Blood Pressure Question

[hhfarang]

Those of you who follow health topics on HHAD have probably read some posts by me in the last couple of months about trying some health experiments in an attempt to stop my reliance on so many (expensive) medications.

I have had stage 1 hypertension since I was a teenager, and I have had cholesterol and adult onset asthma problems for about twenty years, all controlled by medication.

I've exercised off and on all my life but have had long periods of inactivity as well. I'm overweight, but not quite obese (by online definitions).

About two months ago I started on an aggressive exercise routine of two days per week of strength (Resistance) training lasting about two hours each session, and 4 to 6 days per week of Aerobic exercise on an elliptical cross trainer (36 minutes each time, 3 minutes of warm up to get my heart into the 75 to 85% of max zone where I keep it for 30 minutes and then 3 minutes of cool down).

After one month of the above I stopped taking my blood pressure medicine and started taking 2 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar 3 times per day in a tall glass of water.

That's the history.

The bad news is my blood pressure is still high (sometimes). The interesting thing though is that because I'm checking my BP often I have found an interesting pattern.

Only my systolic is high (135 to 155), and only in the mornings. by early afternoon I start to get lower readings (135 and lower) and by mid afternoon and until bed time my readings are normal (115 to 125). Diastolic readings are always normal, (between 60 and 80, mostly in the low 70s).

So, for any of you who have knowledge of this what would you think about this pattern of only stage 1 hypertension readings, only of the systolic part, and only early in the day?

[darwinian]

So long as your diastolic remains low and constant you should not be at additional risk.

[Georgy Porgy]

You have not got high blood pressure at all, currently, if those are your current readings.
What was your BP before you started on meds, and also what is BP while on the meds?

[Georgy Porgy]

There is alot of new info on asthma medication, and the guru's say the medication (ventolin, at least), is much over prescribed and used.

Have you a family history of Cholesterol and what are your ratios for good and bad, that is the key issue?

Sounds like you are doing good thing trying to get off the meds. Don't be too frightened of that, and just learn to listen to your body - which you are attempting to do.
Well done!

[Georgy Porgy]

There is alot of new info on asthma medication, and the guru's say the medication (ventolin, at least), is much over prescribed and used.

Have you a family history of Cholesterol and what are your ratios for good and bad, that is the key issue?

Sounds like you are doing good thing trying to get off the meds. Don't be too frightened of that, and just learn to listen to your body - which you are attempting to do.
Well done!

[hhfarang]

You have not got high blood pressure at all, currently, if those are your current readings.
What was your BP before you started on meds, and also what is BP while on the meds?

Before taking meds and while taking the first variety of meds (it took years to find one that worked) it was all over the place. My doctor even had me do a 48 hour study wearing an automatic monitor that took a reading every 15 or 30 minutes for two days. It ranged from 130's/90's to 170's/120's. After he found the right med it ranged from 115/60 to high 120's/70's.

The medical definition of stage I hypertension is daily readings where the systolic is over 140 or diastolic is over 90. My doctor's goal was 120/70. When I was 18 the Navy almost denied my application to join because my reading was low 140's over low 90's. They had me come back and eventually got a more normal reading and took that one. They said that if the over 140/90 readings continued I could not enlist. I was very thin and fit then so I assume it is a hereditary thing.

[hhfarang]

There is alot of new info on asthma medication, and the guru's say the medication (ventolin, at least), is much over prescribed and used.

Have you a family history of Cholesterol and what are your ratios for good and bad, that is the key issue?

Yeah, the asthma meds are some of the ones that scare me the most for long term use as they are steroidal. I have ventolin but rarely have used it since I have been on a daily maintenance inhaler of a different type. It's called Advair Discus in the U.S. and Seretide here but it is basicly a two medications in a powder form with a round dosage device that you are supposed to use twice daily. I had a lot of breathing problems and a couple of severe (one sent me to the ER) asthma attacks before I started using it and while using it (even when I cut the dosage in half to once a day), I rarely had any problem. When I did it was just a little wheezing.

I also stopped using that about two weeks ago entirely and so far have not had any breathing problems (maybe the ACV is working for that).

I have a family history of all of the above plus diabetes. Both parents had high blood pressure, one high cholesterol, one asthma, and one parent and a brother that were/are diabetics... not a very good gene pool.

My total cholesterol before treatment was 280 and I don't remember the ratio but it was bad; HDL way to low and LDL way to high. My doc put me on Zocor and it immediately leveled out at around 120 with a better ratio. When I moved here I also cut that dosage in half as 120 is low and it went up to 180 (still ok) but the ratio is still borderline good/bad and triglycerides are usually off the top of the scale. BTW, I did try diet and exercise and lost to what was considered a healthy weight for a 45 year old and cut most fat from my diet before trying the Zocor and the lifestyle change had little or no effect on the numbers... so I think that one is for sure heredity.

Currently Zocor and a nasal inhaler for allergies are the only meds I'm still taking of the seven prescription meds I was taking when I left the U.S. (and I've halved the prescribed dosages for both of those).

Although, I must admit my main reason for all this study and experimentation is financial as the meds were costing me a fortune here. When I first came here five years ago and was taking the full dose of all seven meds, I was spending over 6000 baht per month on them and I had to get two of them in Bangkok as they were not then available in Hua Hin (now they are but at a higher price than in Bangkok).

[chelsea]

HH, just before xmas I had a check up and my BP was 170/50. The Dr said that was much to high on the top and to low on the bottom. My cholestral was 6.4.
I was prescribed Micardis for the BP and also a cholestral tab as well

I was told to get it down quickly as it was dangerours. I changed my diet considerably plus bought an excersie bike.
I started doing 20 mins on the bike, go for 30 mins walk and then another 20mins on the bike.

I went back to the Dr about 6 weeks later and had lost nearly 10kgs in weight plus my BP was down on the top to about 135 but the bottom was still only about 50-55. My cholestral was down to 5.00
Mt Dr says that what I should be for my age is 130/80.

my last check today was 140/60, so at least my bottom is coming up slowly

He suggested I take an echogram as he thought that it could be one of my heart valves not opening and shutting properly that was causing my bottom one to be low.
I did not take the test as it was the equivilant of 12,000baht to have it done.

I decided just to keep exercising and eating better and see how I went. I have managed to keep the weight of and lost another 4 kgs and am down to the lightest weight I have been for many years.

What you are saying about the fluctuations at different times of the days is exactly what they say in the operation manual of the BP Monitor I purchased.
It states that in the morning you will get the highest reading, the most stable in the middle of the day and the lowest around midnight so do not worry if that is what you are finding.

[Lung Per]

HH, just before xmas I had a check up and my BP was 170/50. The Dr said that was much to high on the top and to low on the bottom. My cholestral was 6.4.
I was prescribed Micardis for the BP and also a cholestral tab as well

I was told to get it down quickly as it was dangerours. I changed my diet considerably plus bought an excersie bike.
I started doing 20 mins on the bike, go for 30 mins walk and then another 20mins on the bike.

I went back to the Dr about 6 weeks later and had lost nearly 10kgs in weight plus my BP was down on the top to about 135 but the bottom was still only about 50-55. My cholestral was down to 5.00
Mt Dr says that what I should be for my age is 130/80.

I brought Micardis Plus from my home country, but my stock is running Low. Is Micardis or Micardis Plus freely available at the drugstore, or do I need to see a doc for a prescription?

my last check today was 140/60, so at least my bottom is coming up slowly

He suggested I take an echogram as he thought that it could be one of my heart valves not opening and shutting properly that was causing my bottom one to be low.
I did not take the test as it was the equivilant of 12,000baht to have it done.

I decided just to keep exercising and eating better and see how I went. I have managed to keep the weight of and lost another 4 kgs and am down to the lightest weight I have been for many years.

What you are saying about the fluctuations at different times of the days is exactly what they say in the operation manual of the BP Monitor I purchased.
It states that in the morning you will get the highest reading, the most stable in the middle of the day and the lowest around midnight so do not worry if that is what you are finding.

[Lung Per]

HH, just before xmas I had a check up and my BP was 170/50. The Dr said that was much to high on the top and to low on the bottom. My cholestral was 6.4.
I was prescribed Micardis for the BP and also a cholestral tab as well

I was told to get it down quickly as it was dangerours. I changed my diet considerably plus bought an excersie bike.
I started doing 20 mins on the bike, go for 30 mins walk and then another 20mins on the bike.

I went back to the Dr about 6 weeks later and had lost nearly 10kgs in weight plus my BP was down on the top to about 135 but the bottom was still only about 50-55. My cholestral was down to 5.00
Mt Dr says that what I should be for my age is 130/80.



my last check today was 140/60, so at least my bottom is coming up slowly

He suggested I take an echogram as he thought that it could be one of my heart valves not opening and shutting properly that was causing my bottom one to be low.
I did not take the test as it was the equivilant of 12,000baht to have it done.

I decided just to keep exercising and eating better and see how I went. I have managed to keep the weight of and lost another 4 kgs and am down to the lightest weight I have been for many years.

What you are saying about the fluctuations at different times of the days is exactly what they say in the operation manual of the BP Monitor I purchased.
It states that in the morning you will get the highest reading, the most stable in the middle of the day and the lowest around midnight so do not worry if that is what you are finding.

I brought Micardis Plus from my home country, but my stock is running Low. Is Micardis or Micardis Plus freely available at the drugstore, or do I need to see a doc for a prescription?

[chelsea]

there is a great English Speaking Doctor on LH side of Petchkasem Road going towards the soi where the old bus station is.
He has a Dr Surgery that advertises english speaking Dr plus there is a pharmacy attached to his surgery.
Take along one of your old packets and he has a huge reference book that give explanation of what the tablets are and what they are over in Thailand.
I found him to be fairly well priced, but more importantly knew what he was talking about.
It was no Micardis that I was wanting, but a similar product that my GF needed.

[hhfarang]

Is Micardis or Micardis Plus freely available at the drugstore, or do I need to see a doc for a prescription?

I can't say if that particular medication is available here or not, but if it is all you have to do is go to a pharmacy and buy it, no doctor or prescription necessary.

Bear in mind that a lot of medications are sold under different names here than in Europe or North America. Nearly every one of mine has a different name here even though it is from the same manufacturer. The Pharmacist has a book or can check the name on his computer to cross reference it to the local name if necessary.

[Mork]

Is Micardis or Micardis Plus freely available at the drugstore, or do I need to see a doc for a prescription?

Micardis is readily available in HH, but fairly expensive. There is a drug store just past Market Village on LH side that stocks it. Did not need a new prescription...just showed them the box of tabs with the prescription info attached to it.

[Spitfire]

HHF, just an idea, especially if you are trying to get off pescription meds a bit, then have you looked into/at Coenzyme q10? It's a readily available suppliment but is currently regarded as a wonder nutrient regarding cardiovascular issues. Google it and learn about it, then talk to your doc. It might be right for you, you never know.