Glaucoma 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 glaucomaCan 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 recommendationsLowering 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 lossNormal BP and age?
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 27 2010
Q: As one ages, I believe the arteries also age. As such, the norm of 120/80 may not be applicable to those in the 60-80 year range, otherwise these groups may be over-treated. Is there a table showing safe BP ranges for patients in the various age groups?
A: For all adults, 120/80 or less is considered normal blood pressure. Blood pressure at a level of 140/90 or more needs to be treated even if you are elderly. Not everyone can be safely treated to this level but lowering high blood pressure has been shown to be beneficial to even the very old. Charts are available showing average blood pressure based on age up to the mid 60’s. Click here.
Tags: age, arteries, average blood pressure, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bp, elderly, Heart Health, high blood pressure, lowering high blood pressure, normal blood pressureRelationship between BP and insomnia
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 12 2010
Q: What is the relationship between BP and insomnia?
A: A recent study has shown that people with chronic insomnia have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure. Getting a good night’s sleep is important for your health. Talk to your doctor if you are having problems with sleep.
Tags: bp, chronic insomnia, high blood pressure, Sleep, Sleep & Sleep ApneaExperimental carotid stimulator for HBP
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 12 2010
Q: I have drug resistant HBP and take several meds which work more or less with plenty of side effects. I have heard about a device similar to a pacemaker which attaches to the carotid artery, I believe, and which experimentally at least, is supposed to be quite effective with zero drugs! What can you tell me about its availability, effectiveness, etc.?
A: For a discussion of a case where a carotid sinus stimulator was used in a patient with uncontrolled high blood pressure click here.
The device known as the Rheos is still being studied and will likely be expensive. For a news release about the product click here.
Kidney function and high blood pressure
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 12 2010
Q: At my last blood test my kidney function was 40 which concerned my doctor. She sent me to a nephrologist who said I needed a second blood pressure med to get it down since the high blood pressure was hurting the kidneys. My doctor is having me try the Resperate instead of the 2nd med and my blood pressure has already come down considerably over 3 weeks. Will I be able to raise my kidney function numbers by keeping it down, or will this just help stop the numbers from getting worse?
A: It is possible your kidney function will improve with control of your blood pressure. However, once your kidneys have been damaged, you should not expect function to return to completely normal.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, high blood pressure, kidneys, Medical Conditions, nephrologist, normal kidney function, RESPeRATE
