ways to lower blood pressure

[Tiggeroo]

I need to get my bp down. It's very high. I've started taking meds but it's going to be a challenge to get it low enough, i think.
So far what i'm doing in addition:
I've started the DASH diet
I'm walking every day and working seriously at weight loss
I"m taking calcium, magnesium, and COq10 every day.
I'm driinking plenty of water
Any other suggestions? If I can succesfully implement several things that help perhaps I can get it down enough and quicker.
I'm very worried about kidney damage. I'm esp. worried that they'll tell me some has already taken place when I get my blood work back.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I need to get my bp down. It's very high. I've started taking meds but it's going to be a challenge to get it low enough, i think.
So far what i'm doing in addition:
I've started the DASH diet
I'm walking every day and working seriously at weight loss
I"m taking calcium, magnesium, and COq10 every day.
I'm driinking plenty of water
Any other suggestions? If I can succesfully implement several things that help perhaps I can get it down enough and quicker.
I'm very worried about kidney damage. I'm esp. worried that they'll tell me some has already taken place when I get my blood work back.

PS - if you take bp meds did they take alot to get used to. Mine are causing back and stomach pain

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Watch the salt (maybe you already are). This is my weakness -- I crave salty foods.

Monitor your bp at least daily. I bought a small bp machine (battery powered). It's probably not as accurate as the doctor's but it's fairly close. Try to keep a chart of your readings (I use an Excel spreadsheet).

Try meditation exercises or yoga -- or just buy some relaxation CDs/tapes and spend some time each day with your eyes closed, learning to truly relax your entire body.

Beware the "white coat syndrome." For some people, like me, just going to the doctor sends my bp rising. My doctor realizes this and checks my bp a couple of times during the visit. Usually it is starting to go down right before I leave. Go figure!

 

[Tiggeroo]

I'm not happy with my dr. I tell her going to the dr makes me nervous. She seems to not believe in white coat syndrome. She only takes the bp once during visit. I asked about buying a home machine and she was against it. She said I'd have to bring it into the office all the time to have it calibrated and if it was high it would make me nervouse. I need to find another dr.
I'm watching my salt, following the dash diet which is very high in fruits and veggies. I'm nervous about too much exercise until the bp drops just a bit. I've been thinking about yoga and wondering if I could handle a beginners class. I think i'll go to the community center and watch one.
Is the home bp machine you have an arm cuff or a wrist cuff? I definitely want to pick one up.

 

[SamRoc]

I have found a natural way to lower my blood pressure. I eat unsalted peanuts, prunes and celery every day, when my bp goes up slightly. The Dr. wanted me on medication, but I felt I was too young to start taking something that might last a lifetime. In addition to this I started walking 2 miles a day and it really helped. Of course keep getting your bp checked by your doctor, but eating a combination of these three foods really did the trick.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I'm not happy with my dr. I tell her going to the dr makes me nervous. She seems to not believe in white coat syndrome. She only takes the bp once during visit. I asked about buying a home machine and she was against it. She said I'd have to bring it into the office all the time to have it calibrated and if it was high it would make me nervouse. I need to find another dr.
I'm watching my salt, following the dash diet which is very high in fruits and veggies. I'm nervous about too much exercise until the bp drops just a bit. I've been thinking about yoga and wondering if I could handle a beginners class. I think i'll go to the community center and watch one.
Is the home bp machine you have an arm cuff or a wrist cuff? I definitely want to pick one up.

Sounds like you do need a new doctor. My DW went to mine, but they didn't "click" so she's looking at changing. You need to find someone who is supportive and understanding. My doc encouraged the home machine (it's an arm cuff, BTW). I don't bring it in to calibrate; I track my readings and advise my doc during visits.

Some easy exercise to do is walking. Great aerobic activity. I tried yoga, but just can't do a lot of the bends and stretches, so I try other things.

When using the machine, don't let it make you crazy. I've had days when my bp soars (usually due to stress) and other times, it's spot-on normal or even below. I do try to be consistent with the test times though. And don't test for a couple of hours after exercising.

Best wishes for improved health. You can do it!

 

[Buckalew11]

Tiggeroo,

I just want you to know I am proud of your progress!! Dieting & exercise will really help you. I'd stick to walking for a while. It is really very good for you and if you try to much to fast it may overwhelm you and discourage you (I speak from experience!)

I'll never understand a doctor like yours. I am a believer in taking charge of our own health and asking questions and doing what we need to do at home for our own health. I understand her concern but I think it will make you feel better to moniter yourself. White coat syndrome is real (I don't get it but my best girlfriend does &she works at the hospital w/doctors all the time).

Anyway, I'm just popping in to encourage you. I am excited for you!!!

 

[CheshireVal]

I went through a period of high blood pressure-- I was put on medicine, which I hated, so I did everything I could to bring it down.

I started exercising every day. Though I didn't need to lose weight, I needed to be more active.

I started eating more healthy.

I started taking Magnesium, Calcium, and garlic supplements.

After about 4 months, I slowly weaned myself off the medicine, and I haven't had any problems since! My blood pressure still gets abnormally high very easily (when I'm stressed or upset), but for the most part it has stayed in the normal range.

Good luck to you!

 

[phorsenuf]

Don't be married
Don't have kids
Don't work
Don't drive
Don't grocery shop on a saturday
Don't watch the news
and never enter a thread about room occupancy, refillable mugs, strollers, ecv's or pool hopping.

Other than all that...live it up!


Just kidding around. I know both my parents and sisters have high blood pressure and they can pretty much control it through diet. I think maybe my mom is on meds, but a very low dosage.

 

[disney50fam]

I have high BP.
And by losing weight it helped me.
When I was PG it got as high as 202/ 126
Very scary!!!!!!
Now its still a little high but not as bad runing around
159/89

 

[budbeerlady]

Best wishes to you, I have high BP also (Doc really laid into me I was only 27 when diagnosed) Check it daily or everyother day. Cut the salt, and I started Yoga. I had to unwind and found a great instructor, tell they you have high BP, who helped me with a great "flow" to relax and lower the BP. It still gets up there, but has lowered since I cut some unnessary finance stress (you really can live w/out cable, phone if you have a cell phone, etc. to get ahead) and dont load everything on yourself. I was doing aton for Dh and other people I work with. They are adults and can step up to the plate. They are not worth my bad health to me, so I made them accoutable for more. Took some stress off me. And I cut out the coke (Diet Rc was caffine free).

Good luck!

 

[Christine]

I think losing weight and exercising are going to be your biggest "success" triggers here. Keep to those, more than anything, and I think it will work for you.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

1) Cut back on your salt intake - check labels because diet colas and frozen meals (lean cuisine?) are full of it. Don't even cook with it. My DH won't cook with it and just salts later.

2) Try Omega 3s - you can get this at a vitamin store.

3) Cook with fresh garlic - makes for a stinky house but it does work.

4) Exercise

Above all, listen to your doctor and go for regular bp checks. Until my meds were stabilized, my dr wanted to see me every 2 weeks. He took blood about once a month to check levels. Once it was stabilized, he moved to every 3 months as a follow up with blood work about every other appt. Don't try to wean yourself off of meds, thats why they went to med school for!
Check with your dr to see if he wants you to check it at home. Some insurance companies will pay for an at-home monitoring machine.

Good Luck with everything. PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[Rajah]

Try to find a hobby that helps lower blood pressure. Cross stitch / embroidery has been known to help, for example. Pets can, too.

 

[Figment22]

It sounds like you are doing several good things already to lower your BP. You could also add green tea to your list. It has been linked to reduced BP.

Good luck!

 

[Tiggeroo]

i've added green tea too. Hard to like without sugar though.

 

[sweet angel]

I have high BP and kidney issues. My doc told me that certain types of high BP will not be changed enough just by lifestyle changes and require meds to regulate.

I have a digital battery operated arm cuff. I use it mostly a week or so leading up to my doc appointments so I can record my regular BP, as well as what's in the office (I too get white coat syndrome). I bring what I've written so they can see how it runs normally.

If you have side effects of meds, tell your doc. There are so many different meds, they can find one that works and has no side effects.

Most importantly, if you're not comfortable with your doc, find one you ARE comfy with.

 

[Figment22]

i've added green tea too. Hard to like without sugar though.

I drink the decaffinated mint green tea by Celestial Seasonings. (I can't have caffeine as it gets my heart going.) It's much more palatable than the plain green tea.

 

[m&m's mom]

Just a FYI -Salt may not be a contributing factor.
When I was diagnosed w/ hbp the 1st thing I said to my Dr. was "I hate salt".
He said it was only certain people who salt affected. He said not to change my consumption at all.
Although I am sure I can lose a few pounds (which I am working on) I am not significantly overweight. Again, he said weight not an issue either. He said "as much you don't like it, you cannot pinpoint the problem and fix it that easy".
I am on low dose of medication that I try to remember to take.