The reason I am posting is to try find alternate ideas of what I can do about my blood pressure. A little history about me includes, for the last 4 years, I have been active army. I am 6'1", 170lbs, I am used to running marathons and in good physical shape. I eat rather well to avoid getting out of shape.

Last October I was diagnosed with Hypertension Stage II. My reading at the time was 210/110 - 190/100. These days I am on medication, and my average ranges from 150/90 to 180/105. I have a moniter at home, and I check it frequently. According to the docters, I am ppart of the very small population that just can't be explained. They did numerous checks on me for the last 6 months, checking my kidneys, heart, valves, blood, sugar levels, and a lot more.

I have been stationed in Korea for 3 years now, and according to my medical file, my blood pressure really rose about 2 years ago, but the doctors never did anything about it at the time. My family doesn't have a history of high blood pressure.

I went on leave back to the states last December, and seen a civilian doctor to get his opinion. He wanted to run some tests, but I simply wasn't home long enough, he mentioned on of the readings on the tests the military preformed was very odd. I asked my doctor when I got back to Korea, but he said it was normal.

Right now I am on Hydrocholorothiaxide, and Ramiphril, and have been for awhile now, right away my blood pressure when down to 140/90's, but then slowy rose, like I was gettting used to the medicine and such.

My question is mostly if there is any alternate solutions I might be able to look into to find the underlying cause to this. If you need any more information let me know. The army will not let me do much physical activity, but I stay in shape. Is it possible to not have a cause? I don't know if I am getting the run around. I have been to many doctors and hospitals here.

Try kimchi and rice diet for 3 months. If there is a single-food defence to heart
ailments, kimchi has to be it!

EVEN WHEN YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE WENT DOWN TO 140/90'S THAT IS STILL HBP...SO IT WAS NEVER PERFECTLY UNDER CONTROL.........TRY SWITCHING MEDS AS FOR THE CAUSE.....WELL,THE MAIN CAUSE OF HBP IS TO THIS DAY UNKNOWN.......DO U HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL???? SOMETIMES THAT CAUSES HBP....:wave:

Stebee83,

In roughly 90% of the hypertension cases, doctors do not find an underlying condition that is responsible for causing the high blood pressure. The remaining 10% of people with high blood pressure have secondary hypertension, meaning there is a root cause for their high blood pressure.

When someone like you develops high blood pressure at a young age and does not have a family history of high blood pressure, the doctor should run tests to make sure that you don't have secondary hypertension.

It sounds like your doctors have already done a lot of tests so I think the best thing to do is to find another doctor, preferably a hypertension specialist like a nephrologist or cardiologist. Ask the specialist about getting imaging tests done like a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA). Also, check your blood pressure in both arms. The difference between arms should not be more than 10 mm Hg.

Good luck,

You definetly need more tests done ASAP, especially for kidney problems. Do you smoke or anything like that?

Thanks for the responses, my doctor is limited here in Korea. I went to one when I went on vacation back to the states, but I was never there long enough to do any tests.

I have been doing tests since October, at least one a month, all different.

I eat rice at least once a day so no worries there. Kimchi is more difficult for me, but I can stomach some kinds ^^

I did a cholesterol test, and I am okay in that department.

I have only been on the 2 drugs since October, they changed the dosage once, but never since.

The Doctor said I dont have any secondary cause, my family doens't have a history of high blood pressure.

The doctor did do some tests for my kidneys to make sure I didn't have any tumors, or anything else like that.

I have never smoked before.

I believe I answered all the questions. Thanks again for the responses, and the help.

Hello,

I'm sorry that you have problems with your blood pressure and I hope you will solve it soon.

Most people don't think much about the weather and its effect on HBP, I'm living in Egypt and in summer my blood pressure 130/90 to 120/80 and that's only because of the hot weather. The hot weather widen the blood vessels and the cold weather narrow the blood vessels. So in winter my blood pressure is high and I need to add more medications too.

I know that it's very cold in Korea right?

I'm not saying that this is the only reason but it's helping to further increase your BP levels.

Also the type of food you eat is very important, you need to eat food that contains Magnesium and Potassium and cut Sodium intake as much as you can. Eat Potato because it's very rich in Potassium too.

I guess you are overweight? I think you need to lose 10 pounds.

There are many things that you can do to lower your blood pressure but it will take time. In those boards you will find many good advice from experts who managed to lower thier blood pressure.
Good luck,
Michael

Thanks for the reponse Michael.

I lived in Chicago my whole life, and I have been here in Korea for over 3 years now. I came down with high blood pressure around 2 years ago, but the medical center didn't treat it until last october.

I eat good food, a variety of different foods, and I dislike most fast foods besides the healthier choices, such as sandwiches. Even then I don't take dressings or anything on it.

I wouldn't say I am overweight, everyone I know says I am skinny, but I am average for my height of 6'2", being a little over 170lbs. I used to run marathons and such, so I know I am not overweight and out of shape, not to mention the Army won't let us get out of shape.

I know about blood pressure treatments well now, I am just trying to find alternate solutions and opinions. It seems I am just getting the run around for the doctors in my area.

So you are not overweight but are you sure that you eat right?

You are healthy as you say and nothing is wrong so there must be some reason for having such a high reading. I guess it's the cold weather, in winter (in Egypt) although it's not cold as in the US my blood pressure is higher than summer by 15 to 20 points.

That's why I'm thinking to move to a more warmer place like Dubai or south Africa :(.

Anyway, I guess that you have to go to a Dietician and work with him to monitor how you react to food. Believe me you can lower your blood pressure and you have to believe that. I'm sure that a good Dietician will help you a lot.
Meanwhile you need to take your BP Medication and if it's not working good then come here and discuss it with the people here.
I find that there is a lot of supporting here which is a great think :D
Good luck dear
Michael

CHANGE THE MEDS YOU ARE ON IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING FOR U........I WAS LUCKY THAT ON THE FIRST MEDS I GOT MY BP WENT DOWN...I TAKE TARKA 2/240MG (HALF A PILL PER DAY). UR HEALTH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING U HAVE SO IF U GET NO HELP WHERE U ARE ...TRY A DOCTOR IN THE STATE WHERE UR FROM............FOR THE NUMBERS U GET A MORE AGGRESIVE APPROACH IS NEEDED. GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED.:wave:






PS: I WILL PRAY 4 U TO FIND THE MEDS THAT WORK TO CTRL UR BP:)