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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A: Some people with late onset or Type 2 diabetes will eventually require insulin to control their disease. This does not happen to everyone, especially not those who lose weight, start exercising and watch what they eat. Usually people who need insulin to start with, Type 1 or insulin dependent diabetics, will not be able to control their diabetes with diet, weight loss and exercise.

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.

A: Used correctly, both types of monitors give accurate blood pressure measurements. Automatic blood pressure monitors leave less room for user error. However the gold standard for blood pressure taking is the mercury sphygmomanometer, a manual device. To read the current national guideline for taking blood pressure measurements click here.

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.

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.