate BMI for some of the ripped bodybuilders from tiktok, they'd also be "overweight" because BMI fails to take into consideration body fat percentage, as a matter of fact, it's supposed to be a quick proxy for estimating body fat. Muscle is more dense than fat, so someone with more muscle, even if they also have some fat, are going to have a higher BMI score.

No salt, no booze, no smoking AND BETTER MEDS. Do not fuck around with high blood pressure.

Yes, don't F around with HBP. My dad had HBP & died of a burst aneurysm. Take it seriously. If you have a bad headache, a body pain, go immediately to the doctor.

I just wish life could be simplified down to “consume lettuce and flagellate yourself 3 times a day” to be sure that you’re always doing the right thing.

OP. I am 6'2" as well.

I was a gym rat in my 50s. No problem with BP. As I have gotten older my muscle has turned to fat because of no exercise.

My waist size grew, etc. BP was high if I didnt take meds.

I am now down to 175lbs and my BP was 120/70 this morning. My waist has shrunk to 34inches. Also walk an hour a day.

R37, please find yourself a dictionary and recheck the definition for trolling.

Certainly making light of a faux-naif thread on the anonymous DL is better than leaping at the chance to tell the OP she is fat.

But then you would know from fat, wouldn't you, Tilly?

[quote] I am now down to 175lbs and my BP was 120/70 this morning. My waist has shrunk to 34inches. Also walk an hour a day.

r44 I haven't seen a 34 inch waist since I was 25. And, only walking? What are you eating?

People, please. Let the Victim speak.

Can I still smoke pot?

^^^^ Do you have munchies?

Lisinopril gave me an annoying and persistent cough. The doctor switched it with something else. That was years ago; I don’t have to take any BP meds now.

Beets, spinach and dark chocolate help lower blood pressure.

[quote] I think the burgers and fries gotta go.

Yes, I think so, OP. My apartment is situated between two McDonald's. I used to eat there about once per week. I stopped in January. My LDL has gone down. I won't say breaking my McD's habit is the cause, but I was surprised at how fast it came down.

I would treat the blood pressure now. Keep changing medications until you get it under control. High blood pressure is called the silent killer for a reason. Then once you get it under control start making changes to diet and then add in the cardio when you are healed. I have had a 4 way bypass 18 years ago and have been treated for high blood pressure even when my weight was ideal. My family history in heart health is poor.

For anyone who has been diagnosed with hypertension....this is not something you can be lazy about. Getting your bp under control is probably the most important thing you can do for yourself. The medication is key and you will be on it for life. If you're lucky, you will only be taking one. I have tried all the different classes of meds and they all worked, but had side effects, some serious. The best I have found is Candesartan; effective and zero side effects.

You need to get a monitor and use it regularly. Know that your bp will rise and fall depending on the temperature. Your summer dosage may be half of your winter dosage. If you have a bp spike, get into a hot shower immediately. That should bring it down by about 20 points. Be careful that your bp doesn't go down too low or you may faint. You have to actively manage this but you do get used to it. It's a lot easier to prevent a stroke than to deal with the effects of one!

I can't comment on diet, weight loss or exercise, because I was already eating a clean low carb vegetarian diet, was not overweight, and exercised regularly, as well as never smoking and rarely drinking. I became ruthless about eliminating high salt foods, however. After awhile you don't miss it and in fact, things like bread taste too salty.

[quote]my blood pressure was 150/90

That is normal for 50+-year-old people. I don't understand why your doctor had to prescribe you the med. And you are not obese either.

[quote]I just wish life could be simplified down to “consume lettuce and flagellate yourself 3 times a day” to be sure that you’re always doing the right thing.

If the cure for HBP were " consume lettuce and masturbate three times a day," no man would have it.

OK, Ducky. I"ve been there. Get rid of the Sodium. It's not hard. You can give a sprinkle or two, but cut way back. Eliminate all red meat and processed foods from your diet. No bacon, or lunch meats, except maybe smoked turkey or chicken. Eat more fish and chicken. Eat green leafy vegetables and do aerobic exercise. Even if you are just walking around your house. I have gone on Penzy's website to order these combination seasoning mixes. I use t hem all the time now and don't even notice the absence of salt. Don't eat fried foods. Bake or roast things. And don't buy those frozen dinners. Fast food, restaurant food all of it is loaded with salt and god knows what else. The last thing you want to happen is a stroke. So do what you need to do. And Google is your friend. Look up diets for HBP.

[quote] And Google is your friend. Look up diets for HBP.

You don't say.

Sounds like you have to cook your own food. FML.

[quote]Lisinopril gave me an annoying and persistent cough.

That's one of the most common side effects of ACE inhibitors.

Eat four stalks of celery per day. Not juiced.

Other high potassium foods: Avocado, beets, sweet potatoes, spinach, baked potato with skin, zucchini, brussel sprouts, papaya and of course banana.

Four ribs, not stalks. A stalk is the whole plant.

If you're at 160, you need to be on meds. Don't worry so much about the diet.

I've said this before: if the ACE drugs bother you and the ones ending in -tan (the ARBs), ask for the old-fashioned, always works Coreg (carvedilol). The new-ish ACEs and ARBs are great, but some people cannot tolerate them.

Do you know why your blood pressure is high? Do you have a kidney thing or a heart thing?

If you have a heart thing, you only have to worry about sodium. If you have a kidney thing, you have to worry about sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. Don't start a high-potassium diet (as the poster above is recommending) unless you've had a kidney function test.

I can tell you more if you need it. My brother just had a kidney transplant and lived with declining kidney function for five years (high blood pressure, unknown by us, lead to a mini-stroke).

[quote]my blood pressure was 150/90

[quote]That is normal for 50+-year-old people.

No, it's not.

[quote]Other high potassium foods: Avocado, beets, sweet potatoes, spinach, baked potato with skin, zucchini, brussel sprouts, papaya and of course banana.

Be VERY careful of potassium. Some of the medications may cause high potassium levels. You should be getting your blood tested regularly when taking any blood pressure medications.

[quote]Potassium affects the way your heart's muscles work. When you have too much potassium, your heart may beat irregularly, which in the worst cases can cause heart attack.

[quote]my blood pressure was 150/90

[quote]That is normal for 50+-year-old people.

[quote]No, it's not.

Agreed. It is NOT normal, but it is, unfortunatel, common.

OP asked...

[Quote] I haven't seen a 34 inch waist since I was 25. And, only walking? What are you eating?

1. Calories eaten per day less than 1800. 2. Little to no starches. 3. Only eat between 8am and 2pm.

"I have high blood pressure that’s genetic"

How would that make sense Natural Selection-wise? Were your people born to die?

Mine is 130/something, which I guess is high-ish. What are some symptoms that tell you it's time to get on some meds?

[quote]Mine is 130/something, which I guess is high-ish. What are some symptoms that tell you it's time to get on some meds?

The key symptom is when you take a reading and it's over 130/something...

[quote]Your blood pressure is considered high (stage 1) if it reads 130/80. Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/110 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away.

Anytime your diastolic is triple digits you need to seek medical attention. That is stroke territory.

Im a supplement queen so I combine by HBP meds with hibiscus flower and garlic supplements to help keep it down

Most hypertension is asymptomatic R68. R69 is correct, the "symptom" you need to pay attention to is the reading you got, which is high - not "high-ish." Quit fucking around and see a doctor, stat.

I’ve been hypertensive for over 10 years. My BP is now really under control. I take Atenolol 100 mg and Nifedipine 60 mg. My BP runs between 110/60 and 117/60.

As for diet, I’d discuss it with your doctor. Cutting out sodium is the first thing people say. However, my blood tests show I have a low sodium level and higher potassium level. So my nephrologist (yes, HBP can cause kidney issues) told me to watch high potassium foods (potatoes, avocados, bananas - all things I love). The “salt substitute is potassium chloride so that’s and absolute no-no for me.

Maybe your doctor needs to try other meds (I was originally on lisinopril) and perhaps run some additional lab work.

My point is that diet recommendations for HBP can vary depending upon other factors.

Drink plenty of water to lower hypertension.

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a life-threatening disease associated with increased mortality. The urea cycle pathway plays a major role in PPH severity and treatment response. Little is known about the association of the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and PPH prognosis.

R73, thank you. I never use salt substitutes, but I do like the natural, blended spices I get from Penzy's. You can order them by mail. Good point about the Potassium.

Thank you all for this thread. Very, very helpful.

Fresh fruits, lean meats. Watch sodium levels. Try low cholesterol eggs instead of whole eggs or, if you prefer, egg whites. There is a ton of cholesterol in egg yolks. Mrs. Dash has a lot of different flavors to choose from. Of course black pepper, garlic and onion are good options of adding flavor that are low fat and sodium free.

I tell a lot of my patients(work for dietary in hospitals) any kind of baked goods-breads, muffins, cakes, pies, etc. are going to be loaded with salt so limit those.

Someone mentioned having to watch potassium because of kidneys. If you don’t have kidney issues, then potassium is great for lowering blood pressure naturally. Potatoes, especially with skin on, are high in potassium as are tomatoes and bananas. Avocados are high in potassium, but also high in fat so don’t eat as much of that.

Hot sauces are very high in sodium. If you like heat use fresh jalapeños, or whatever pepper you like. They must be fresh though because canned peppers, or anything for that matter, are high in sodium since they’re pickled.

Hope this helps.

Vegan no added salt no added fat diet seems to help. I suffered from HBP for several years and just hadta let go of a few things. Meat and dairy, mostly. Don't even know why it worked for me.

My friend uses the same brand of home blood pressure machine as you. He brought it to the doctor and it was higher than the machine in the doctor's office

Unsalted, unmarinated meat is not high in sodium..

Threads like this one, coupled with the snarky and witty ones and the ones starring hot guys, are what makes the Datalounge so precious.

It's worth mentioning that most home blood pressure devices aren't strictly accurate. They, however, give you a clue what's going on 'inside your system' so you have something to go on thanks to them.

If you have experienced a blood pressure spike, and you're panicking, the stress will cause your bp to rise and rise. DO NOT take more bp medication to bring it down. Get into the shower as suggested above, do the breathing exercises recommended for panic attacks and take a very small dose of an anti-anxiolytic, eg 5 mg of Valium. This will bring your bp down.

[quote] However, if you were to calculate BMI for some of the ripped bodybuilders from tiktok, they'd also be "overweight" because BMI fails to take into consideration body fat percentage, as a matter of fact, it's supposed to be a quick proxy for estimating body fat. Muscle is more dense than fat, so someone with more muscle, even if they also have some fat, are going to have a higher BMI score.

I doubt OP’s blubber is actually muscle in disguise.

You can cheat salt with lemon flavoring. As someone mentioned upthread, Penzeys makes some good blends.

I am also cutting back on some things … I got away from sugar this year…. So I appreciate the advice in this thread!

I have had hypertension for the last 13 years. I've tried a lot of combinations but what works for me is Furosemide 20mg in the morning and before bed, 20mgs of Lisinopril and Amlodipine. My BP is fine and i have no side effects. Furosemide will make you run to the bathroom to pee for the first few hours in the morning but it tapers off around 11am. I also drink lots of water and run about 5 miles in the morning.

Well, this has been a strange time, indeed. Yesterday, after posting this thread I started to freak out about the situation. All week my pressure had been 160/100, so I only ate oatmeal for breakfast and an orange. For dinner I had rice and beans with roast chicken with no salt anywhere. Oh, I also drank about 8 tall glasses of water all day.

I really had trouble sleeping and worrying about what my reading was going to be in the morning. I got up and tested my pressure, which was 181/104. I started freaking out even more, so I took my dog for a long walk, over a mile. When got back, the pressure was 156/94. I was relieved a bit, so I ate some more oatmeal and the latest reading was 164/97 which is close to what it has been all week. Can pressure change that fast? I don't know if it is me or my machine, but I am going to the doctor this afternoon and I will post the results. Thank you all for your support, guidance and suggestions. I have printed out R10 list and gonna give it to her to explain. This is really scary as I feel fine except when I read this stupid machine.

Good luck at the doc OP. As mentioned above bring your machine with you to the doc. Ask if you need a bigger cuff. I am 6’ and 180 and need an extra large cuff to get an accurate reading.

As has been mentioned here, work with your doctor. I have HBP (overweight, Black female). Blacks are almost always told to eliminate salt from their diet if they have HBP. I get a lab check every 6 months. At my last visit, my doctor told me my sodium was VERY low so I needed to add some salt back into my diet. I am taking Olmesartan and Amlodipine. With meds, my BP is usually 140/80.

I am trying to eat more fish and chicken as well as fresh vegetables. I don't like beets but I have started taking a Total Beets supplement. Walmart sells them. So far they do seem to be helping. I need to get back to walking. I preferred my after work walks (4:45 pm) but it's dark by then now. I need to bite the bullet and go in the afternoon.

Lastly, there's a phenomenon known as "white coat anxiety" or something like that. If you start to get nervous at the doctor's office, simply take some long, slow deep breaths. Getting your BP checked can cause a little anxiety (Will it be higher or lower? New meds? Something else?) I do this when the tech and doctor both take by BP. It does help.

Good luck, OP and don't worry about it. There are meds and things you can do to help reduce your BP. Worrying about it will only make it worse.

White coat anxiety is real and doctors know this. My doc takes my bp at the start and end of each appointment. He has also had me walk the halls for five minutes between readings. Even with my home machine, if I haven’t used it in a while I get anxious that my pressure will be high — and it is. I do some deep breathing and try again and it is always significantly lower.

[quote]When got back, the pressure was 156/94. I was relieved a bit, so I ate some more oatmeal and the latest reading was 164/97 which is close to what it has been all week. Can pressure change that fast?

Yes, it can. Also, it's very likely to change after exercise and eating. Until you get it under control, consider taking readings at set times through the day, such as morning before eating, afternoon, before bed. Make sure to write down the readings in a small calendar or notebook and KEEP TRACK.

When you take the readings, sit down and relax for a couple minutes and take a few cleansing breaths. THEN take the reading.

What I said in r29 is important: "Rather than getting caught up in the idea that one brand or category of medication is "better" than another, you may want to think more broadly: There are multiple categories of medications that work to reduce blood pressure. Their relative effectiveness varies and will vary from person to person. These can be prescribed alone or in combination to achieve results. In addition, each drug and drug category may have different side effects, interactions, and contraindications.There is no one "right" drug or combination of drugs for every person."

Stay calm. If all you've done is started with an ACE inhibitor and it's not working, your doctor still has plenty of options for other medications.

Side note: Some studies suggest that:

[quote]Across secondary and safety outcomes, patients on ARBs had significantly lower risk of angioedema, cough, pancreatitis, and GI bleeding. In our large-scale, observational network study, ARBs do not differ statistically significantly in effectiveness at the class level compared with ACE inhibitors as first-line treatment for hypertension but present a better safety profile. These findings support preferentially prescribing ARBs over ACE inhibitors when initiating treatment for hypertension

From: Comparative First-Line Effectiveness and Safety of ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers: A Multinational Cohort Study

RuiJun Chen, Marc A. Suchard, Harlan M. Krumholz, Martijn J. Schuemie, Steven Shea, Jon Duke, Nicole Pratt, Christian G. Reich, David Madigan, Seng Chan You, Patrick B. Ryan and George Hripcsak

r10 / r16 / r29 /r91 / r92 We are so fortunate to have you on DL. Don't ever go away!

[quote]Can pressure change that fast?

Absolutely. And anxiety such as you're currently feeling can drive it through the roof -- especially the diastolic pressure (top number). Here are some breathing exercises that can help you relax before you take a reading.

I went to a doctor for an unrelated reason (sore shoulder) and they said my bp was 180 (normally 130/80) when I walked in? I guess the stress of going to a doctor (and finding a parking place) was enough to send it through the roof.

Pain can also spike your blood pressure, R95. Any anxiety-inducing situation can cause blood pressure to elevate.

If you're sick and taking medicine it can mess with your BP too. I think the main thing is eat sensibly, exercise and watch your weight.

Constipation messes with your BP. I had no idea, but my father had a problem with it.

R95, similar issue. I thought I broke my toe so I went to my GP. She noticed I hadn't had a full physical in a few years. She discovered my HBP.

Having a full bladder can raise your BP, so be sure to pee before taking your blood pressure.

About a year ago, I found myself in the ER with blood pressure and heart rate that were at very high levels that just weren't coming down after a few hours. I had been flirting around with occasional elevated BP levels for about 6 months beforehand, but not like this.

I was put on a low dose of metoprolol which seems to have taken care of it. Also, went on a statin around the same time because the cholesterol was high too, so I had to really adjust my eating habits. Cutting out alcohol, caffeine (except for tea and dark chocolate), lunch meats, hamburgers, pizza, etc, and reading labels for fats, cholesterol, and sodium levels made me drop 20 pounds pretty quick. After a few months, I re-introduced a small nightly glass of wine & a morning cup of coffee back into my routine, and the BP has been fine. I do treat myself occasionally with something on the 'bad food' list, but if you're extra careful the rest of the week, it's likely fine.

I recommend the Calm app for relaxing when the heart starts racing, and for helping sleep.

I need to look for a drug to deal with the soul crushing realization that I’ll never enjoy fast food or booze again.

Well, I went to the doctor this afternoon. The nurse took my blood pressure and it was 170/106. I brought my machine with me and asked her to check it out and show me how to put the cuff on correctly and my machine logged in as 170/113. So, I feel relieved that our machines were close. She asked me if had any symptoms and I mentioned the dry hack I had while taking Lisinopril. She annotated my file and sent me into see the doctor. The doctor mentioned we needed to do something. I showed her my list of suggestions from [R10] / [R16] / [R29] /[R91] / [R92] and she was very impressed with the information. When I mention my dry cough I got from the Lisinopril, she immediately told me to stop taking it. Then she prescribed Amlodipine at 5mg in the morning and 5mg before bed. She seemed to think this was going to do the trick and told me to come back in a month. I asked her what happens if it elevated again. She said if it gets to 180 or 190/100, to give her a call. She also told me not to check my pressure more than once a day and to keep a log for 30 days and bring it back to show her. I asked about diet, and she said my salt and potassium levels were fine, so no drastic changes were needed. However she said drinking should be minimal and to keep my salt no more than 1500 mg per day. I guess it went okay, but won't truly stop worrying until I see the numbers go down. Good news is my foot is much better and I may be able to do a job after the first of the year. I hope it works. Does Amlodipine have any weird side effects?

OP - glad you were able to see you doctor.

If you mean "weird" like the cough that sometimes occurs with ACE inhibitors, with Amlodipine, one "weird" side effect might be swelling of extremities - hands, feet, ankles,or lower legs. The other side effects are the ones you'd expect taking medications - nausea, upset stomach, dizziness/lightheadedness, drowsiness and such.

One thing you definitely should watch on a calcium channel blocker like Amlodipine is consuming grapefruit. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice can increase the concentration of amlodipine in your body.

Did your doctor not explain side effects and note the grapefruit interaction? Your doctor should always be your first line of defense for all medical knowledge - as entertaining as DLers can be.

In very simplified and generalized description of the differences between calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors:

Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering muscle cells in your heart and blood vessels. This has the effect of keeping blood vessels from tightening or slowing your heart rate or making your heart reduce how hard it squeezes to push blood - depending on the particular drug.

ACE inhibitors prevent your body from making a hormone that tells blood vessels to tighten.

^^^I should clarify "The other side effects which MIGHT occur are the ones that you'd expect taking any medications..."

You may have no side effects from the medication.

As with all medications, you should be aware and on the lookout in case any arise.

r103 Thank you, but I don't like grapefruit. Everything else I love, but grapefruit. Unfortunately, she didn't go through any side effects with me. Just like she didn't explain the cough. Thank you for pointing this out to me. I guess I have my research to do. You have been terrific!

OP, I've been on Amlodipine for more than 2 years. I have not side effects. My doctor always asks about any swelling and checks my ankles. So far, so good.

Even if your doctor doesn't list possible side effects, read the literature that comes from the pharmacy. Ask the pharmacist if you have questions. Lastly, remember that you may not experience any of the side effects or maybe one or two. Whatever you do, don't stress about it. Take your meds as prescribed, eat sensibly, and try to relax.

Drugs.com is a good resource for finding out about medications. Lists side effects and food/drug interactions. It also provides pictures of tablets/capsules so you know why a generic drug may look different between refills (different generic companies make drugs in different shapes/colors)

Those of you who like the blended spices you get from Penzy's, what do you like or suggest? I have only used bottled spices, but no-salt blended ones sound interesting.

Here are their entire salt free offerings, r108. Justice is the best salt free substitute, imo

The plant samphire is also an option

[quote]Samphire has not only anti-inflammatory compounds that protect the heart and arteries, but also several minerals that are beneficial for regulating blood pressure, such as magnesium and potassium. Although it’s high in sodium, one study found that samphire did not contribute to hypertension or vascular dysfunction. Researchers believe that its anti-inflammatory compounds, such as ferulic acid, might be at least partly responsible for the vasoprotective effects of samphire, and it may even help prevent high blood pressure.

OK, R108, I got a 4 pack gift from a friend who knows I enjoycooking. This included: Tuscan Sunset, (Italian style seasoning) , Sunny Spain, Bavarian, and Mural of Flavor. I later got myself some Chili 9000, and a small jar of Garam Masala. It depends on what I'm cooking. My favorite is the Tuscan and the Garam Masala, b ecause I use them most, but the others are very good too. Just look at the ingredients for them to determine what works with your food. They save me a lot of time. I used to have a dozen bottles of various spices on the counter while I was cooking something, now I just need a couple.

We like spicy foods, so I also have some Chinese Five Spice powder, some Vindaloo, some Hot Curry, and some Berbere seasonings. The whole experience has caused me to do some research on various recipes to use these to their best advantage. I'm very happy with them.

Seems Penzeys has gone full throttle on Republicans. Don't Republicans like Penzeys?

[quote] What does any of this mean? Going forward we would still be glad to have you as customers, but we’re done pretending the Republican Party’s embrace of cruelty, racism, Covid lies, climate change denial, and threats to democracy are anything other than the risks they legitimately are. If you need us to pretend you are not creating the hurt you are creating in order for you to continue to be our customer, I’m sad to say you might be happier elsewhere.

[quote] If on the other hand you still want the best spices and don’t need us to respect what you now vote for to be our customer, Hooray! We are happy to have you here, but know that we will, on a regular basis, try to wake you up from this dream that has you believing there is anything conservative left at all to what the Republican Party has become. We can and will work without Republicans to solve the problems we face, but it sure would be nice to get back to a time where Republicans were equal defenders of equality, the environment, and democracy. We look forward to that day.

[quote]Don't Republicans like Penzeys?

Ya got it backwards, r112. Penzeys doesn't like Republicans.

You are overweight for your height. Only mildly though. Eat lots of green and kale. Avoid fried food like the plague. If you must fry, air fry. And stop putting mayonnaise on your sandwiches. In fact you might want to avoid deli meat in full.

[quote] Ya got it backwards, [R112]. Penzeys doesn't like Republicans.

Well now. Seems everyone on my Christmas list will get products from Penzeys!

r111 They all sound delicious. I just ordered them all!

My co-worker/buddy is also taking Amlodipine 5mg once a day. he doesn't have any side effects. he still drinks like a fish. he goes for annual check up and all his readings are normal. he's normal weight.

R110, i've never heard of this veg. and don't think I've even seen it at the supermarket!

All these mentions of foods or supplements reminds me of Steve Jobs regretting eschewing regular healthcare in favor of alternative treatment.

for those taking Amlodipine, any long term side effects? it's ok to take this for the rest of your life?

R120, I ended up with puffy ankles on 10mg of Amlodipine. I now take 5mg and 2.5mg of a diuretic. It's not entirely working though and I'm heading back to my GP next week. My problem is I get really bad white-coat syndrome and I'm now getting anxious taking it at home. As soon as I hear that cuff inflate my pulse races. Next step is some therapy or anti-anxiety meds. It's the tricky thing about high BP; stress makes it worse but knowing I could drop dead any minute from a stroke or aneurysm doesn't really help.

R121 How long did it take between taking Amlodipine and your ankles puffing up? Weeks, months, years? How puffy did you get? Was it noticeable to other people and received comments? Perhaps, as an Eldergay, I could use a little puffing up so I don't look so wrinkly.

[quote]r110, i've never heard of this veg. and don't think I've even seen it at the supermarket!

I've seen it in a few markets, r118, but it is more commonly foraged. Shakespeare wrote about it in King Lear: “Half-way down hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!” (Act IV, Scene VI, Lines 18-19).

I was able to grow it for several years on a waterfront property. I enjoyed it and used it frequently. I have read that there is product known as "green salt" that is made of samphire, but that's all I know about it. The plant itself is interesting.

very interesting, thank you!

R222, it took about 2 weeks to really notice the puffing up. You know when you take your socks off and there's a line? It was like that but a really deep line, kind of like a tied ham. The bigger problem was 10mg resulted in postural hypotension but 5mg wasn't getting my BP down enough.

r125 You mentioned you were going back to your GP next week. Please keep us informed of your meeting.

I'm diabetic so can't eat a lot of grains or legumes, they both spike my sugars. That leaves very little to eat other than vegetables and meats.

Just to summarize, about four months ago I went to my doctor as my blood pressure was 150/90. She gave me a script for Lisinopril/Zestril at 20mg per day. After two weeks my pressure was 160/100, even with the medication. I also had some dry coughing side effects, so she took me off that medication and put me on 10mg of Amlodipine - 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night. It has been a month now and my pressure is averaging 145/95. So, this doesn't seem to be working much either, although I have started doing some light jogging after breaking my foot four months ago. I have some swelling in my foot that was broken and it still hurts and throbs, sometimes. She said it was bone spurs, which I didn't have until I broke it. I am thinking about asking her to recommend a podiatrist to check it out. My blood pressure seems to go down a bit after the jog, but then goes right back up again a few hours later. I have also cut out salt and alcohol and my weight is down, as well. I feel terrific otherwise.

I am going back to her on Tuesday for another evaluation. Anybody have any recommendations what I should say to her?

Absolutely ask to see a specialist about your foot, they may send you to physical therapy and not a podiatrist, but that alone will be a big help. Don't keep running on it if it causes pain and swelling. Trust me on this.

You probably want to get that diastolic down to 90 or lower, but keep in mind home cuffs aren't great, so if that's what you're using, it may be giving you a slightly inaccurate reading. See what it says at the doctor's office and go from there. Tell her what your home cuff readings are.

Thanks r129. It seems I have a pretty good home cuff, as I took it to the doctors office and they showed me how to do it correctly. I got the same reading with the cuff as they did with their stethoscope reading.

The finding of my foot X-ray were: FINDINGS: The bones of the right foot were intact without evidence of an acute fracture or dislocation. An os perineum and an os subtibiale were seen, normal accessory ossicles. Hypertrophic changes were seen at the MTP joint of the great toe. Plantar calcaneal spur was also seen. An enthesophyte was seen Achilles tendon insertion. Spurring was seen at the dorsal articulation of the navicular bone with the talus. Ligamentous calcification/ossification was seen at the talocalcaneal joint. There is minor swelling of the soft tissues about the metatarsal region.

I really don't know what this means, but since there was no 'acute fracture', an additional doctor didn't seem to be warranted at the time, but perhaps now it is time?

I would definitely say it's time to get the foot checked out in more detail. I had injured my posterior tibial tendon on my left foot and because it wasn't detached, my family practitioner said there wasn't really anything to do about it. There was no surgery to help. However, I continued to have pain and swelling and it affected my movement, so I asked and he sort of hand-waved me off to a physical therapist, but what I learned there helped a lot. Between that and using a brace temporarily, I had quite a bit of improvement. I would recommend at least asking.

You may need to be on more than one medication for the high blood pressure. It is not uncommon to be on multiple different types of medication to control blood pressure since each type functions differently (see my previous posts).

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker.

You should ask her about adding Losartan, Olmesartan, or Telmisartan (or similar ARB - but those are the more common ones) to the amlodipine. They even make a 40mg+5mg Telmisartan+Amolodipine combined pill.

Of course, there are a variety of other types of medication, so your doctor would know what's best for your treatment and would ultimately be the best source of information. But being informed and having good questions will allow a better foundation to advocate for your own health.

[quote] ^^^ No, I am 6'2" and weigh 205.

Weight loss won't help you. You need to change your diet and habits.In addition to the pharmaceuticals, try garlic tablets.

^^^garlic

Here's an interesting link to garlic/garlic supplementation as a starting point.

[quote]How much garlic should you use to treat high blood pressure? The amount of garlic that can treat your high blood pressure narrows down to specific doses from a report based on several clinical trials¹. So far, this report has provided the following garlic doses for treating hypertension:

188mg of garlic powder mixed with egg-yolk taken daily for twelve weeks

400mg of raw garlic taken daily for six months

240-2,400mg of aged garlic extract a day for two to twenty-three weeks

600 – 2,400mg of garlic powder daily for eight to twenty-four weeks

12.3mg of garlic oil daily for sixteen weeks

[quote]Even though the above dosage and forms can significantly lower blood pressure, most studies suggest that using aged garlic extract can achieve the most benefits. Apart from that, taking high doses between 400mg to 2,4000mg proves to be more effective than lower doses.

[quote]Your BMI is 26.3, so yes, you are overweight.

You can't tell without callipers. Body fat percentage is what matters.

You need to see a dietitian, not a bunch of DLers.

Thanks —r10 / 16 / 29 / 91 / 92 / 103 / 104 / r132. Do the X-rays finding in r130 mean anything to you? My doctor barely mentioned any of them and I am beginning to wonder... Do you think a second opinion with a podiatrist is warranted?

Is the doctor prescribing the blood pressure meds a cardiologist or a GP? You might need to see a specialist who can come up with the right combination to stabilize your bp.

[quote]My doctor barely mentioned any of them and I am beginning to wonder... Do you think a second opinion with a podiatrist is warranted?

OP - if your doctor didn't provide a remedial course of action and you continue to be in pain and exhibit other symptoms like swelling, you may want to ask your doctor for a specific course of treatment which may include a followup with a podiatrist or other specialist, especially if this has been occurring for months.

As a side note, when you broke your foot you probably compensated for the pain and adjusted the way you walk and step. In turn this may have resulted in other stress or repetitive stress related injuries. For example, a person could end up with heel spurs due to plantar fasciitis which can result from things as benign as tight calf and achilles tendons causing poor foot mechanics. If you have bone spurs, they do not go away on their own.

Final note, be careful of using NSAIDs, like Ibuprofin, for foot pain if you're on blood pressure medication. You should search whether you can take them with your particular type of medication. Often acetaminophen is preferred although it does not provide the site inflammation reduction that ibuprofin does. Be sure to ask your doctor if you're on blood pressure medication about taking any other prescriptions OR over the counter medications, including stuff like cold and flu meds, antihistamines, etc.

You should ALWAYS be comfortable asking your doctor to explain in detail any medical situation, courses of treatment, upside/downside of various treatment options, or your own preferences for treatment.

really why is ibuprofin bad if you're on blood pressure meds? acetaminophen is bad for liver.

What is wrong with the vape? I don't vape or smoke but I am looking for some ways to reduce anxiety and I thought vaping could help.

Vape users may be significantly more likely to suffer from heart attack, coronary artery disease and depression, according to new research published by the American College of Cardiology. Users were one-third more likely to suffer a stroke and 56 percent more likely to have a heart attack compared to non-users.

Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.

Bump

If you do restrict salt, lemon juice is a fab substitute

The DASH diet

Restricting salt is extremely difficult for me . I have no problem limiting sugar, but I crave salt. I have no idea why. If it wasn't unhealthy I could eat a lemon covered in salt three times a day.