“The preferred drugs are angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), and calcium-channel blockers (CCBs). Dr. Houston, in general, does not recommend beta blockers, diuretics, central alpha agonists, or alpha blockers. “But if you change the lifestyle and give it some time, eventually you probably can get [patients] off many of the drugs.”
Of these, it seems the “angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs)” have the least drawbacks and of these, it appears “telmisartan” may have a better effect.
An early study on ARBs: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200815/#!po=28.8462
Meh. My wife and I are both 66 and have zero health insurance. We do it all naturally and are healthier than our friends. We do no drugs, though my wife does take Claritin for alergies.
Diet and exercise. End of story.
The Ketogenic way of eating is the answer to many, many health problems.
I use calcium channel blockers. It does more than lower blood pressure, it stops spasms that caused my heart attack. Even if my blood pressure stayed low with diet and exercise I would still take this drug.
Hypertension is the “silent” killer.
If you have high blood pressure it needs to be addressed immediately. If left untreated it will ruin the quality of your life(kidney failure, heart failure) and eventually end your life.
WHATEVER it takes: Diet, Exercise, Pharmaceuticals, Natural Supplements, etc. - DO IT NOW and lower your blood pressure if it is high.
Gonna stick with my Lisinopril, mkay.
I do mostly healthy diet, exercise some, normal weight and try to keep stress low. Still I have to take a low dose BP med or my pressure elevates.
I’m all for going all natural if it could work on a consistent basis. On the other hand I don’t want to risk a stroke or heart attack. At age 63 so less miles ahead than behind.
I’d be dead if it weren’t for the drugs.
I read a story here last week about a young runner who had a severe stroke because she went with natural remedies.
A good lifestyle and diet are vitally important. But that alone isn't’t going to do it for SOME people with certain problems, injuries or genes.
I was fortunate enough to have zero prescriptions to age 60, but I have a few (low dose) ones now.
Exercise...., OVERRATED!
Bkmrk for later.
With singers like Lizzo being celebrated, and fitness guru Jillian Michaels being slammed for “fat-shaming” Lizzo, I’m sure diet and exercise will happen. /s
What irritates me is things like hypertension and under- and over- active thyroids must be treated for the rest of your life, but a prescription is only good for one year. No money to pay a doctor's office visit? No drugs for you. Yes, it happened to me about 20 years ago.
I'd go for the diet before having to take a drug.
I monitor my blood pressure at home with a $300 machine - not a $40 one. I am rarely over my age specs. I have had my BP taken hundreds of times by “professionals”. I am often have high readings at the Doctors office. Out of those hundreds of times I have only had it taken per the recommended procedure ONCE the first time. I have to insist that they follow the spec.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/tips-to-measure-your-blood-pressure-correctly
Also I have found a wide variation of readings from the automatic machines at the Dr’s office. I always check them for a current calibration sticker. It should of been calibrated within a year. This is a big problem at independent Dr’s offices.
Don’t automatically assume that your BP is high because your Dr said so. Get checked out at another facility or buy a good machine and monitor it at home. Every decent machine manufacturer will calibrate their machines for you usually for a small fee. The manual cuff use requires some skill to get correct readings. Many young health care professionals do not come with that skill set.
Learn to breath in nose and out mouth while the test is being conducted - long and slow.
Arrive at the Dr’s office at least 15 minutes early and try to relax before being called in.
Schedule Dr’s appoints at your least stressful time of the day.
ymmv
Ping.
Isometric exercise works to lower blood pressure. Either squeeze a tennis ball or purchase a Zona-Plus machine.
Absolutely works. Takes as much as 15 points off your blood pressure.