I found out today that I have high blood pressure. Does anyone else have it? If so, what have you found to be the most effective ways to lower it. I will have to change many things now: more exercise, better diet, less work etc. Like Methersgate's thread, I too will have to change. BTW, I didn't want to hijack Andrew's thread. I very seldom drink alcohol and I don't smoke.
I have high blood pressure, and have been taking medicine for several years. At first I was interested in the causes, got books about diet and the different types of medical treatment, but now I have lost interest. Think I am something like 138/90 when taking the medicine at a guess. I drink loads of alcohol, but don't smoke.
My brother has it. Diet is important and lifestyle. Eliminate salt and sugar from your diet. Lots of fruit and vedge and fish. Weight is important. And exercise. And of course smoking and drinking are added risk factors ( says he trying to sound like Doc Alan) Stress is another factor. If one doesnt make the changes then medication is a potential solution.
I never add salt to my food, except for fish and chips. My diet seems a lot healthier when I am in Asia, I love the fruit, Mango, Pineapple, Watermelon, there is so much choice.
I think it helps if you like fruit and vedgies. Not everyone does though. I really like mango. Especially the honey mango.
I was 150/107 today The nurse took it a few times to verify it and that was a bit worrying I have had a bad virus for some weeks and cough like a man who smokes 100 a day. I have to go in next week to check the figures again.
Do you have it, John? I am asking because you said it was hereditary. Already started the diet change. Tonight had veg/fruit smoothies for the evening meal.
My mother had it (she passed away at 58 y.o. with heart related trouble) and my sister has it now. She is 57. This is a wake up call.
The wife was diagnosed with high blood pressure over five years ago and has been taking medication ever since, she was never advised to make any lifestyle changes or anything like that. She takes her own blood pressure every couple of days to keep check, you can buy reasonably priced BP monitors at Boots if you're interested. Better taking your own blood pressure at home as you are more relaxed than if you have it taken at the quacks. You could have had high blood pressure for years if you have not been having it checked on a regular basis.
Take a look at the link below Mike, a little chart for you; http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Thebasics/Bloodpressurechart
No. My brother smokes and drinks and eats all the wrong food. I dont. We are from the same pod but are not totally alike. He is younger than me too. He is on medication which seems to help.
My wake up call was my gall bladder removal. It told me I needed to take care of myself. The surgeon told me the gall stones had been generated by cholesterol. I knew at that point I was not invincible and that diet was important. Until then I ate and drank what I liked in as large quantities as i wanted. I stopped drinking at that point too.
i have naturally very high cholestrol--but am now on crestor 40 mg--which has done the trick i had a heart attack aged 48--i'm 67 now. my bp is perfect--doctors words--120/70--which i ascribe to taking diltiazem. i stopped smoking the day i had the HA. my diet is total crap--but my blood specialist said it would make no real difference in my case. i drink every night religiously--without fail.
something i did learn--a few years ago--is the relationship between high cholestrol--and smoking. it isnt the nicotine thats the main issue---its carbon monoxide poisoning in the blood stream