Coffee lovers and BP
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 15 2010
Q: Would you recommend that a coffee addict with moderate hypertension (140/105) switch to decaffeinated coffee or try to quit altogether? He is on amlodipine and moduretic. He loves his morning coffee (Nestle) and tea.
A: As a coffee lover, I roast my own beans, this is a tough question. It really depends on how much caffeine you are consuming. Two cups a day, 200-300 mg of caffeine, is okay. If you get a headache when you don’t have your morning coffee, you are drinking too much. To figure out the amount of caffeine you are drinking, click here.
Tags: amlodipine, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, caffeine, coffee, coffee addict, coffee lovers, Diet & Exercise, headache, hypertension, moderate hypertensionDrinking and BP
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 15 2010
Q: I drink 32oz. of dark red wine a night. My blood pressure is about 130/95 without meds. Is that okay?
A: I am more worried about your drinking habits than your pre-hypertension. Your blood pressure is in the range where you should start making lifestyle changes to get it into better control. You are drinking over an average sized bottle of wine a night. This is not healthy. I suggest you discuss this with your doctor.
Tags: blood pressure, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bottle of wine, bp, Diet & Exercise, hypertension, lifestyle, lifestyle change, lifestyle changes, pre-hypertensionGlaucoma and BP
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 15 2010
Q: What are the causes of and treatments for glaucoma and does high blood pressure have an effect on high pressure in the eyes?
A: Glaucoma occurs when the pressure of the fluid in your eye becomes too high. Left untreated, this can cause blindness because of damage to the optic nerve. High pressure in your eye is different from high blood pressure. You can have high blood pressure and not get glaucoma. Left untreated, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the eye resulting in loss of vision. To learn more about the different types of glaucoma and treatment, click here.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, blood vessel, Blood vessels, blood vessels in the eye, bp, glaucoma, high blood pressure, loss of vision, Medical Conditions, types of glaucomaDoctor wants BP lower
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 15 2010
Q: I am a 74 year old woman with lifetime asthma. My bp runs at 120-133 /67-70. My doctor wants it lower. I cannot function with a lower bp. I have tried it. I am sluggish, dizzy. Should I ask her for another drug brand? What should I do?
A: I do not know why your doctor wants your blood pressure to be lower. Your current blood pressure is in an acceptable range. Your blood pressure meets the treatment goal of less than 140/90 for people without diabetes or kidney disease. You are also very close to the goal of 130/ 80 for people with either of those conditions. You certainly should mention your dizziness to your doctor and further discuss your treatment plan. Click here for hypertension guidelines.
Tags: acceptable range, asthma, blood pressure, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, Diabetes, Dizziness, hypertension, hypertension guidelines, kidney disease, treatment goalCan yoga cure bp?
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 02 2010
Q: Can yoga cure high BP without taking medicine?
A: Regular exercise, such as yoga, can help control blood pressure. Depending on how high the blood pressure, drugs may also be needed. Neither a regular exercise program nor medication is a cure for high blood pressure. Once you stop either one, high blood pressure will return.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, blood pressure drugs, bp, control blood pressure, Diet & Exercise, exercise program, high blood pressure, hypertension, medication, taking medicine, yogaHomeopathic remedies and ethyl alcohol
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 02 2010
Q: My blood pressure is all over the place; any time of day it goes up and down in a matter of minutes from early AM to late PM. I am taking homeopathic remedies with Ethyl alcohol. I am wondering if it can have an effect on my blood pressure?
A: Ethyl Alcohol is the same alcohol found in cocktails, beer, and wine. Heavy alcohol use has been associated with getting high blood pressure. Your homeopathic remedies are not controlling your blood pressure. Rather than worrying about what component of the remedy is the problem, it would be smarter to see your doctor and ask about other treatment options to get your blood pressure under control.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, ethyl alcohol, high blood pressure, homeopathic remedies, Supplements, treatment optionsMental exertion and BP
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 02 2010
Q: With diligence, I’ve been able to bring my blood pressure into the normal range but it spikes when I mentally exert myself and the rise is usually accompanied by a headache. Yesterday when the headache began, the monitor read a systolic pressure of 154, whereas the previous reading had been 126. What can I do to prevent this rise in blood pressure?
A: Your blood pressure does not appear to be in good control. I am not quite sure what you mean by “mental exertion”. Normal problem solving should not result in high blood pressure and a headache. Talk to your doctor.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, headache, high blood pressure, mental exertion, MiscChanges in BP treatment recommendations
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 12 2010
Q: Quite a few years ago (about 25-30) blood pressure was considered normal at an approximation of your age plus 100; ie. you are 60 so your blood pressure would be approximately 160/80. When and why did they (WHO?) decide that the blood pressure of an 18 year old and a 60 year old should be identical?
A: Medical science does not stand still. We now know more about the relationship between blood pressure and the risk for heart attack and stroke. Current recommendations for treatment are based on The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). For more information about the government organization and medical scientists behind this report, click here.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, detection evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure, heart, heart attack, high blood pressure, hypertension, JNC7, joint national committee, Misc, stroke, treatment, treatment of high blood pressure, treatment recommendationsBlood pressure and heart rate explained
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 12 2010
Q: Is Systolic blood pressure the same as the heart rate that you read when you are on the treadmill? Is your pulse different from BP or HR? You say that normal blood pressure shouldn’t increase when doing normal activities. Doesn’t blood pressure go up when you are exercising, or carrying something heavy?
A: Systolic pressure is the pressure in your arteries that occurs with the contraction of your heart. Diastolic pressure is the pressure in your arteries between heart beats. With each heart beat blood is forced through your arteries creating pulsations. The number of pulsations that occur in a minute is your pulse. As this reflects your heart rate, the terms are somewhat interchangeable. Blood pressure increases with activity but should remain within the normal range.
Tags: arteries, blood pressure, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, diastolic, diastolic pressure, heart, heart beat, Heart Health, heart rate, normal blood pressure, systolic, systolic blood pressure, systolic pressureLowering BP with weight loss
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 27 2010
Q: I am taking Norvasc (10mg), lisinopril / HCTZ (20/12.5mg); I also use Resperate for 20 min 4-5 times a week, and walk for 1 full hour 5 times a week. My current weight is 213lb, height is 5′10″, and BMI is 30.6. I have lost 53 pounds over the last year and increased my walking, yet my hypertension is still high. Is there a breakpoint, when my lower weight will bring down my blood pressure?
A: Congratulations on the weight loss. Keep on losing. Your BMI still isn’t in a healthy range. Even thin people can get high blood pressure. There is no magic weight where high blood pressure disappears.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bmi, bp, Diet & Exercise, hctz, health, high blood pressure, hypertension, Lisinopril, Norvasc, RESPeRATE, weight, weight loss
