So, does anyone here take medication for high blood pressure? I just recently started to because I had been experiencing headaches and once had a reading of 189/110 during homeroom. The school nurse sent me straight to the doctor..... Only problem is that this medicine is kicking my tail.... BPs are now in the 120s/80s range when I wake up and head toward 140s/90s by afternoon but the price I'm paying is dizziness and drowsiness... Does anyone here experience the same? And has anyone changed their diet and exercise routines to get off BP meds?
I have been on high blood pressure medicine since my first year of teaching. It sounds like it isn't working too well for you, or maybe you need a higher dose if that is what you have by the afternoon. I have been on it awhile. I am working right now to get healthier to hopefully get off the medicine. I have come a long way, and met with the doctor about possibly lowering the dose, but he doesn't feel like I should yet.
I am 52, and I’ve been on meds for high blood pressure since I was 25. I’m current on two medications two times a day. Over the years I have had to try different ones and different dosages. Sometimes there is an adjustment period.
I think everybody is different and advice from any one person may not apply to you. Losing weight, cutting down on sugar, cutting down on sodium, increasing exercise are all good things in general. But you may have all that covered. What helped me most was losing a bit of weight and increasing exercise. Getting to my current weight took years and, in addition to cutting calories, took a lot of exercise. Both changes in diet and exercise have to stick. I do 1.5 to 2 hours a day of cardio. I have to watch myself to keep from overdoing it. But if I slack off too much, that BP starts to go up again. You should get an OK from your doctor. They would be able to tell you what your target weight should be and give diet as well as exercise advice. Too much exercise can hurt. They might even suggest a trainer.
I have not experienced blood pressure issues as of yet, but many of my friends and relatives have. It has been hit or miss for them. Some have no issues and other have terrible problems with the meds prescribed. Not every medicine works with minimal side effects for everyone. Not every doctor looks for the root cause of the BP issues. I suggest that since the side effects are interfering with your day, discuss this with your doctor. If your doctor doesn't want to address med changes find out why. If there is no solid reason, you may want to find someone else. I also agree with checking to see if there are lifestyle changes or diet changes you can make to help. That isn't always the case.
A doctor can get to the bottom of the issues. For instance, my dad had a stroke at 42 due to undiagnosed high blood pressure, and no meds worked to lower it. He ended up needing surgery to clear a blockage in the artery to his kidneys. As soon as it was cleared, the BP went down. After that, it was controlled with the medications. At the time I was diagnosed at 25, I was a healthy weight, had been on a low-sodium, low cholesterol diet since I was 12, which was when Dad had his stroke. We all followed the same diet. I also walked between 3 and 7 miles a day & took aerobics or kickboxing twice a week. Turns out that I just drew the short straw with genetic predisposition to several medical issues.
The truth of the matter is that there are so many medications available now to treat high blood pressure that most doctors will prescribe different meds, after an appropriate time to allow your body to acclimate to the med, the dose. I agree that lifestyle changes, including losing weight and increasing exercise can drastically affect how much medication you will need to take. I am genetically predisposed to high blood pressure, and have been on medication since I was in my 30's. I've been on several different meds over the years and the truth is that I am grateful that I have found a type and dose that works. FWIW, after you acclimate to the meds, most/all side effects seem to disappear, except, of course, the beneficial correction of your hypertension. Best of luck!
