High Blood Pressure
- Thread starter jeffn
- Start date
Cosmic Charlie
Well-Known Member
The meds can, may, affect your love life. Do not resist taking them if perscribed by your doctor. Nothing to mess around with, the consequences are many and all serious. Good Luck and take care of yourself. CC
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
My recommendation is to stay off medications if possible. There is nothing natural about taking medications. They all have side effects, some more tolerable than others. Your doctor is likely to be unaware of most of them. Do a serious diet and exercise program first. You pressure fluctuates all day long so buy a machine and see what your pressure runs during the day for a week or two. Your numbers are not so high that you need to approach it as an emergency but you do need to address it! As with any sickness be a part of the treatment discussion and don't blindly had yourself over to someone you see every few months.
75Center
Super Member
Glad you got your medication. I am the only sibling in my family without high blood pressure, but I am the youngest and I work out all the time. I still think I'll end up with it someday.
My dad went out of town for a WWII Navy Reunion. He forgot to take his meds with him. He had a stroke a day or two after he came home. Could no longer write, drive, and had some memory problems. Could no longer live alone and had to go to assisted living.
As everyone else has said - don't mess with this stuff. Everybody ends up on medication of some sort in their lifetime. Ask any diabetic - do they like taking pills/shots?
My dad went out of town for a WWII Navy Reunion. He forgot to take his meds with him. He had a stroke a day or two after he came home. Could no longer write, drive, and had some memory problems. Could no longer live alone and had to go to assisted living.
As everyone else has said - don't mess with this stuff. Everybody ends up on medication of some sort in their lifetime. Ask any diabetic - do they like taking pills/shots?
Snade
humble AK member
Jeffn, the reading you got int he doctor's office - 145/85, that is somewhat high and you should follow your doctors advice and take the meds and stay on them.
But that reading is not that high. Meaning if you add regular exercise, lose a few pounds, and cut back on sodium, you may have a chance of controlling your BP in the future with a low dose of BP medications (with no side-effects).
If you don't exercise, don't reduce fat and sodium from your diet, you may need the higher-dose meds and these can have side effects.
The biggest impact you can have on lowering your sodium levels is to cut back on junk food. Count the number of times during the week that you eat junk food for a meal (that includes fast food places, pizza, etc). Let's say you count 6 meals a week of junk food. I would try to cut that to 2 or 3 times. If you do that, you will lower your sodium. A regular McDonald's hamburger has lots of sodium (that's why it tastes so good).
I don't think recommending cutting out all junk food is good - it makes you crave it more and you fall off the wagon and binge out on it. See if you can achieve a goal of cutting back by half the amount of junk food you eat in a week.
Good luck. Snade
But that reading is not that high. Meaning if you add regular exercise, lose a few pounds, and cut back on sodium, you may have a chance of controlling your BP in the future with a low dose of BP medications (with no side-effects).
If you don't exercise, don't reduce fat and sodium from your diet, you may need the higher-dose meds and these can have side effects.
The biggest impact you can have on lowering your sodium levels is to cut back on junk food. Count the number of times during the week that you eat junk food for a meal (that includes fast food places, pizza, etc). Let's say you count 6 meals a week of junk food. I would try to cut that to 2 or 3 times. If you do that, you will lower your sodium. A regular McDonald's hamburger has lots of sodium (that's why it tastes so good).
I don't think recommending cutting out all junk food is good - it makes you crave it more and you fall off the wagon and binge out on it. See if you can achieve a goal of cutting back by half the amount of junk food you eat in a week.
Good luck. Snade
Sandy G
Retired Member
Oh, yeah- BP meds CAN & mostly likely WILL affect yr love life...And also yr life in general. I can't say what is due to the stroke & what is due to The Pills, but I will tell you I don't see things the way I used to- the extreme highs & lows of emotion aren't there anymore. It's a subtle thing-One day you realise you haven't gotten REALLY mad in a long time. I used to be fanatical about yardwork & cleaning The Mighty Valdez-now it's kinda "Who Cares ?" Some of the passion is gone, I stay drowsy a lot, BUT...It STILL beats pushin' up daisies, or sittin' in a wheelchair droolin' on myself...As for the love life, well, damn glad there's Viagra.. Again, I can't tell how much of this is due to the pills & how much is due to the Stroke, but it is what it is. You kinda get used to it, after awhile it really doesn't bother you anymore...
Problem with BP medicine (pills) is that once you start they don't like to let you off of them. Try setting up a good exercise/proper eating regime first and see if that does you any good after 6-8 weeks. There are plenty of 'heart-healthy' programs out there. Just get onto one and follow it religiously. All with your doctor's approval, of course. For me. the exercise consists of bicycle riding and walking. Good luck.
dr*audio
Fish fingers and custard!
Sleep apnea can also cause high blood pressure. If you snore, you may have it. If you have a significant other who can tell you if you stop breathing when you sleep, ask them. If you don't but feel sleepy during the day, even after 8 hours sleep, or get headaches when you wake up, ask your doctor about having a sleep study done. Sleep apnea can cause heart damage.
stuartk
Super Member
I'll second (or third of fourth) the advice that has been given.
Your BP was high enough that you do want to control it and right away. Medication is the way to do that.
Next step is to exercise, eat healthy, and reduce your sodium intake.
Your doctor will be able to give you the details on what you need to do, and you really should listen to him or her.
I recommend getting a copy of this book too:
http://www.amazon.com/YOU-Owners-Insiders-Healthier-Younger/dp/0060765313
They give good advice and explain things well. They have a number of other books and a web site that are worthwhile too.
Don't buy one of those electronic blood pressure monitors that goes on your wrist. They just don't work well.
The electronic ones that have a cuff that wraps around your upper arm can be better, but you'll want to take it in to the doctor's office so they can check its accuracy.
You can also get a manual one (a sphygmomanometer) and a stethoscope. You usually get better accuracy, and they can be less expensive.
Finally, I'm not a doctor, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Check with your doctor for the real scoop.
Your BP was high enough that you do want to control it and right away. Medication is the way to do that.
Next step is to exercise, eat healthy, and reduce your sodium intake.
Your doctor will be able to give you the details on what you need to do, and you really should listen to him or her.
I recommend getting a copy of this book too:
http://www.amazon.com/YOU-Owners-Insiders-Healthier-Younger/dp/0060765313
They give good advice and explain things well. They have a number of other books and a web site that are worthwhile too.
Don't buy one of those electronic blood pressure monitors that goes on your wrist. They just don't work well.
The electronic ones that have a cuff that wraps around your upper arm can be better, but you'll want to take it in to the doctor's office so they can check its accuracy.
You can also get a manual one (a sphygmomanometer) and a stethoscope. You usually get better accuracy, and they can be less expensive.
Finally, I'm not a doctor, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Check with your doctor for the real scoop.
jeffn
Mid-Fi Crisis
But my doctor said to avoid salt. Incidentally, I am getting the flu, no doubt from someone in the doctors waiting room yesterday. Damn.
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