Posted on 05/15/2014 5:53:35 AM PDT by killermosquito
Do any freepers have any experience with High Blood Pressure? Mine has been running high for a few years. Usually, about 139/90. I have had one significant problem that might have been related. 5 or 6 years ago a retinal occlusion caused me to lose about 70% of the vision in my right eye. It started with "lightning" flashes and the next day if you were standing 15 feet from me your face would be an oval with no features. After about 6 weeks of steroidal eye drops the vision returned to normal.
More recently in the past couple of years, I have had 4 or 5 episodes of semi-blurred vision but that doesn't quite describe it. It is like I look at something and I have trouble focusing on it. It clears up in about 10 minutes.
Do you have high blood pressure? Do you take meds? What do you take? What has been your experience?
Get exercise and don’t drink as much.
Go to the doctor and get a full blood work up done. You might be diabetic.
I was recently diagnosed with BP similar to your levels - prior to that I was always in very normal levels. I take metropolol but mostly I’ve changed my diet. I do not use salt on food, limit my sodium intake, eat healthier and have been exercising. As a result I’ve gone off my meds and am losing weight. I’ve dropped 25 pounds and have about 30 more to go. Mine is a product of age and poor personal maintenance. I’ve not had any of the vision symptoms you’ve described. But as a result of the changes I’ve made I feel better, more energy and can feel my core... forgot I had abdominal muscles. ha!
My physician has me on a beta blocker, diuretic and a statin for cholesterol.
No side effects, I'm very active and I maintain a FAA Class 2 medical certificate.
If you're prescribed medication take them as directed and stay on them. Chronic untreated hypertension is a recipe for heart failure, kidney failure and other undesirable stuff.
If it works, you might try an intermittent-fasting regimen, where you forego eating for a few days a week.
This is from an NIH site:
High blood pressure. Some research shows that garlic can reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure by as much as 7% or 8%. It also seems to lower blood pressure in people with normal blood pressure. Most studies have used a specific garlic powder product (Kwai, from Lichtwer Pharma).
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/300.html
I pickle garlic with vinegar, a little salt, cinnamon and sugar.
Aerobic interval training reduces blood pressure and improves myocardial function in hypertensive patients.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/21450580/
I take metropolol, too. I am NOT overweight and don’t eat a lot of salt. My doctor said I have a sodium deficiency.
In my case, it appears to be genetic.
I have the same problem. The lightning bolt looking thing that appears whether or not your eyes are open or closed seems to move around in my eyesight like something floating in my eyeball. The first time I experienced it, it was a bright white jagged lightning bolt that was very painful, but since then it is a rainbow color. If it appears in front of my pupil, I will be blind for an hour or so
, like reverse tunnel vision where you can only see with your peripheral vision.
There is something called an ocular migraine. You might want to check it out.
Getting medical advice here probably isn’t the best plan.
See a doctor.
(1) Nutritional aspects and approaches should be considered. The Life Extension Foundation has a good explanation of high blood pressure. and they also sell a premium line of supplements.
(2) The high protein, low carbohydrate Atkins diet usually drops blood pressure to normal levels and peels off weight without the grief of calorie restriction.
(3) An easy to use FDA appoved home medical device called Zona Plus works remarkably well to lower blood pressure.
(4) Regular, moderate exercise helps to lower blood pressure.
One word of advice that could save your life, ALWAYS CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IN BOTH ARMS. MY BLOOD PRESSURE HAS BEEN AS HIGH AS 215 OVER 190 IN MY RIGHT ARM AND NORMAL IN MY LEFT ARM.
Is there a doctor in the house?
I’ve been on them for five years. At first I tried to avoid meds by giving up alcohol, salt and lost weight. BP still was high. My doctor said “You don’t get it...it’s genetic.” He’s right.
Leni
There are several doctors who post here.
Taking your blood pressure is usually the best way of figuring out if its high.
Move to Colorado and eat very small amounts of “brownies” 2 times a day.
I’m the other side of the coin, wife(nurse) and I were just messing around one day and found my bp at 190/135, absolutely no symptoms or effects from it, just maybe 10-15 lbs overweight. I’ve never been a regular check-up kind of person, so who knows how long it had been like that. Doctor put me on Benicar almost 12 years ago now, haven’t seen it above 130/75.
I consider myself pretty lucky so far, we have a strong family history of hypertension.
Heck if my BP is not both triple digit’s I'm happy.
Keep in mind that 120/80 is “Textbook perfect BP”. Google it.
If I go to a doc it is because I hurt REAL BAD. Pain jacks BP.
I'm 100# over weight and had numbers that were high and had “Doctors” come in the room and out weigh me by another 75++ lbs and start giving me $&!t about my pressure.
I told them “well how about we check your’s right now”
They ALL changed the subject...
Back to what I came in to see them about.
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