Who Has Dropped Their Blood Pressure? Tell Your Story!

Tedebearduff

mwyvr wrote: »

Were you hypertensive (or headed there) and brought it under control with weight loss and/or improving your diet, health & fitness? Inspire others, tell your BP story!

I doubt this would inspire others, lets be real your doctor should be telling you what you need to do... he lays it out for you. Lose weight, eat better, go to the gym, be more active, etc etc.... it's just actually doing it.... All you have to do is do it!

My doctor told me I had to go on ramipril, also told me I needed to lose weight and get healthy so I did.... I use to be diabetic also .... or "pre diabetic" ,was on metformin & also took Crestor for cholesterol. Anyways I did the obvious and lost weight (172lbs lost) and got healthy now I have 0 medications and am doing just fine. It's really simple there is no magic to this whole thing just start doing it.

mwyvr

Being told by a doctor what to do is one thing but however much trust someone might have in their doc, reading people's success stories can help inspire people to, as you say, "just start doing it".

jgnatca

I started to see some major changes after my first thirty pounds gone. I started to have faintness and dizzy spells. Some of it was low blood sugar, and some of it was low blood pressure. I was on meds for both at the time. I kept records of my sugar and my BP and eventually negotiated stopping the meds. I have kept testing my BP weekly and it has stayed in the low-normal range.

When I started running I saw a big change in my resting heart rate (for the better).

jgnatca

I tried doing this yesterday, but I couldn't pull the data together. Here's one year's worth of data. I stopped taking blood pressure meds about August last year.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1T2BVpnJFyaG1I7ZdL2dS9FyHVLRLnmFLxqmOv2VcqYg/pubchart?oid=1931077934&format=image

mwyvr

Wasn't able to open that link due to permissions but congratulations on your achievement!

happygalah

I was bordeline for awhile. Not enough for meds. Doctor though it was white coat. So I went in having chest pains and my bp was something like 150/110. I had to get a 24hr monitor and my average came back at 137/75 so the doctor decided to put me on meds.

Everytime I would go in it would be high and then I take it at home it would be fine.

Last week, I went in for my checkup and it was the lowest in the doctor's office in years at 127/88. She was very pleased.

I'm hoping to get off the meds at some point but we just want to make sure it stays down first.

camground2

jenniejoy07 wrote: »

My BP reads ~140/85; my doctor is giving me year to get myself under control with diet/exercise because she knows I can do it. Interested to see how my BP reacts to my new lifestyle I've been living for 5 weeks now!

My husband went from that exact reading to 110/85. In 6 weeks. He started lifting, running and not eating any fast food. And yes. He lost tons of weight. He went from a sendentary vacation to let's hike 26 miles in 4 days over 4 mountain passes. You can do it!

mwyvr

@Camground2 Love your story! So many more life benefits come out of getting healthier and fitter than just bringing our BP down. Getting back to long lost fun activities or discovering new ones is a huge reward too!

camground2

Yes! I agree. We want to still have fun as we grow older (50 now). Don't want to retire and be too sick to have fun!

ImportedRose

There is a natural flower called "Jamaica". When you eat at a Mexican taco place, you more likely will see this drink as an option. Anyway, most Mexican markets sell this as a dry flower. Try tis - place a hand full in a large container filled with drinking water and add chia seeds, refrigerate and drink glass in AM and one in PM. You should see your blood pressure go down. This natural mix also cleans your kidneys from toxins etc. see for yourself. My coworker's uncontrolled and high blood pressure was normal when she went for her follow up appt. with doctor. But remember common sense. Take your meds and add this to your routine, then see if your meds, per your doctor, need to be discontinued.

AlysonG2

My BP seems to have a direct correlation to my weight.

About 7 years ago, I got up to about 220lb...BP was 140/90ish. Doctor started talking about putting me on medication, so I started losing weight.

Got down to around 170...BP was 120/80.

Gained a little back, up to about 185-190...BP was 130/85.

Got pregnant, was almost 250lb by the end...BP was 160/90 (and I don't think it had much to do with the pregnancy).

Delivered my son, dropped to around 225 immediately...BP was 140/90ish again.

Lost another 60lb to get down to 170 again...BP was 115/75ish.

Got pregnant again. I've kept my weight much more under control this pregnancy, (at 34 weeks pregnant I'm around 190)...BP is 120/80.

My body's happy weight seems to be around 170. Although I would be happier with it being more like 150 .

mwyvr

Bump!

Yi5hedr3

Reduced sodium, increased potassium. Whala!!

debkie77

I have lost 93 pounds since mid-January and as a result my doctor took me off Enalapril earlier this week. Hoping to get off hydrochlorothyazide next time. Blood pressure and blood sugar both down significantly since last year's check up.

SbetaK

I was too heavy for years and watched my BP climb up. Was in denial that it was ongoing, not a transient issue. I finally admitted it was a real issue and started meds. I hate taking pills. I tried at least 10 of the most common prescriptions, and had severe coughing reactions to each one of them, to the point that I was throwing up from coughing so much. My coworkers mumbled that maybe I have TB and to stay away from them! I got pneumonia from having my respiratory system so irritated. Found one that was the least irritating, but I was very frustrated and googled how to lower blood pressure naturally. Read all the things I already knew but couldn't seem to get a handle on-lose weight, lower sodium intake, increase physical activity.......I found MFP and started using it just to track my sodium. (I am a salt addict, surprise). Got into it, started seeing pounds drop, BP drop, increased my activity...I feel wonderful now. Still have trouble with salt intake, but so much better and MFP tracking really stares me in the face if I make bad choices. Really appreciate this site.

patrosy

4 years ago I was 120kg (264LB), smoking 1 pack per day and consumed alcohol daily. My only exercise involved getting to the fridge. BP was measured by my sister-in-law (nurse) at a family party and found to be 180/90!! Since then, gave up smokes, modified my diet to include more fruit & vege and less fatty and sugary food, only drink occassionally, exercise (cardio &/or weights) 1-2 hours daily and lost 45kg (100lb). I now weigh 75kg (165lb). My BP is now consistently at 110/70. The recuperating powers of the body are truly amazing.

Blackdawn_70631

I suffer from low blood pressure. Lots of times I don't even tip into the 80s and after a good workout I'm dropping dangerously low. Feels fine to me though, but I can get lightheaded sometimes.
Found out the best thing is to munch on something loaded with sodim. A quick fix is salt in my palm. Then I have to kick off my morning with a 280 calorie hot pocket. A lot of sodium in it and I feel great.

Annr

In 1989, I used to have my blood pressure checked at the Navy on base hospital every day. It was 140/95. they put me on a low dose hypertension pill for years. I stopped taking it 2012 when Jenny Craig helped me lose some weight, but it just didn't stick. I never lost it in my head, so presently I am down almost 30 lbs, and my blood pressure runs around 126/72. That BP was taken when I was about to donate blood so I was a bit nervous too!! I have done a 180' on my eating and I feel mauvalous! My core feels stronger, and its nice to not have to worry so much about high blood pressure!

mwyvr

Congratulations everyone on taking control over your health. Your future self is going to thank you so much!