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-hypertensionAmlodipine and constipation
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 15 2010
Q: I have been taking 5 mg of Amlodipine daily for about one year. My blood pressure has been good since I started taking it, but I have noticed that I get constipated with this medication and I was wondering if there is another kind of medication in the same group of meds that would not have that side effect.
A: Amlodipine is a type of drug known as a calcium channel blocker. Constipation is a frequent complaint with this type of medication. Since you are doing well on Amlodipine, you might want to try increasing the fiber in your diet. A couple of prunes a day can make a difference.
Tags: amlodipine, blood pressure, calcium channel blocker, constipation, diet, Diet & Exercise, medication, side effect, Taking BP MedsAloe Vera for health?
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 15 2010
Q: Is aloe vera good? If so, what for? I see it sold as a juice in health stores. Is it good to drink everyday or is everyday too much?
A: Aloe vera is not a product I recommend for oral use. In lotion or gel form, many people find it soothing to the skin. For more information click here.
Tags: aloe vera, aloe vera juice, aoe vera lotion, Diet & Exercise, health store, MiscCan 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, yogaSpring Forest Qigong
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 02 2010
Q: Are you aware of a system called Spring Forest Qigong by Master Lin? Does it really help improve health etc?
A: I am not personally familiar with this system. From their website they appear to offer a combination of exercise and meditation. I cannot comment on whether this is better for you than more standard exercise and meditation practices.
Tags: Diet & Exercise, exercise, health, master lin, meditation, meditation practices, Misc, spring forest qigongLowering 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 lossPreventing weight gain from medication
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 27 2010
Q: I take metformin and actos for type 2 diabetes but it makes me gain weight especially around my stomach. What can I do to prevent this?
A: It is important that you stay on your medicine for diabetes. There are only two ways to prevent the weight gain. You can either eat less or exercise more. A combination of less eating and more exercising is doubly effective. The calories you consume must be less than the calories you burn with daily activities for weight loss to occur. You might want to talk to your doctor about exercise and weight reduction diet recommendations.
Tags: Diabetes, Diabetes, diet, Diet & Exercise, diet recommendations, exercise, metformin, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, weight loss, weight reductionTreating anxiety without medication
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 27 2010
Q: I am prone to anxiety. What is the best way to help it without medication? Also, every time I go to the gynecologist, my blood pressure is sky high even though I take Inderal 60 mg on a daily basis. What helps white coat syndrome?
A: Exercise. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety and is good for your heart. Most of us don’t make time in our lives for enough exercise. Shorts bursts of exercise scattered throughout the day are effective. Thinking it takes an hour long session to get results is wrong. Do what you can when you have some time. Ten minutes here and there can really make a difference. Learning to control your anxiety especially that is associated with a doctor visit can help with white coat syndrome. Wikkipedia offers a good discussion of the topic. Click here.
Tags: anxiety, Anxiety & Stress, blood pressure, Diet & Exercise, doctor visit, exercise, hypertension, inderal, medication, white coat syndrome, wikkipediaLifestyle changes to lower bp
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Dec 14 2009
Q: Can anyone confirm with a high degree of certainty that exercise and diet alone can lower BP? I have been following a rigid diet and exercise program and it does not seem to help.
A: Eating right and having a regular exercise program have been shown to help lower blood pressure. However switching to a healthy lifestyle, after years of abuse, may not be enough to get your pressure back down to normal. Even if you can’t get your pressure back to normal, keep exercising. Regular exercise has many health benefits. For current recommendations on physical activity and its benefits click here.
Tags: bp, Diet & Exercise, exercise program, health benefits, healthy lifestyle, lifestyle change, lifestyle changes, lower blood pressure, physical activity
