Blood Pressure Concerns?

[GasMan]

I see a lot of info in here about blood pressure. The truth of the matter is that the "GOAL" bp for most family practice, internal medicine physicians is 140systolic/90diastolic.

Systolic is the pressure in your arteries when the left ventricle is pumping (LV is the lower left chamber of your heart that pumps blood through the Aorta to you entire body except the lungs), and diastolic is the pressure in your arteries when the left ventricle is at rest.

The guidelines are set forth by the Joint National Committee on Blood Pressure (JNC VII) and are lower for people with diabetes and/or current heart disease.

The truth of the matter is even a person with a systolic BP of 137 (on average) over a period of 5 years can and most likely will start to develop heart disease.

The most common beginning stages of heart disease is called cardiac remodeling. This is done because the high pressure in the arteries cause the heart to pump harder and more often. The heart is a muscle and grows just like a bicep would. The ideal shape of the overall heart is somewhat of an upside down triangle, the Left Ventrice being the first area to begin remodeling itself, making it less efficient and beginning a downward spiral.

Blodd pressure control is IMPERATIVE, and not an option. The difference from someone who has a 115/85 BP and a 135/95 BP is the person with the lower BP has HALF the chance of heart disease, heart attack or stroke.

Dont mess around with this. Get to your doctor. There are plenty of good medications with very few side effects that can easily get you a 10-15 point drop in blood pressure.

 

[Whoson1st]

Very good information that my doctor has not explained to me. Appreciate your post!!

If one can not get the bp down by diet and exercise, what meds have the least side effect ?

 

[coutts99]

Drugs like Diovan (Valsartan) likely have the least side-effects. They don't make you urinate more and are unlikely to cause sexual dysfunction. Altace (Ramipril) which is an ACE inhibitor works in a similar fashion to Diovan. Cost could be an issue with these drugs as they cost about 60 dollars per month.

 

[quantumleap]

This is good to know. I'm lucky that my BP is around the 115/85 area. I asked my doctor if it was too low and she said it was ok. I had heard that normal BP for the first number is 100 + your age. I guess that's not true.

Either way, get to your doctor once a year. I also get an echochardiogram since I used to have a valve prolapse. I plan on doing the treadmill along with this year's exam. I should pass that since I walk every day.

 

[GasMan]

The old addage of 100+ your age goes back to about the 50s or 60s when BP was just in its beginning stages of measurment.

Diovan and Altace are both excellent choices for beginning therapies. They mainly act on a body system called the RAS (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system). The RAS is sort of a BP regulator for the body, activating when BP needs to be elevated and deactivating when BP needs to be lower (such as at night time or periods of relaxation).

Another agent that is a little more powerful is Norvasc and is the leading hypertension drug in the world. It has some side effects though such as swelling of the ankles, fingers toes and other extremities (not the dong though!). It is a side effect that fortunately can be offset by adding either Diovan or Altace. The most economical form of Norvasc comes in a drug called Lotrel (combination of Lotrel and Benazapril, a drug VERY similar to Altace). It is a single pill with two agents in it and is the big boy on the block when it comes to bad hypertension. It works in African Americans as well as it does in Caucasions, but is NOT indicated for INITIAL BP therapy.

Hope this helps.

There are some older meds such as Diuretics and Beta Blockers that lower Bp pretty well, but have some pretty extreme side effects. Beta Blockers can cause erectial dysfunction!

 

[GasMan]

The most economical form of Norvasc comes in a drug called Lotrel (combination of Lotrel and Benazapril, a drug VERY similar to Altace). It is a single pill with two agents in it and is the big boy on the block when it comes to bad


Correction....this should say the Lotrel is a combination of NORVASC and Benazapril......sorry for the error.:nohead:

 

[EinsteinSys]

I've always had great blood pressure. Always around 120/80. A little more then a year ago I was having these constant headaches. They weren't the migraine type. They were more blunt but always constant. I also began to experience on occasion an irregular heart beat. My blood pressure would fluctuate about 20-35 points higher then normal (145/95 or something like that) . Went to the doctor a few times and finally settled on 25 mg. of ATENOLOL. My blood pressure is back down to normal and I don't have the headaches anymore. Some days I forget to take a pill especially if I'm out of town and I may experience some heart flutters. I'm 61 years old.

I'm also thinking that part of my problem was that I haven't been exercising as much as I should the last few years. I let my health club membership run out a few years ago and as of yet I haven't rejoined. I'm sure getting back on a regimented exercise plan would help immensely. I also cut back on drinking wine. If I have more then a half a glass I will sometimes get a headache.

 

[Dante]

yep...check your bloodpressure regularly and go see a DR for a full physcial every year ...do not be scared it could save your life

 

[GasMan]

Hey Einstein...

Atenelol is a Beta Blocker which is an older, cheaper but extrememly effective BP medication. They are great because they help regulate you heartrate, almost like a pacemaker in a pill. Their are a couple side effects, one of them being sexual dysfunction. Not trying to get into your personal life, but it is one that too me is VERY ImPORTANT!
:nopityA:
Glad to hear you are doing well with it.

 

[Degenerate]

Last time I checked mine was 127/80 about two weeks ago. It was after being up for about 12 hours and 11 hours after two large cups of coffee so i'm sure it was a little higher after the coffee. Guess I should check and see what it is after the coffee. I'm 41. In ok shape but about 10 pounds over what I should be.