Hypertension anyone?

Was diagnosed with hypertension at 32, took some meds for a while which controlled it. Never smoked, can't stand anything salty and wasn't much overweight. I've completely changed my diet, not to lose weight, just because I knew I wasn't eating healthy foods. Stopped drinking soda's plus finding out I am allergic to corn and anything corn based has completely changed my eating and drinking habits. When I started paying attention I was 207, now I'm 185. I didn't do it to lose weight but it is a nice byproduct.

Anyway,
my dad died of a heart attack when I was 17, I know you have kids and I know what it was like to go through that crucial time of my life without my Dad. You've got a huge family that is here to support you. We have faith in you.

I was diagnosed with high BP too many years ago to recall. It took several different medicines and even a patch to come up with the correct treatment. A little pill everyday keeps it under control. A little healthier diet also helps.

STOP SMOKING !
My wife was a three pack a day smoker. She quit. Too late.

Since the trip to the doctors office the BP has been pretty stable. The highest I've seen since was 132/80, that was immediately after fast walking 2 miles. It's been staying in the 115/75 range. They must have hit the meds pretty close to dead on. I'm down to one soda a day from 3-4. Lots of salads and smaller portions. I've already dropped about 5-6 pounds. A lot of that is probably water weight, from the diuretics they have me on, but it's trending down. My goal is to drop from 265 to 225 over the next year.

The smoking is going to kick my butt. I've cut back about a half a pack a day, but the other 1 1/2 packs are going to be tough. The last time I tried the patch it didn't work out too well. I'll be talking to the doctor about it on Tuesday.

I'll keep on, keeping on.

don't know if it'll work for you ... but I quit using a hypnotist ... (individual session, not a group session) ... 'course it might have been that I'm such a cheap E36 M3 ... (this was in 1994) .. there was no way in hell I was going to throw away $185 by lighting up ....

so I don't know if it was the $$$ or the hypnotist

The Dr finally got my attention when I was in my 40's. I either made lifestyle changes or went on meds. I tried the lifestyle first cutting out coffee, tea and sodas; I drink only water. I eat a salad every day for lunch. I walk 2 miles EVERY day unless it is lightning or is under 20 degrees and work out 3x per week. Family history/genes still worked against me but only in the form of a mild dieuretic and now Losartan. I was diagnosed as having Hemochromotosis which is the inability of your system to handle iron and now I undergo periodic theraputic blood draws at Medic to lower my ferratin levels.

Get yourself a good Doc and listen to his advice. High blood pressure can effect your life in so many ways. You will feel better and live longer if you control it while you are young. Cut out the hazardous activity ie smoking and drinking and spend the extra money on your racing. You will enjoy life much longer if you dont try to fight it.

whenry wrote: I undergo periodic theraputic blood draws at Medic to lower my ferratin levels.

so we've come full circle and have brought back the medieval practice of blood letting

Growing up and through most of my adult life, mine was always pretty predictable around 110/70. As I got out into the "real" world with large, frustrating stresses, poor diet, smoking, terrible job, etc, I peaked at 180/120. I'm on a low dose of Losartan and I'm back to normal.

I have ditched most of the stresses (however I'm dealing with this depression) and I'm pretty sure I could get off of the Losartan and manage it normally.

Its not a death sentence. Its not like Diabetes that will always be there for the rest of your life, you have to just take control of it. As my doctor says, "you don't have high blood pressure because of a lack of Lopressor HCl in your diet."

You can do it, man.

In reply to wbjones: Yes, but it is better than going on the blood thinners or other meds. Too much iron causes your blood to thicken and will eventually clog your liver, kidneys and other organs.

can you donate blood ? would that do the same thing (is it often enough ?) would it be safe for the recipient ?

I'm the other end of the scale, it sometimes dips to around 90/60. When I'm feeling great though, it's around 100/60 or so. My diet consists of almost no processed foods whatsoever. Lots and lots of water. I don't eat corn, salt, greasy food or dairy, just lots of fresh healthy stuff with lots of herbs and spices.

I've been feeling like crap all afternoon so I checked my BP when I got home. 100/60. That's the lowest I have ever seen it. Apparently diuretics and sweating my ass off aren't a good combination. Pinch test says dehydration even though I drank 5 bottles of water since noon. That is a first for me, I've never been dehydrated in my life. More water from now on, lots and lots more water. 16 ounces in the last 20 minutes, and I feel much better. BP is now 119/80.

The good news is my weight is down from 269 to 261. Not bad for a couple of weeks of diet change. I might actually make it to 220.

Holy crap! I'm supposed to be drinking 2 gallons of water a day.

That's a lot. I've got some catching up to do.

don't get hyponatraemia, that E36 M3 will kill you too. ask your doc if you're at risk, since you're supposed to be drinking 2 gallons a day.

Toyman01 wrote: Holy crap! I'm supposed to be drinking 2 gallons of water a day. That's a lot. I've got some catching up to do.

Wow, really? People think I'm crazy because I typically drink 4-5L a day.

2 gallons total. Cup of soup? That counts. Eat a juicy orange? That counts too.

have ya quit smoking yet ?

In reply to wbjones:

No.

Doctors appointment today at 10:00. I'm hoping some of the new drugs will help.

Well, today ended with a trip to the ER. I thought I was having a heart attack. Thank the Lord, I wasn't, but it still scared the crap out of me.

Diagnosis? Premature ventricular complex, apparently fairly common and benign. I've never experienced it before and it purely scared the E36 M3 out of me. Probably caused by the diuretic they put me on. I get another trip to see the doctor.

Yeah me.

Oh, and getting old sucks.

Toyman01 wrote: Oh, and getting old sucks.

Beats being dead, I figure.

David S. Wallens wrote:

Toyman01 wrote: Oh, and getting old sucks.

Beats being dead, I figure.

Very true.

I will also say, if you ever need fast service at an ER, go in with heart trouble. I was on an EKG machine in less than a minute, in the back with an IV and blood drawn in under 5 and spoke to a doctor in under 30. Blood work done to rule out a heart attack was complete in 20 minutes, all other blood work done in two hours. Color me impressed. And they were stupid busy. I was in room 15.5 which is a spot in the hall outside room 15. It was literally labeled 15.5 with a clipboard holder mounted to the wall. Apparently, they need a bigger ER.

Toyman01 wrote: Well, today ended with a trip to the ER. I thought I was having a heart attack. Thank the Lord, I wasn't, but it still scared the crap out of me. Diagnosis? Premature ventricular complex, apparently fairly common and benign. I've never experienced it before and it purely scared the E36 M3 out of me. Probably caused by the diuretic they put me on. I get another trip to see the doctor. Yeah me.

Holy E36 M3, son. Glad you are OK.

And lemme remind you: getting old beats getting cold.

Yep, there are national benchmarks we have to meet. The time between presenting with chest pain, EKG, blood sent to lab, diagnosed as heart attack, and being stented is all measured against a standard. Door to balloon time should be less than 90 minutes, in many circumstances much less.

Glad it was nothing serious!

In reply to bastomatic:

Well, Trident Medical Center here in town did a pretty damn good job. They are a customer of mine. I even got a visit from the engineering department while I was there..

I guess they will be getting some of their money back.

bastomatic wrote: Yep, there are national benchmarks we have to meet. The time between presenting with chest pain, EKG, blood sent to lab, diagnosed as heart attack, and being stented is all measured against a standard. Door to balloon time should be less than 90 minutes, in many circumstances much less. Glad it was nothing serious!

when I had my "cardiac event" they did things a bit differently

called Primary Care 1 (my group) at the Asheville VA about 5:30am when I got to work (I had been experiencing chest pains (exercise induced) all weekend ... they normally return calls starting at 8am ..

I was called by 7:15 and told to get to the ER ... IMMEDIATELY

got there and was sent for a stress test within the hr (understand that I wasn't having pains as long as I took it easy)

the test results showed that there was some ant. of blockage (it really can't show how much)

the head of ER told me that he would like to schedule a catheterization for later in the week (it actually became the following Mon) as they had much better luck when they could schedule them as opposed to doing them as an emergency procedure ... (ended up getting 2 stints in the Rt. cor. artery)

been 2 or 3 yrs now ... no complications