High Blood Pressure

[hammocity]

As the OP said - it's the "silent killer" with no symptoms whatsoever

I was prescribed Ramapril years ago, but never bothered taking them - well, once in a Blue Moon (no pun intended)

Last year, I had pains, sweats, pins & needles and generally felt rough, the doctor sent me to A&E straight away as they thought I could be having a stroke (luckily I wasn't)

A&E were very good, very thorough to be fair and done all sorts of tests........then I saw a stroke specialist who asked me if I was on any medication and I told him I was on Ramapril, but didn't bother taking them [properly]

His personna changed completely and he gave me a proper ticking off stating one of his pet hates is people who are prescribed medication and never bother taking them - the medication is prescribed for a reason.

Since then, I've taken my tablets daily, ( don't want a sr=troke, I don't want brain damage and I like my eyesight!!

Truly is the silent killer

Well said pal, hopefully our Blue friends on here take note, your story is not unusual, my 60 year old pal who was very fit in his younger days refuses to take his BP meds, he’s proper overweight now but says he’ll deal with his high BP in his own way, I really fear for him. Crazy, and I’m going to take him to task this week.

 

[johnnytapia]

Cheers

Atenolol 25mg, been taking for 35 years for arrhythmia

Now

Ramapril 7.5mg

Amlodipine 10mg

I’m on Ramopril and Anlodipin for high BP. Plus Venlafaxin for depression. Been on the latter for 25 years.
Medication works

 

[ctidcarl]

Well said pal, hopefully our Blue friends on here take note, your story is not unusual, my 60 year old pal who was very fit in his younger days refuses to take his BP meds, he’s proper overweight now but says he’ll deal with his high BP in his own way, I really fear for him. Crazy, and I’m going to take him to task this week.

The problem with us blokes is we only have two levels......

If we feel fine, we're immortal, we'll live forever

Yet as soon as we have something, even as simple as the common cold, "we're dying"!!!

Yet if we could feel the symptoms og high blood pressure, we'd be in the latter camp and get it sorted.

As I said, I foolishly ignored my meds and could have paid the price - I hope your pal listens to you

 

[Bill Walker]

Good advice but good lord I've never seen figures as high as that, in fact I've never seen anything within 50 of the 235 figure. I think you're a lucky man to be here to post all

Some people spike when put in stressfull situations like going to hospital for surgery. Spikes are dangerous. A family member suffers this and lost sight in one eye due to this spiking. Her BP was normal in everyday life but spiked hugely when stressed. The answer for he was take a Beta Blocker when getting into a stressful situation.

I noticed when I lost 10 kilos my blood pressure came down with my weight (as the Doc said it would) she took me off BP medication saying I didn't need it anymore, so weight directly correlates with blood pressure.
I now stay at 178cm & 75 kg. I know if I drift up I will be back on the tablets.


Good advice from the OP btw.

 

[hammocity]

I’m on Ramopril and Anlodipin for high BP. Plus Venlafaxin for depression. Been on the latter for 25 years.
Medication works

Certainly does, I wish we can all be as honest as you, would never have know you suffering depression from your post’s, always balanced and reasonable.

 

[blumoonrisen]

Well said pal, hopefully our Blue friends on here take note, your story is not unusual, my 60 year old pal who was very fit in his younger days refuses to take his BP meds, he’s proper overweight now but says he’ll deal with his high BP in his own way, I really fear for him. Crazy, and I’m going to take him to task this week.

When I was in hospital after a mild heart attack a couple of yrs ago, I had a stent fitted and was put on loads of tablets, I reluctantly took them as I thought it was for the best apart from the statins.
After a couple of days a nurse checked my BP and said it was low. I said is that due to taking BP tablets and she had no answer when I asked why was I on them then.
I asked the cardiologist what my cholesterol level was, he said 5.2 which is normal. Why am I being given statins then..? His reply, as a cardiologist I recommend you take them. I didn't, I never took any of the drugs they prescribed.
My BP is normal, my cholesterol is now 4.7 due to me making a few changes.
Whilst it's not the same situation for everyone, taking medication that is prescribed isn't always a good thing. Especially statins which can have unpleasant side effects.

 

[hammocity]

Some people spike when put in stressfull situations like going to hospital for surgery. Spikes are dangerous. A family member suffers this and lost sight in one eye due to this spiking. Her BP was normal in everyday life but spiked hugely when stressed.

I noticed when I lost 10 kilos my blood pressure came down with my weight (as the Doc said it would) she took me off BP medication saying I didn't need it anymore, so weight directly correlates with blood pressure.
I now stay at 178cm & 75 kg. I know if I drift up I will be back on the tablets.

Good advice from the OP.

Cheers Bill, its awareness that helps, im guilty of burying my head in the sand, not doing that anymore.

 

[hammocity]

When I was in hospital after a mild heart attack a couple of yrs ago, I had a stent fitted and was put on loads of tablets, I reluctantly took them as I thought it was for the best apart from the statins.
After a couple of days a nurse checked my BP and said it was low. I said is that due to taking BP tablets and she had no answer when I asked why was I on them then.
I asked the cardiologist what my cholesterol level was, he said 5.2 which is normal. Why am I being given statins then..? His reply, as a cardiologist I recommend you take them. I didn't, I never took any of the drugs they prescribed.
My BP is normal, my cholesterol is now 4.7 due to me making a few changes.
Whilst it's not the same situation for everyone, taking medication that is prescribed isn't always a good thing. Especially statins which can have unpleasant side effects.

So pleased you’re well pal but I think we should always listen to the experts. There’s definitely freaks of nature, we all know older folk that smoke 40 fags a day and drink a lot but they’re definitely in the minority. Take the medical advice, without doubt is the best advice, cheers.

 

[blumoonrisen]

So pleased you’re well pal but I think we should always listen to the experts. There’s definitely freaks of nature, we all know older folk that smoke 40 fags a day and drink a lot but they’re definitely in the minority. Take the medical advice, without doubt is the best advice, cheers.

Like I said, diff situations for diff people.
I'm not taking statins or BP tablets when my readings are normal. I'm not overweight, have a physical job and am active and feel fit.
Obv not the case for everyone.
The important thing like you said is to check these things.

 

[Bill Walker]

Like I said, diff situations for diff people.
I'm not taking statins or BP tablets when my readings are normal. I'm not overweight, have a physical job and am active and feel fit.
Obv not the case for everyone.
The important thing like you said is to check these things.

If I was you I'd ask my GP if I was right to ignore the cardiologist.
You've already had a heart attack and now a stent fitted so there is something maybe underlying that caused this serious condition.

Cholestral isn't just as simple saying "it's 4.7 so all is well" for example what was your triglycerides reading ?

1. Triglycerides(another type of fat related to cholesterol):
   • Desirable: Less than 149 mg/dL; ideal is under 100 mg/dL.
   • High: 200 mg/dL or higher; 500 mg/dL is considered very high.

Low-density lipoprotein could've also been high.

Maybe your cardiologist saw a trend that he's seen a thousand times before so advocated statins for long term health, as you get older everything deteriorates and maybe he's thinking of you in the long term.
Medicine isn't DIY or Dr Google. There is so much more to it and cardiologists are sometimes not that good at explaining why they do something, but remember these people see a shit load of patients every week with mostly similar problems so there advice shouldn't just be ignored.
Speak with your GP about it.