Don’t Mess Around With High Blood Pressure

January 12, 2010 by GiGi

Welcome back!

As most of you know, I’ve been messing around with my high blood pressure for well over a year now, trying to get it down with good nutrition, exercise and supplements. Read here: Blood Pressure – My Story. Sometimes the natural way just doesn’t work.

It did for a while, especially after I started taking Magnesium Orotate. However, it didn’t last and I found myself finally going to the doctor to get the medicine.

What really motivated me (outside of family nagging) was finding out that high blood pressure can actually create very small strokes in your brain which they think can be a cause of Alzheimer’s. The strokes basically go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Needless to say, the doctor was not a happy camper when he took my blood pressure and it was 215/115. Yikes! That’s definitely dangerous!

So he ordered a whole bunch of tests (everything came back fine) and prescribed a low dose hypertension medicine. After a few days, I’m back to normal - even better than normal. I haven’t seen 115/75 in years!

I did ask if I’d have to be on it forever and he said the chances are yes – I’m doing everything right and I’m still having high blood pressure. There are really no lifestyle changes I should be making – well, maybe less salt.

So now I’m one of the millions of older Americans on a prescription medication, which saddens me a little. But my friends and family are happy that I’m not going to stroke out on them, so that’s certainly worth it.

Moral of the story? Do everything you can to control your high blood pressure, but don’t be foolish. One small pill a day is worth the peace of mind.