A Very Very True Quote.... - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

Random2 · 11-17-2004, 12:58 PM

A: One factor would be someone who doesn't have any evidence of damage from the hypertension, such as stroke or heart attack, as well as people who don't have enlarged hearts if they have something like an echocardiogram. If those complications were present, I would not advise patients to go off medicines. However, if the only thing that you can find wrong is high pressures in the doctor's office or if those pressures become normal on medication, it would be reasonable to try tapering off the medication and seeing what happens.

Then why don't doctors do this??? It's all about the $'s. Why do they prescribe beta-blockers as opposed to diuretics & ARB's.... As it states in the article... $'s.

zuzu8 · 11-18-2004, 03:07 AM

Axe,

Do you have a link to the rest of this article? I'd love to read it.
By the way, some doctor's ARE willing to taper you off if you're BP seems really well-controlled on meds, especially if you've made some major changes in your life, like adding regular exercise and losing weight.

Problem is you haven't found that doctor yet! It's such a pity too, because you've been doing all the right things and are probably healthier now than when this all started for you. PLUS you''ve got youth on your side.

Can't wait for you to see the specialist (is he a cardio person?) and at least get off Atenolol to see what happens. If #s are still good, then bye-bye Lotrel...and then you'll see where you stand.

zuzu xx

Random2 · 11-18-2004, 07:28 AM

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1189/is_4_273/ai_75608728

Very interesting article. It explains how people with white-coat don't respond to meds. really of any kind before going to the doctor, even though it is low & normal through the day. It also discusses why Beta Blockers are prescribed much more than ARB's & why diurectics aren't prescibed nearly so much ($'s). This article pretty much sums up what I have been saying all along.

In the process of the last 21 months Zuzu, I have cut down from 6 beers or more a night to maybe 1 or 2 on the weekends. I am 150 & 5' 11", so I don't need to lose any more weight. I eat low sodium. I excercise with my dog. My B/P yesterday was 112/56 on the meds.... I think that is a bit too low. I am much healthier now. Played an outdoor gig with my band (I'm the singer & guitarist). I made it through a 1 1/2 hour set with no problems. The other 3 guys were dying. I had no problem. I just want to go to the specialist as a back-up that is all. I have felt really good lately. I owe my lifestyle changes to myself, but my 23 year old G/F won't let me resort to my former bad habits & cooks for me+ every night. She is 5' 9" 115 or so. I guess we are both thin.... Read the article & let me know what you think.

sndsysltd · 11-18-2004, 07:44 AM

23 year old GF?? THAT should help keep the ticker goin'!! Forget the drugs, way to go!!

Random2 · 11-18-2004, 07:58 AM

I'm 34, but I get carded as much as she does. She is more mature than me in a lot of ways, so it all works out extremely well after 2 years. She thinks that I should be off of the meds. Her Mom works in a hospital & does Nuclear Medicine & she agrees. Met her thousands of miles away when my band played her city when she was a DJ on the radio, so we have a lot in common. She wants me to trash the meds. & never thought I should have taken them in the 1st place. She knows that I have anxiety & that is the cause (white-coat). It annoys her that I take my B/P so often, because it always averages the same. She believes that it is a bad obsession to take it 15 times a month when it always comes out the same. I agree with her. She thinks that the docs. that I have seen don't understand white-coat or anxiety & that they should treat the anxiety 1st. She also believes that I should go to the specialist just so he can instruct my GP. Life is grand.