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-hypertensionDoctor 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, yogaSwelling with amlodipine
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 12 2010
Q: While taking Amlodipine, I have noted the side effect of swollen feet and lower eyelids. Is there something I can do to remedy this side effect? I am taking 5MG tablet daily as prescribed by my Doctor. My BP ranges between 117 and 128 in the evening but 130-140 in the morning when I wake up. I have also been using RESPeRATE device.
A: Talk to your doctor about your swelling. Sometimes it is better to change drugs than to try to treat a common side effect. Your doctor will know the next best step.
Tags: amlodipine, bp, drugs, hypertension, RESPeRATE, side effect, swollen feet, Taking BP MedsChanges 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 recommendationsDizziness from lisinopril-hctz
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 10 2010
Q: I have been taking BP meds for 6 days and it makes me feel dizzy and lightheaded. The doctor said my body needs to get used to it and sometimes it takes a while. Is this normal? I take lisinopril-hctz 10-12.5 MG, he told me to take half of this to see if that helped the problem.
A: It sounds like your blood pressure medicine is working. Dizziness, especially when you stand up suddenly, is a common side effect of blood pressure drugs. It also may mean your blood pressure has been lowered too much. This is why your doctor wants to see how you do on a lower dose.
Tags: blood pressure, blood pressure drug, blood pressure drugs, blood pressure medicine, bp, Dizziness, dizzy, hctz, hypertension, Lisinopril, medicine, side effect, Taking BP MedsLowering 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 lossMedication changes while on RESPeRATE?
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 27 2010
Q: If using Resperate lowers the blood pressure of one of your patients, would you approve that patient to discontinue taking BP medication while on Resperate?
A: Using RESPeRATE alone to control blood pressure is a possibility. Many factors need to be considered by a doctor prior to attempting to wean a patient off blood pressure drugs. A person with mild hypertension and no other health problems being treated with a low dose diuretic would be the best candidate. Don’t stop taking medicine on your own. Talk to your doctor.
Tags: blood pressure, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, blood pressure drug, blood pressure drugs, control blood pressure, diuretic, hypertension, medication changes, mild hypertension, RESPeRATE, Taking BP Meds, taking medicineHow hypertension affects the kidneys
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 27 2010
Q: How does hypertension cause chronic kidney failure?
A: Over time, uncontrolled blood pressure damages blood vessels. Diseased blood vessels are unable to deliver blood effectively to vital organs such as the kidneys. Without enough blood, tissue dies. When enough tissue is lost, the affected organ no longer can function at full capacity. As more tissue dies, function continues to decline. With intervention, loss of function can be stopped or slowed.
Tags: blood pressure, Blood Pressure & Hypertension, blood vessel, Blood vessels, chronic kidney failure, diseased blood vessels, hypertension, kidney failure, kidneys, Medical Conditions, vital organs
