10sboi
03-06-2008, 11:25 AM
Back in January, my BP was like 140/90 to 160/100. It has averaged 140/90 for awhile.
I was given Toporal XL 100mg as a secondary medication to my regular Norvasc 10mg. I have to admit the side effects of Toporal made me miserable. I even split it in half to 50mg to make it tolerable, but my blood pressure did not drop until I took the 100mg. So I just had to deal with it until I finally decided to do something!!
My weight was at 256. My cholesterol from my blood test last year was a total 257. I decided to go on a low cal (1600 calorie target) diet based along DASH principles, lower my sodium, increase my potassium. I also started exercising more.
As of Monday (March 3), I'm now at 232lbs, my cholesterol is at 183 and my BP is at 120/80. I feel great, getting in clothes that used to be tight and having people compliment me. I still have a ways to go and my BP still needs to be lower.
Also, my doctor has recommended that I take 25mg of Toporol every other day. Let me state this, I was at 100mg, then to 50mg, then to 25mg. I did not drop it at once, the doctor made sure there was ample time between each drop.
Of all the heart health/blood pressure books that I've read, they've all emphasized the same thing, healthy eating and exercise. The positive effects may not happen overnight but instead they're gradual. Meaning that I feel better than the week before, etc. So don't get discouraged if you exercise for two days in a row and your BP is still the same. It takes time.
Last thing, my wife has also told me that I seem to be more relaxed and less irritable and I definitely agree with her. I use to have alot of anxiety about going to a store or doing extra things for fear that I would have a heart attack or stroke because of my HPB (it seems so silly now that I think of it). But not anymore. I feel great :)
I was given Toporal XL 100mg as a secondary medication to my regular Norvasc 10mg. I have to admit the side effects of Toporal made me miserable. I even split it in half to 50mg to make it tolerable, but my blood pressure did not drop until I took the 100mg. So I just had to deal with it until I finally decided to do something!!
My weight was at 256. My cholesterol from my blood test last year was a total 257. I decided to go on a low cal (1600 calorie target) diet based along DASH principles, lower my sodium, increase my potassium. I also started exercising more.
As of Monday (March 3), I'm now at 232lbs, my cholesterol is at 183 and my BP is at 120/80. I feel great, getting in clothes that used to be tight and having people compliment me. I still have a ways to go and my BP still needs to be lower.
Also, my doctor has recommended that I take 25mg of Toporol every other day. Let me state this, I was at 100mg, then to 50mg, then to 25mg. I did not drop it at once, the doctor made sure there was ample time between each drop.
Of all the heart health/blood pressure books that I've read, they've all emphasized the same thing, healthy eating and exercise. The positive effects may not happen overnight but instead they're gradual. Meaning that I feel better than the week before, etc. So don't get discouraged if you exercise for two days in a row and your BP is still the same. It takes time.
Last thing, my wife has also told me that I seem to be more relaxed and less irritable and I definitely agree with her. I use to have alot of anxiety about going to a store or doing extra things for fear that I would have a heart attack or stroke because of my HPB (it seems so silly now that I think of it). But not anymore. I feel great :)
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flowergirl2day
03-06-2008, 12:17 PM
Hi,
thank you so much for sharing your story. :) You are seeing for yourself just how important a healthy diet, combined with exercise, is to our well-being. They both play an integral role in maintaining a good health. Thus, a lot of our health problems arise from living an unhealthy lifestyle - eating unhealthy calorie laden foods and not getting enough exercise.
Something I didn't know: a weight reduction of 4.6 kg a year has been shown to significantly reduce arterial stiffness in otherwise healthy young adults. (measured by pulse wave velocity). Poor fitness is associated with arterial stiffness, which can in turn be reduced by exercise. It is now thought that arterial stiffness is not simply a result of hypertension, but may be its cause.
Congratulations on your achievement! :bouncing:
flowergirl
thank you so much for sharing your story. :) You are seeing for yourself just how important a healthy diet, combined with exercise, is to our well-being. They both play an integral role in maintaining a good health. Thus, a lot of our health problems arise from living an unhealthy lifestyle - eating unhealthy calorie laden foods and not getting enough exercise.
Something I didn't know: a weight reduction of 4.6 kg a year has been shown to significantly reduce arterial stiffness in otherwise healthy young adults. (measured by pulse wave velocity). Poor fitness is associated with arterial stiffness, which can in turn be reduced by exercise. It is now thought that arterial stiffness is not simply a result of hypertension, but may be its cause.
Congratulations on your achievement! :bouncing:
flowergirl
Vanessa74
03-06-2008, 01:33 PM
10Sboi,
That is absolutely fantastic - and so encouraging. I am so happy for you - thank you for sharing... I wish you continued success in your better health plan.
Vanessa
That is absolutely fantastic - and so encouraging. I am so happy for you - thank you for sharing... I wish you continued success in your better health plan.
Vanessa
rw82
03-06-2008, 01:34 PM
10sboi,
Way to go !! Your post was just what I needed today....the encouragement to get off my bottom and do something.
I have to admit I am a fast food, chocolate junkie and I know I have to give it up......to eat right and exercise.
I am on toprol and I know the dosage needs to be adjusted because of thyroid meds. I also know I need to do my part.
Keep up the good work.
RW
Way to go !! Your post was just what I needed today....the encouragement to get off my bottom and do something.
I have to admit I am a fast food, chocolate junkie and I know I have to give it up......to eat right and exercise.
I am on toprol and I know the dosage needs to be adjusted because of thyroid meds. I also know I need to do my part.
Keep up the good work.
RW
10sboi
03-06-2008, 03:00 PM
Thanks everyone, it's encouraging!
bethsheba
03-06-2008, 07:50 PM
....Of all the heart health/blood pressure books that I've read, they've all emphasized the same thing, healthy eating and exercise. The positive effects may not happen overnight but instead they're gradual. Meaning that I feel better than the week before, etc. So don't get discouraged if you exercise for two days in a row and your BP is still the same. It takes time.
Last thing, my wife has also told me that I seem to be more relaxed and less irritable and I definitely agree with her. I use to have alot of anxiety about going to a store or doing extra things for fear that I would have a heart attack or stroke because of my HPB (it seems so silly now that I think of it). But not anymore. I feel great :)
sboi,
I can't tell you how pleased I was to see your post!!!! A hearty congratulations on your accomplishments! Yes, healthy eating and exercise are recurring themes with guaranteed results! That's not to say everyone can get off meds, but they can drop pressures and improve their quality of life. I'm glad you reminded us that it takes time...unless we had some unusual secondary condition, we didn't develop high blood pressure overnight, so "no" it isn't going to go away overnight. Slow and steady is the turtle.
Take care. sboi, and keep us up with your progress. We DO love to hear sucess stories.
Bethsheba
Last thing, my wife has also told me that I seem to be more relaxed and less irritable and I definitely agree with her. I use to have alot of anxiety about going to a store or doing extra things for fear that I would have a heart attack or stroke because of my HPB (it seems so silly now that I think of it). But not anymore. I feel great :)
sboi,
I can't tell you how pleased I was to see your post!!!! A hearty congratulations on your accomplishments! Yes, healthy eating and exercise are recurring themes with guaranteed results! That's not to say everyone can get off meds, but they can drop pressures and improve their quality of life. I'm glad you reminded us that it takes time...unless we had some unusual secondary condition, we didn't develop high blood pressure overnight, so "no" it isn't going to go away overnight. Slow and steady is the turtle.
Take care. sboi, and keep us up with your progress. We DO love to hear sucess stories.
Bethsheba
marantz1935
03-07-2008, 06:47 AM
Well done and thanks for a very inspiring story.