My doctor wants to increase my dose of Ramipril to 10mg.

I’ve tried this for two weeks now, but feel very agitated and almost aggressive. Naturally this is not a state I want to continue with!

I’m OK on 5mg (along with 5mg Amlodopine and Bendrowhatsitthingy, but my BP sits at 140/100 on that combo.

So what has helped you to get your BP down without resorting to more drugs?

Ta!

are you classing the 140/100 as still high then ? Mine is and always has been higher than that, but my docs seem OK with it.

BP sits at 140/100

That isn’t really high.

What is it without medication?

For me, the lighter I am, the less alcohol I drink and more I exercise, then the lower my BP.

Doc seems to want to get the 100 bit lower as I’m getting closer to 50.

I’ve no underlying reason for high BP, they’ve done many test, ECG, regular blood tests etc and everything comes out normal or better than normal.

Cholesterol is 4.3

What is it without medication?

170/125 ish

100 Diastolic is high ( but not ridiculously so) and can lead to issues

BP reducing measures:
Cut out salt in your diet
Exercise more
Learn to meditate
Reduce stress
Try learning biofeedback ( I have played around with this a lot when bored on night shift – I can put myself on a monitor and raise and lower my heart rate and BP by around 20%) Many folk would say this is nonsense tho)

Do you monitor it at home?

A lot of people get nervous when their blood pressure is measured by the doctor.

A lot of people get nervous when their blood pressure is measured by the doctor.

If you think you suffer from ‘White Coat Hypertension’ Its worth getting it done twice at an appointment – once at the beginning and once at the end. Mines always lower on the second reading.

There are oodles of different blood pressure meds available (and combinations of two or more tablets as well).
I was on 32mg of ramipril but they gave me terrible back ache (one of the possible symptoms if you bother to read the leaflet!!)
I’m now on Candestarten which cause me no problems.

Learn to meditate
Reduce stress

and…

…relax.

I get stressed at the doc (no idea why) – when they take my blood pressure I make sure I’m breathing deeply using all my lungs. If I sit there in a panic the BP reading goes through the roof.

I was typically around 150/100, getting divorced and remarrying has seen it drop to 125/90 ! Seriously stress is a major factor.

Excersize, drink less with focus on wine, less high fat food (I only eat red meat twice a week now) I am also taking Montmorency Cherry Juice everyday after a recommendation on another thread.

My doctors have always said 140/100 is borderline but no medication required so I can’t help directly OP. My father is 79 and has similar numbers to you and is now on increased dose medication.

@jim stress while having your pressure taken is a well known thing, younare worrying about the result so blood pressure goes up

Bin the coffee and alcohol.

My mum had high blood pressure for years until she got a monitor from lloyds, turns out it was generally only high at the doctor’s office. It was the doctor’s idea. Although I’m not saying it is in this case, she didnt feel or appear to be any different at the gp the bp says different.

*wonders if jambalaya?s current wife has a sister* 😕

Mine used to sit around there. I’ve done the BP test at the Docs and also that one where you where a BP monitor for 24 hours.

Doc was umming and arring about putting me on meds. I asked him to give me one more chance. Lost a bit of weight and… This is the thing I really think made the difference. Followed a British Cycling training course which involved a fair bit of Zone 2 work base work. I genuinely think this helped get my BP down and stay down.

I love the idea that you “asked” the doctor to not prescribe. He doesn’t get to decide; you do.

*Wonders if Mrs jamba has a mother*

I love the idea that you “asked” the doctor to not prescribe. He doesn’t get to decide; you do.

Theoretically….but most doctors don’t really even bother with diet exercise as a high percentage wouldn’t even try.
Not specific to blood pressure but I had off the chart triglycerides… they were so high they couldn’t even measure the cholesterol properly. My blood pressure is on the low side…

I adjusted my diet and did more exercise and then had to see a specialist (not a cardio one) who got some new results and said it was possibly the biggest diet change he’s ever seen.

Prior to this my doctor was very highly pressurising me to take statins … all sorts of “threats” like I’d be dead in 10 years etc. and when I asked about diet/exercise she was ambivalent and unhelpful… all “well you could try that but why when you can take these drugs?”

I did adjust my diet and got rid of a few things but really not THAT much…

As I said my blood pressure is low and about 7 yrs ago I had loads of problems and was being told I would have to take drugs… then the nurse suggested I add salt to my diet whilst waiting for the next appointment… (This occurred when my kid was weaning and we cooked everything without salt) added salt and ended up not having tachycardia again or feinting even when doing some taxing rides and my heart getting well above what it should for my age it goes back down rather quickly instead of staying at 200+ for hours as it used to… so I’d say anyone who does actually cycle (or do exercise) can make really significant changes without drugs but the doctors never seem to encourage or support that (probably as 90% of their patients wouldn’t) .

My doctor wants to increase my dose of Ramipril to 10mg.

I am on 2.5mg, doc is looking to also increase as it has no effect on BP for me.

This morning I was 171 over 98 🙁

I too feel ‘odd’ when I take Ramapril – almost dizzy, agitated.

I think mine may still be thickening blood due to my Heamochromatosis (sp?), but I am now 6 months in waiting on referral for this.

Don’t listen to the Today program on Radio 4.

hth.

Mediterranean diet, Lyon version. And less stress. No added sugar.

💡 A reduction of the circulating volume should see a reduction of the system pressure. 😈

Bump for the evening crowd! 🙂

qwerty – Member

A reduction of the circulating volume should see a reduction of the system pressure.

time for some leeches?

Weight training has a number of benefits

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/weights-for-hbp

But do not ever try to hold your breath when exercising, lifting weights etc.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/112465-weight-lifting-high-blood/

Exercise did it for me. About 10 years ago my doc gave me 6 months to sort it out before putting on meds – family history + high blood pressure c155/105. Got it under control with exercise. Get tested annually at the docs and have home monitor. Yesterday was 115/75, can vary up to 130/85 if stressed – but generally 125/80.

There is increasing base of evidence that exercise is really helpful with all sorts of chronic disease

Recently I’ve cut down on alcohol to well within the 14 units a week, diet has always been healthy, but it seemed to be exercise that really helped initially

Ultimately, doc said I would end up on meds – which is fine if it comes – but so far ok

@morecash she has 4 but all married, she also has some very attractive single friends – obviously I have never noticed they are attractive she had to tell me 😳 The wife suggested we might go to Club Med Kemer again this year 8)

Joking aside my first wife was a total nightmare stress wise, as difficult as the divorce was (is) I feel so so much better out of the relationship.

@slow she does she is 81 !

@olddog massive chapeau 155/105 to 115/75 !!! I’m now feeling really lame