High Blood Pressure Help

Start making your own foods and salt becomes less of an issue. Kind of a non-issue. It's hard work at first, but after a while, it's just how you live and isn't a big deal at all.

Gum helps to keep a mouth moist and make you fell less thirsty.

Yes, many people lose weight, improve their health and get off the drugs. Some people are still hypertensive. No way to know which way you'll go, but getting healthier can only help!

Several have have reported they greatly reduced carbs and over time lost weight that helped reduce the blood pressure levels. If you do move to very low carb high fat eating most of us have to add salt because most sodium comes from processed foods like Coke, bread, packaged meats, etc.

You eating a very high carb diet may be one concern you want to Google and read more about the pros and cons as to causing high blood pressure.

Yes many report getting off of blood pressure meds working with their doctor and diet.

SylviaCherie wrote: »

danieltsmoke wrote: »

I had high enough blood pressure, to the point that my GP was going to put me on meds, and I said NO...screw that, I'm gonna lose weight. He said well if you can actually do that then great (yes, it was patronizing)...3 months later I've lost 40lbs and have normal blood pressure.
Point is, losing weight was far easier for me than taking any meds, dealing with any side effects, and feeling the stress of keeping my 337lbs.
I don't know you tho, maybe you have lost weight and it's just a hereditary thing you have to deal with, if so, just ignore all this haha. Point is, if you need to lose weight to get healthier, I know you can do it.

Thank you! As I mentioned I am newly diagnosed so I've been watching what I eat and monitoring my sodium although I have made some slip ups during the last two weeks I'm way better than before. However knowing I have high blood pressure has triggered panic attacks and anxiety because my grandmother dies at 39 years old from an aneurysm associated with her having high blood pressure. My doctor felt I could lower it without meds as I wasn't really bad off but my anxiety from some of the symptoms of having HBP would cause serious peaks so when I called him he Said he will put me on water pill(hctz) until I lose the weight.

Seems like you're the perfect candidate for some calorie deficit medicine there's a ton of helpful posts around here on how to establish a good deficit and track your calorie intake..that's really all I've done to lose weight so I know you can too.

Side note, people here can be overly opinionated and down right patronizing, so try not to let that hurt your feelings, it's just the internet, after all

As a rn case manager , if u eat clean and workout,as u lose weight., the Htn will go away as well it's a win win!

My husband is a hypertensive and we've figured out that it's attributed to genetics, smoking and his weight. When he makes an effort to cut down, his blood pressure drops a bit as well, just never to perfect levels. I would suggest monitoring at home and not just at the doctor's office. There is such a thing as white coat syndrome which some people suffer from. Besides, a diabetic checks keeps track of blood sugar at home and so should a hypertensive.

Had a high blood pressure
Very high!!!!

But started to lose weight I cook myself and dont add salt to anything
I eat a lot of spices and herbs in my food
After a month of 3 it came slowly down

and here 10 months later and 105 pounds lighter it is stable at a 120 over 72 range
So it is possible yes. But not for everybody, only time can tell. But it is better for sure
Also watch your potassium intake...try as high as possible.
By weighing ALL my food and logging EVERYTHING like also coffee..i got a good overview of my potassium intake which helps a lot.
Potatoes have a lot of it and bananas but spices and herbs too and vegetables and coffee.
So every single bit counts.

I eat everything but i eat balanced....cook fresh food but also have my slice of pizza or my ice cream...key is portion control.

But i think you have to consult your doctor about what you have or not have to do. Also ask for a nutritionist who can help you.
Dont take advice from people on a forum with no medical inside in your situation...it is your health you are talking about.

@BWBTrish Does potassium help with blood pressure? I did not know that.

Just from Googling

****Most people who eat a healthy diet should get enough potassium naturally. However, many Americans don't eat a healthy diet and may be deficient in potassium. Low potassium is associated with a risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer, digestive disorders, and infertility.*****

This is why for some people ( not all) when they eat healthier like fruit vegetables etc it goes better ( foods high in potassium).

But again its all about balance. This dont help everybody and your team of medical people should advice and help you with that. Nobody has inside in what other peoples medical issues are when you talk online. A good team will guide you with this.

I have/had HBP and was prescribed "DASH diet and lose weight". My BP wasn't "high" enough to be put on meds. From my own BP readings, it's the same as it was over 3 years ago - 135/89 averaged - and at my last appointment, it read 120/80 which is borderline high, but my GP said it was fine.

I still watch my sodium, but I'm not freaked out if it's over 2300 mg. You don't have to cook everything you eat from scratch just to have a low sodium diet. I found plenty of low/lower sodium foods from here - http://www.lowsaltfoods.com/default.htm.

When the anxiety gets bad, just look at this and be soothed.

High blood pressure runs on my dad's side of the family, too. So does sitting on the couch, watching bad tv, and eating cheez-its (we're not total sloths, but...). Personally, I've had high blood pressure due to reasons I cannot control (kidney failure from a rare genetic disease from my mom's side), and I've had high blood pressure from being at the high end of my healthy weight range. Losing the weight has helped every time I've yo-yo'd into high blood pressure territory.

But, you're right. Anxiety attacks have a huge effect. It's good that you have a tool from your doctor to help you in the meantime, but meditation would probably be a huge boon to your health. I would brush aside that advice whenever it came my way because, "gah! don't you understand I CAN'T meditate? My racing thoughts NEVER stop!" I had enough last spring, and I found myself worrying about things that didn't have to happen. I stopped and I thought, "Breathe" with every inhale and exhale. The thoughts went away after a dozen or so breaths. I was on the bus at the time. I've done it a trillion times ever since. I haven't even binged since April.

The same problem arises with every solution, though. You have to do it every day. You have to take your meds, choose the right food, exercise, and breathe every day. Hopefully, you'll reach a point where you can remove the meds from that list. Good luck!

Losing the excess weight will definitely be a positive for you in many ways, whether it effects your High Blood Pressure is another thing as there are a lot of genetic components as @wolfman 13 has pointed out and even with your best weight loss efforts you may still need medication.

I notice you have mentioned having anxiety issues...I would entreat you to look into the benefits of meditation and mindfulness either through audio down loads, courses or books. My preference is for guided meditations as I have not yet mastered the art of keeping out intrusive thoughts on my own. This can really help with high BP that tends to be labile over the day ie it gets abnormally high/er in response to stressful situations.

The other thing that we have found helpful in keeping an eye on our own albeit minor issues with HBP is invest in a home blood pressure metre. They aren't that expensive and easy to use.....It has been of great use for my Hubby as he was well on the way to being medicated due to excessive numbers whenever he went to the Docs.....but when he has a reading done at home the numbers are well within the normal range, the last one I took was this morning and it came out at 132/82 whereas 3 days ago it was 150/98 so it may be helpful to have readings away from the stress of the surgery.

All the best.

LilannB wrote: »

I was diagnosed with severe hypertension two years ago. I was also obese and eating fast food about 80% of my meals. Eventually I was on five blood pressure meds some at maximum dose and my blood pressure was still uncontrolled. Since then I have lost 60 pounds, I am off two of my blood pressure meds and have cut the dose in half of two others and my blood pressure is controlled. I think I'll be able to come off the rest of my blood pressure meds in another 40 or 50 pounds. I cook almost all of my meals at home and eat fast food only about once a week as it is high in sodium. I was shocked to find that a McDonald's sausage egg and cheese biscuit has over 1400 mg of sodium more then half of the 2300 mg recommended daily. That along with the high calories has been enough to get me to cut way down on fast food.

Well done you on getting off the tablets and taking control of your health