Family history of heart disease - should I take more meds? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

songer99 · 02-01-2005, 05:47 PM

I have a family history of heart disease. My dad died when he was 32. Now I am 30 years old and I have high BP, even though I am pretty active (although still a little overweight).

With medication, my BP averages around 135/75. Sometimes it's higher, and sometimes it's lower depending on time of day, stress, etc. I am currently taking verapamil (Calcium Channel Blocker, 120 mg I think) and lisinopril (ACE inhibitor, 20 mg)

My doctor tells me that he wants my BP to be under 120/70 because of my family history. Everywhere I read it says that 130/75 is ok, 140/80 is borderline ok. Should I take my doctor's advice and increase my dosages b/c I have a bad family history of heart attack? I really don't want to take any more medication than I absolutely need to.

If anyone else has a similar story, of if someone knows if these are high doses already, please let me know. Thanks!

vipergg22 · 02-01-2005, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by songer99

I have a family history of heart disease. My dad died when he was 32. Now I am 30 years old and I have high BP, even though I am pretty active (although still a little overweight).

With medication, my BP averages around 135/75. Sometimes it's higher, and sometimes it's lower depending on time of day, stress, etc. I am currently taking verapamil (Calcium Channel Blocker, 120 mg I think) and lisinopril (ACE inhibitor, 20 mg)

My doctor tells me that he wants my BP to be under 120/70 because of my family history. Everywhere I read it says that 130/75 is ok, 140/80 is borderline ok. Should I take my doctor's advice and increase my dosages b/c I have a bad family history of heart attack? I really don't want to take any more medication than I absolutely need to.

If anyone else has a similar story, of if someone knows if these are high doses already, please let me know. Thanks!

Only you can decide that , the more you do add the more likely you are going to have side effects though , to me 130/75 is pretty good . They don't really know what causes heart attacks , they are all over people about cholesterol etc... yet over 50 % of heart attack victims fall within the normal cholesterol levels .

jtu91952 · 02-02-2005, 10:06 AM

When i had my first heart attack my cholesterol was 130.

Uff-Da! · 02-07-2005, 12:32 AM

Have you done all you can with lifestyle changes for the blood pressure? Well, you said you are still a little overweight. Wouldn't it be worth it to try to lose those extra pounds first, rather than take a higher dose of meds? Any changes you still need to make in your diet to help?

zuzu8 · 02-07-2005, 03:25 AM

Quote:

My doctor tells me that he wants my BP to be under 120/70 because of my family history.

Songer,

Given your family history and the fact that your blood pressure has started creeping up at a very young age, your doctor is probably right in wanting to see your #s lower. However, under 120/80 (not 70) would be more easily attainable and is considered optimal by anyone's standards.

Quote:

Everywhere I read it says that 130/75 is ok, 140/80 is borderline ok.

These #s are considered normal but now fall into a new category called "pre-hypertension". Lifestyle changes rather than meds are now more aggressively recommended to those who fall into this range.

You'd be amazed how even a ten pound weight loss can significantly lower BP. Go for it!

No more meds yet!!

zuzu xx