I start blood pressure medicine tomorrow

[marlakay]

I have been trying for years to do it naturally, watch my weight, diet, stress levels, etc. because both of my parents started taking medicine at my age (I am 48)

For the past two years it has slowly been raising but during the whole campaign it rose like crazy as I got stirred up and gained 15 lbs in the last 9 months out of nerves.

I am scared about taking the medicine but heredity won. I still feel like my fight was worth it, and I am NOT a quitter. I loved the letter Michael Moore sent about not letting the repubs make us victims. I went through that ten years ago in my last marriage and won't ever be put down again, politically or in any other way!

[sir_captain]

1. good luck!

may it help keep you around for a very long time!

[DemoTex]

2. What meds are you taking?

I've been around most of thoses blocks!

[nini]

3. my sister starting drinking a cup of hibiscus tea every day

and got off her meds.

obviously you don't want to do both at the same time but you should look into it. She feels much better not being on the meds.

good luck

[marlakay]

4. Atenolol is what I will be taking only 25mg

A small dose, thank god. And I have tried tea, health food and no salt and all that. Believe me if I can get off it by losing the 15lbs and stopping my glass of wine a couple times a week I will. It's hard at christmas with all the goodies around.

[sir_captain]

7. That's not bad at all...

and of course, a little wine in moderation could actually be helping... who knows...

[BrewerJohn]

10. I found that 25 mg of atenolol works better than higher doses

for me anyway. Good thing to know. Hope it works for you too.
I could also do with 15 lb or so off, but we all know how easily that goes.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Acupuncture has controlled mine so far

Early this past summer my stress level went up and so did my blood pressure. It has been well controlled since then by occasional treatments by my acupuncturist, who treats several patients for this. If your blood pressure isn't all THAT high to start with and if you start developing any problems from your blood pressure medication (like depression for example) you might look into finding a good acupuncturist. Took me down into the normal range and has kept me there.

[sir_captain]

9. The problem

is that blood pressure can be affected by pretty much anything. If the underlying cause is physiological, it is unlikely that acupuncture would help too much. What you say is really interesting, though...i hear amazing things about acupuncture.

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. Yeah, I've had some amazing experiences with it.

Dramatically improved circulation in my hands and feet after even the first treatment, for example. I stopped needing to wear gloves in cool weather or sleep wearing socks. They were too hot! If my blood pressure starts creeping up again, I will try acupuncture first and go to the meds as a last resort. Even then, it's possible that I would require a lower dosage, a possibility I consider well worth checking out given some of the reported side effects of blood pressure meds.

[sir_captain]

13. interesting stuff...

i'm particularly intrigued by its possibilities as a stress reliever, which sure is a huge part of blood pressure problems.

[Nothing Without Hope]

15. For stress relief, you might also be interested in Shiatsu massage

It's related to acupuncture in that the same "energy meridians" -- whatever they are, the nomenclature is useful -- are the focus. Rather than needles, selected areas and lines are subjected to pressure, rolling, and other actions. I can testify to how it can relax the body and clarify the mind.

[sir_captain]

16. Can't argue with a massage...

now I just need to get some money to pay for it with!

[jdots]

6. be good to yourself

All the food and stuff you can't do now you will forget about.Heres to another 48 years !

[Lex]

8. Malarky, I started on blood pressure meds at 38

because it was high, and coupled with my family history of strokes and heart attacks, it was the right thing.

I take it everyday religiously and it seems to have very minimal side-effects.

I'm on Norvasc 5mg.

Good luck to you--and don't feel like you've lost a battle or something. You are taking care of yourself by keeping your BP down and that's a good thing.

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. There's a big new British study...

...that will probably lead to the use of either an ACE inhibitor or a calcium channel blocker instead of the ususal beta-blocker and diuretic combo as a first treatement.

Reuters UK story http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=7031273 "> here

[sir_captain]

14. Very interesting

I've been seeing a big increase in Norvasc use...glad to know it was for good reasons