Hi everyone, I'm a 39 year old male who has been hypertensive for about 6/7 years. For a good part of that time, I've been on different medications and am currently taking Tiazec (?) at something like 200mg a day. Until about 3 years ago, my medication seemed to be helping but not much lately. Beyond a divorce, there has not really been anything that's happened to me physically or emotionally (that I can think of) that might have triggered a problem begining 3 years ago.

The last 3 or four times I've had it checked (including just two days ago) it was around 160/105. This last time, the Dr. checked it 4 times over the course of my visit and it did decrease to something like 140/90 so he suspects that I may have been stressed out at first (even though I didn't feel that way). But even if I just stop and get it checked at the local pharmacy, its usually at the higher level.

One reason why I'm frustrated is that I'm otherwise in very good health and have altered my lifestyle to address this problem. I have low cholesterol (under 180 I believe), my body fat is below 12%, I exercise 5 days a week, eat fairly well, I've cut out carbonated beverages from my diet, never add salt to anything I eat, eat lots of fruit, only have one or two cups of coffee a day (half decaf), etc. I do get stressed out easily, but it usually passes quickly too. I also drink lots of water (probably 96 ozs or more a day) and I wonder if this could be contributing to the problem (by increasing the volume of blood travelling through my body?). Finally, my dad has had high BP for as long as I can remember but his seems to be under control now, but it seems that my issue is at least in part hereditary.

Anyway, are there others out there who've been put on meds, changed their lifestyles and still not seen improvements? Mine is still high enough that I worry about the stroke risk (particularly now that I'll be 40 soon).....

Thanks

Anyway, are there others out there who've been put on meds, changed their lifestyles and still not seen improvements? Mine is still high enough that I worry about the stroke risk (particularly now that I'll be 40 soon).....

Thanks

Getting my BP under control has been almost a full time job. I've got heart failure, so getting my blood pressure down is very important so that my heart doesn't weaken an further.

Back about 7 years ago, I started taking my blood pressure because I was feeling really bad, with a fast weak heartbeat, lightheaded, sweaty and with chest pains. I found out that my BP was way out of control, up about 180/120.

I started taking my BP reading an average of 7 times per day to see what was going on, and to determine which heart medicine controlled my BP the best.

I tried increasing my Ace Inhibitor for a week or two. It did nothing. I increased my Nitro-SR for a week or two. Nothing! I increased my diuretic. It only made me feel worse. Then I increased my calcium channel blocker (CCB) and saw an almost immediate decrease in BP and an increase in feeling better. But, just because a CCB helps me doesn't mean it would help someone else the same way.

After over 13,000 readings, I have an average systolic BP of around 150 with a standard deviation of 12, and a diastolic BP of around 95 with a standard deviation of 8. The important thing is that I very seldom get the extremely high readings, and when I get a very high reading, I don't have it all day long. For one thing, as soon as my BP gets too high, I pop a nitro under my tongue and it brings the BP down in a hurry.

My lowest average BP is 140/90 at 11am, my highest average BP is 157/100 at 10pm.

I am on Warfarin, a blood thinner, to prevent against stroke.

I have found out that my BP varies not only by hour, but also by season, and by the level of pollens and pollutants in the air. Irritants like dust, chemicals, smoke, clothing dyes can also raise my BP.

I don't take my Calcium Channel Blocker as indicated, every eight hours. I found out that by taking it at 7am, 5pm and 11pm, I get the best results.

I feel that a person with High Blood Pressure has to be pro-active in order to get the best results. I really feel that if I hadn't been aggressive in the treatment of my own hypertension, that I would've been be dead by now, or worse.

Just wanted to pass on what I have learned and what I have experienced.

Lardoggy,

Tiazec is proprietary name for diltiazem (also Cardizem), an common calcium channel blocker. Are you outside the USA, Canadian possibly?

Anyhoo, diltiazem vs. placebo double blind showed a 4.9 drop in diastolic at 180 mg./day and 6.1 reduction at 360 mg/ day. This isn't very much so it doesn't surprise me that your BP is still high. It's usually given with other agents to get enough of an effect.

Is this the FIRST BP med you were put on...it SHOULDN'T be unless your doctor holds stock in Biovail Pharmcaeutical...or unless you have heart disease.

You can get better reductions with a thiazide diuretic...at a MUCH cheaper price.

You know, I really don't have a good memory about this stuff and I know I should. What I can recall is that, when I first went on medication 5/6 years ago, I was on one type of medication (I can't recall which one, however). I switched Dr.s and the new Dr. put me on Tiazec. It actually worked fairly well for a while (was getting readings of 140/85 or so). Now, I'm with my third Dr. (all these changes in Dr's brought on by moves) and he has kept me on Tiazec but is now recommeding a new drug which, I can't recall as I haven't actually received the new perscription yet. As soon as I get that info, I'll report back. By the way, I am in the US (Calif).

Nevertheless, it seems that my average BP readings are high enough that I shouldn't expect drastic results (as evidenced by the other response to my question). But it does seem that the "natural" remedies aren't going to help out much either!

Anyway, I do appreciate all the help!

I finally got through to my Dr. to confirm the medication and its Lisinopril. Just got ordered and I should be receiving it within a few days. I did a search to find that the most commen side effect is incessant coughing...but I'll keep my fingers crossed at this point!. In the mean time, I've doubled up my dietary efforts to bring in a lot more fiber (fruits and vegetables) and even celery (not a big fan, but I'll give it a try)

One concern I still have (while I'm still taking the Tiazec) is what happens to my BP while exercising? I work out 4/5 days a week, mainly weightlifting but cardio at least 2 times a week. Even with the weights, though, I get a good cardio workout since I only rest for 30 seconds or so between sets. I have to believe that my BP increases during these periods of time. If my "normal" BP is already high, can it go dangerously high during periods of vigorous activity?

Lardoggy,

Nature has programmed us to raise out BP's when stressed to get more food and oxygen to the organs and muscles that must perform harder. Short term BP spikes are thus not to be avoided.
What is sometimes called dangerous for hypertensive is anything like a VALSALVA excercise....using a held inflated breath to raise the pressure in the chest. Think of a Bench Press or a squat while holding your breath. THAT raises BP too much.
As far as strenuous aerobic activity...just keep to the 85% heart rate and you;ll be fine.

(I've tried to document my BP under excercise conditions. Without a permanent and automatic inflation of some kind and a tester that's immune to jarring, it's just IMPOSSIBLE to do right....I even have a theory that, during a hard aerobic workout, to rid the body of heat the skin arterioles may very well open wide and actually LOWER BP...but I can't prove it with my home tester!)

Strange that there is no mention of ARB's. I went through the ACE (ends in "pril") and calcium channel blocker routine. I changed doctors and got on an ARB. Perfect control and no side effects. I am not sure the old doctors keep up on the medications. I am sure it varies with the doctor.

I tried increasing my Ace Inhibitor for a week or two. It did nothing. I increased my Nitro-SR for a week or two. Nothing! I increased my diuretic. It only made me feel worse. Then I increased my calcium channel blocker (CCB) and saw an almost immediate decrease in BP and an increase in feeling better. But, just because a CCB helps me doesn't mean it would help someone else the same way.



Are you saying that you adjust your own medications? :confused:

Are you saying that you adjust your own medications? :confused:

I've been adjusting my own meds for 20 years. It's not because I feel like I am an expert at heart meds, or because I enjoy testing meds. It's because of bad reactions from the meds, or because the meds aren't working at the strength that they are prescribed, or because the meds interact badly with each other.

My heart doctor has it listed on my records that I adjust my meds and he approves of it. I've got a great heart doctor who works with me at getting the biggest bang out of my meds. I discuss, with him, the effects of increasing or decreasing certain meds and he writes new prescriptions when I change my meds.

Why?

It is impossible for a doctor to be with a patient 24 hours around the clock, and it is not practicle for a doctor to spend hundreds of hours studying the complex relationships between a heart patient's medicines, foods, environment, body cycles, seasonal changes, stress, pollens and pollutant levels, etc., and symptoms.

I take my blood pressure an average of 7 times per day, and I now have over 13,000 readings by hour and day. I also monitor my heart rate. This monitoring helps me to make changes to my meds, and make changes to when I take the meds.

I've had congestive heart failure, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, etc., for about 20 years. Without my being proactive with my meds, my environment and my symptoms, I would have been dead, or worse, long ago.

Well, I've been on Lisiniprol for about three weeks now and am not sold on its affects yet. I had take two readings at the local pharmacy at around 145/90...better than where I had been but not where I want to be. More recently, however, my readings jumped back up to 160/100. Admittedly, I had a been freshly stressed over some stuff at home about an hour before one of those, so I don't know what to think of that. I guess I'm gonna need to invest in a home monitor and check more often.

The big problem I have with this new drug is constipation! :eek: This sucks particulary since I used to be as regular as the sunrise! I feel like a baloon most of the time now and am going to have to give some metamucil (sp?) or something similar a try. I am also coming to realize that stress is a big part of my life and is something I need to adress. I'm researching meditation and will be taking yoga and hope they will help...

What about coffee? I drink one cup a day, half decaf and wouldnt' think this would cause much of a problem but I think I heard recently that there is some other chemical in coffee that raises stress levels, decaf or not.

sunbird,

How much of a drop, systolic/diastolic, would you judge you got from your ARB?

I like the drug class but if I take Cozaar alone, it's really not good for much more than 10/6 reduction for me (very ball park.)

ps.... I like the "oprils"...along with the "olols" and the "sartans" it sounds like Irish clan warfare...how appropriate today. LOL (I guess THAT's a beta blocker! ) :bouncing:

Of course there are 10 million factors:

Was basically 160 / 95.

Now 128 / 85.

This is 20 mg Benicar.

Jay