i would love to hear from moms who are currently taking prescriptions for high BP. I had high blood pressure when i was a teen and then wasn't monitoring it much during my 20s and 30s. Thankfully my blood pressure was low during both of my pregnancies, but now that my youngest is 3, it's starting to be elevated again. My doctor has asked me to lose 10 pounds (almost there) stay active and lower my sodium intake and if after that my BP is still high (which it is - 130s and 140s more than 110s and 120s- i monitor it at home) she is going to put me on medication.
I was very down about this because i know from my aunt who also takes BP meds that it is almost impossible to wean yourself from BP meds once you start. Plus I didn't want to be on permanent meds at a young age (40? is that even young? LOL.) I will do what the doctor suggests, of course, because i have 2 small kids and a great hubby and i don't want to risk a stroke or anything like that.
Sorry for the long post, but if anyone would share:
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1. What meds you are on. 2) what if any side effects you experience(d). I would really appreciate it.
T.,
You are very wise to stay on top of this! Take the meds if you have to. The bottom number needs to be under 90, better yet 80.
If you would like to know about natural ways to lower the bp let me know.
I had very hbp during my pregnancy and when I turned 50 it went up, although I excercise and eat right. I got it back to normal without meds.
Victoria
Im on labetalol and under 40 years. I was very disappointed to find i had HBP recently, but i gained a lot of weight while pregnant and havent got it all off yet and im sure thats why. My BP was high at the end of my second pregnancy and stayed high after. I always forget to take the medication, but when i do take it, i havent really had any side effects. I plan to loose the weight i need to and hopefully that will eliminate the need for medication.
I had HBP during my pregnancy and afterwards. My dr put me on hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic - flushes excess water from your body) and after I lost 10lbs, I didn't need to take the pills anymore. I also started running which I think played a big part in controlling my BP and obviously, weight. Good luck!
I've been on hbp meds for over 10 years now (I'm 38). Partly due to family history (both parents, brothers, grandparents, etc.) and partly due to weight issues with me. I am currently on Lotrel (which is a generic) and it works good. I've been on others - they tend to work for a while and then quit so I have to change. If you can't get it down with diet & exercise I would do the meds. I know it's kind of a pain but it's better than the issues and health problems untreated hbp can cause. As far as side effects - the ONLY thing I have ever had was one class of hbp drugs can cause a cough. Sounds strange I know but it did happen and once I changed drugs, it quit. No other side effects. Oh - and I've used both generic & brand name. Both have worked equally well until they quit working (at least a year - usually longer of taking a particular drug). And realize that sometimes you have to try a couple of different meds to find the one that works the best for you.....
I have HBP and have been on meds for almost 4 years now. I'm only 28...it is definitely in my genetics b/c my siblings both had HBP in their mid/late 20's as well so I personally knew to look for it and not just chalk it up to "white coat syndrome." Anyway, I am not overweight and I live a very active and healthy lifestyle so I take labetalol. I have been on it for 3 years because it is safe for pregnancy and nursing. My son is 20 months old and I haven't had any problems with my BP during or after pregnancy. I'm grateful for the medicine since I feel it is out of my hands with my strong family background of HBP. I was very shaken up at first at the thought of taking medicine every day for the rest of my life...but my husband and I both agree it sure beats the risks associated with me trying to live life with my BP elevated. Haven't noticed any side effects.
Good luck!
I would seek a second opinion and be sure you do not have "white coat syndrome" You can purchase a digital monitor from your local drugstore and it is best to take your BP first thing in the morning...before the kids wake up and you start your day. Monitor it yourself for a few weeks and see if you truly have HBP. Exercise naturally will reduce BP, eating foods with high water content (celery is a natural BP reducer) and look into taking a high quality fish oils to help reduce internal inflammation and it is a natural blood thinner. My mother's cardiologist (whose also Oprah's) and is a spokes person for the American Heart Association highly recommends fish oils for those with heart disease or in early stages. I put my mom on them with the her blessing with fabulous results. Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega + Vitamin D3 is an excellent brand. I would also have your vitamin d3 levels checked...any good doc will start looking at this important vitamin. Many cardiac patients are so deficient, docs put them on 10,000IU until their levels are up to normal. (again that is under a doc's care)
Hope that helps, there are solutions and options before going on meds you just have to know what they are!
J., MPH
My docs started telling me at around 33 that I may need to start BP meds. I resisted because I also felt I was too young and didnt want to get trapped on meds for the rest of my life. About 36 I started having really bad dizzy spells and headaches from high BP. I still resisted until my dentist refused to do any work on my teeth until I got my BP under control. I finally consented and was placed on hydrochlo... It worked well but then my doc discovered it had an ingredient in it that I shouldnt be taking due to a glucose defiency. So then I was switched to Lisinprol. Sometimes it kept me balanced sometimes not. They added norvasc in addition to the lisinprol. I mostly do alright but sometimes still spike. Now I have awful indigestion from everything I eat. Feels like I'm having a heart attack sometimes. They prescribed prevasit(?) for that. It helped at first but now nothing. I also experience lack of sex drive, dry skin, brittle hair and of course frequent urination. I try to skip the pills if I know I'm not going to be in a good bathroom situation. I am now 40 and have been doing this for over 5 years now. I have tried to wean myself but to no avail. I work out and eat fairly healthy and it does not seem to decrease my BP. I've had numerous tests to try to find other causes for the BP but nothing has shed any light on the situation. Good luck to you.
I have high blood pressure and I'm taking procardia, it works really well for me and I don't really notice any side effects. I had had borderline high blood pressure since college and it just progressively got worse (I'm 35 now). I've got a 7 year old and a 2 year old and try to stay active but I need to be on meds. My doctor was supportive of trying to go off meds for a while to see if my weight loss and increased activity would help, but it didn't. I did monitor myself at home too, to make sure it wasn't just the doctor's office. Whats interesting is that my younger brother just was told that he has high/borderline high blood pressure, so perhaps the genetic thing is what got me- I'm sticking with the meds, its a low dose and it's working. For me it's better than the possibility of a stroke, etc. Good Luck!
