High BP query

In 2001 my doctor said that if I got down to a certain weight my blood pressure would improve. He turned out to be correct which surprised me. Currently my DN says I have to repeat that trick. ******.

lynbrown said:

I am T2. As well as taking Mets and insulin I take Candesartan for my high BP. It wasn't really helping so I now take Amlopidine as well. There was an improvement in my readings. However in the 7 weeks I have been taking the new pill, my weight has increased by 3lb. I watch my weight as I am too heavy, but try hard to be careful. Is there another tablet I could take for HBP ( not a water tablet) and is it worth going back to the doc?

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The insulin is making you obese, you could try eating less carbs and you may be able to cut down on insulin!
Amlodipine never made me overweight but it did gave me aching joints.

Some authorities believe excess insulin in TD2 inflames arteries and increases BP. D.

@lynbrown There are several different types of drug used to lower blood pressure:
ACE inhibitors: The ones with names ending in " -pril".
ARB's (Angiotensin receptor blockers): the ones ending in "-sartan", e.g. Candasartan.
Calcium Channel blockers: These end in "-pine", e.g. Amlodipine.
Diuretics (water tablets), e.g. Indapamide.
Beta Blockers: Ending in "-olol".
Alpha Blockers: e.g. Doxazosin.

A 3lb weight increase could just be normal ups and downs. I'm not aware that Candasartan or Amlodipine cause weight increase, but Insulin does and so do excess carbohydrates in your diet.
Of course you should speak to your doctor if you are concerned about any medication - if you can get an appointment - but I doubt if s/he will jump at the opportunity to change your meds.
Sally

I was Amlopidine and Adizem-SR for high bp when i was diagnosed and a cardiologist that i saw swapped the Amlodopine to Ramipril when I was diagnosed as T2 as Ramipril is said to help prevent kidney damage that can be caused by diabetes.

I have Acute hypertension even thou on high levels of 2 blood pressure tablets. I too need to lose weight.

Sid Bonkers said:

as T2 as Ramipril is said to help prevent kidney damage that can be caused by diabetes.

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I've heard that too, all the bp drugs ending in 'pril' are said to be effective in preventing and treating nephropathy.

lynbrown said:

and is it worth going back to the doc?

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Almost certainly do se your gp and discuss.

Hi @lynbrown apologies if you already do some of the following, but what is working for me trying to avoid medication is the following combination:

• 1 x Magnesium 375 mg
• 1 x co-enzyme Q10 30 mg
• *1 x HiiT walk / run in the morning (circa 3 - 4 times a week)
• 1 x HiiT walk / run in the evening (circa 3 - 4 times a week)
• Spinach as it comes out of the packet circa 4 times a week
• LCHF

*Do also do resistance training but I do not think this helps BP (might actually raise it for a time, but I feel is a good trade off)

This brought my BP down from circa 140 / 79 to around 135 / 79.

What has made a massive difference over the last few days is the use of hand grips. I watched a trial on "Trust me i'm a Doctor" which for me was truly astonishing:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3nvRZxYFPxHCCvxGwmDt0cC/is-there-a-short-cut-to-getting-fit

(summary)


The hand grips they used I purchased here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A8K4L84/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

After just 2 days of use I have got the following results:


Obviously this is not long enough to be a trend, however based on the Trust Me results it could be, and I would certainly fight you if you took these off me now (I bought 2 so that I could halve the total time). This should not be controversial as the Trust Me team are Doctors and this was on at prime time on the Beeb.

Another article / test which might be of use is:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4NgZffmPmmR4w9s9BDGH3lG/the-big-blood-pressure-experiment

ickihun said:

I have Acute hypertension even thou on high levels of 2 blood pressure tablets. I too need to lose weight.

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Can't remember if I have asked you Ickhun if you had been checked out for adrenal problems? Thirty years htn in my case is due to Conn's syndrome and it makes bp very hard to control. regards Derek

I'm on ramipril. I was on 2.5mg per day which was a low dosage, but because of my spasm problems my BP has been going way too high so they have doubled the dose of ramipril. I'm also taking nifedipine as one of the drugs to treat my spasms, but because that is a calcium channel blocker drug that too lowers your BP. So I take 10mg of that per day (that's a low dose), and if I get attacks I have to take 10mg as soon as I have an attack. But funny enough my pain is so severe that even the extra nifedipine doesn't bring my BP down very quick. I go to hypertensive crisis level.... eg. my systolic is usually above 180 and diastolic is above 100, and my heart rate is also above 100. So it's not unusual for me to see 208/108 for example. I'm not sure if you've tried ramipril at all? If not, it may be worth checking out. I also got told by both my endo and GP that they have to be careful about what BP meds they put diabetics on because apparently some drugs can cause hypo unawareness... not sure on specifics of how, but that is what I was told a few times. They told me ramipril was one of the safer drugs to give to diabetics.

lindisfel said:

Can't remember if I have asked you Ickhun if you had been checked out for adrenal problems? Thirty years htn in my case is due to Conn's syndrome and it makes bp very hard to control. regards Derek

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I've been tested for Cushings but more than that I don't know. Cortisol levels were the 24hr wee collection, right?

Hi Ickihun,
These endo diseases are very complex. With mine I produce excessive aldosterone, which causes the body to hold onto sodium and lose potassium. Hence the problems with htn.

It is reckoned that a significant minority of those with resistant htn may have Primary Aldosteronism like me. Sad thing is if I had be diagnosed earlier I could have been cured and may not have had T2D or a pacemaker.

But I am still here and doing ok!

I do hope you make good progress with your dietary changes.
God bless
Derek

I was reading up on this overproduction. I'm seeing endo in a few months time. I will quiz him, especially in light of my heart scare currently. Thank you for highlighting. Unless you mentioned it I just thought cushings was worthy of a re-check but will ask for aldosterone levels to be checked too. Thank god for posters like you. Your info could save lives. Thanks again.

I take lisiniprol for my BP

And I take Losartan potassium though must discuss this with doctor as BP has come down to normal levels now dont know if that would contiue to be the case if I stopped taking them.

JohnEGreen said:

And I take Losartan potassium though must discuss this with doctor as BP has come down to normal levels now dont know if that would contiue to be the case if I stopped taking them.

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You could always try and see how you go. But I think that's the idea though that our meds are supposed to get our BP to normal level. I would think if you come off it you could go too high again. But then I suppose it depends if you've made big changes to diet, weight, etc.. whatever was causing the high BP in the first place. I noticed my BP was high whether I was slim or overweight, the weight didn't seem to make any difference. I think I must just be prone to high BP and also high cholesterol.