High blood pressure medicine and weight loss - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

sandi2932 · 03-29-2007, 12:58 PM

I posted this to the Weightloss board but thought I should put it on the blood pressure tread too.

I have been on blood pressure medicine for years. I've been on many diets and it's hard to loose weight no matter what I try. My sister had me use her watch that checks your pulse rate. My pulse was between 63 and 65 (I tried it more than once). That was my resting pulse rate. She thought that was pretty low. We checked my dad's and his was around 75. I'm 49. I go to the gym 3 times a week. My Dad is 79 and has arthritis and doesn't walk much. No matter what diet I try I can't loose weight. I thought after 7 months at the gym I would be loosing weight. After seeing my pulse I remembered about the blood pressure medicine I'm on. I take 50 miliigrams of Atenolol and 20 milligrams of Enalapril every day. Atenolol I remember reading, is a beta blocker and it slows your heart rate down. Is it possible the Atenolol is why my heart rate is so low and actually keeping me from loosing weight?

Your feed back is much appreciated!

Sandi

bethsheba · 03-29-2007, 03:26 PM

A resting pulse rate of between 60-65, in my opinion, is very good and indicates you are in good physcial condition and/or your meds are doing what they should be doing. If I recall, I've been told that professional athletes shoot for a resting pulse rate of between 40 and 60. I don't think the low heart rate is interfering with your weight loss...generally, it just means that you heart is working efficiently and is healthy. Hmmmm, I must have learned something from those health clubs I belonged to---

As far as the atenolol and weight loss goes...I say anything is possible. I have gained over 20 pounds on bp meds---

Oh, I do remember that unusual weight gain was a side effect--but who knows what they mean by unusual? Water retention? It'll be interesting to know what others have experienced in terms of weight gain and weight loss.

Bethsheba

Lenin · 03-30-2007, 05:30 AM

Sandi,
ALL BP meds will lower your bodies calorie requirement for one simple reason: it takes energy and fuel for your heart to pump against a head of pressure...lower the pressure and your heart consumes less calories.

Yes, atenoolol will slow your heart markedly. Almost everyone on it, or its sister beta-blockers winds upo with heart rates in the 60's. Fewer beats ALSO consume fewer calories.

It's not insurmountable though; eating 100 calories per day fewer should balance the effect.

famnd · 04-02-2007, 06:56 PM

I've gained about 20 lbs. since I started on b/p meds 4 yrs ago. I never thought about the reduced heart rate & less calorie burn. My HR is about 60 most of the time. All the stress etc with getting my b/p & thyroiditis under control, I'm sure took its toll. For yrs I've charted my calories & maintained a slightly overweight body. I follow a very healthy vegetarian weight watchers program. With being very tired from my health conditions & meds I wasn't able to always keep up with my usual routine. Now I am back to recording my intake so I am hopeful that I will be able to lose weight. I find 1200 cal a day works for me plus walking 1 hr & swimming 1hr plus water exercises 1/2 hr. You would think I would be a "bean pole." I love to exercise but I can't get the intensity up there. We just have to keep trying cause the weight just can't do us any good. Fam

lylone · 04-03-2007, 05:35 AM

I am on atenolol also and started eating less and exercising more and was able to loose about 10 pounds last fall. But this year has not been good. Still eating small amounts, and actually have stepped up the exercise to 2 miles everyday of walking in 25-30 minutes and according to the doctor last week I had gained back 8 pounds?
I am so frustrated as he tells me to eat less. I guess I am not supposed to eat at all then?