Blood pressure
Discussion
I know two people that have recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure, both of them claim the doctor that diagnosed them never questioned any lifestyle choices and that they were just put on meds to control this.
Other than the blood pressure both people are otherwise healthy with no medical conditions I’m aware of.
My question is, why have they both just been put on meds rather than being questioned on lifestyle and given advise on ways to try and bring it down naturally?
Other than the blood pressure both people are otherwise healthy with no medical conditions I’m aware of.
My question is, why have they both just been put on meds rather than being questioned on lifestyle and given advise on ways to try and bring it down naturally?
I was put on BP meds over 2 years ago and haven't had any kind of check up since despite raising it with a nurse at the "well man" checkup last year. My BP the other evening was 94/64 which is pretty low compared to 155/110 a year ago so the meds have done the job but I have also given up booze completely, lost about 10Kg in weight and gone from a job where I spent most of my time on my backside to one where I regularly rack up 10Km walking a day.
I suspect the latter has had more impact than the tablets but I could be wrong.
I suspect the latter has had more impact than the tablets but I could be wrong.
I was diagnosed with high BP and cholesterol in my early 40's and questioned by GP about lifestyle. While I went on meds initially I went nuts on eating much healthier and upping my exercise so by the time my meds checkup review came up after 6 months, they were happy to reduce and monitor. Now 5 years later while the cholesterol is still ok, the high BP has crept back up ( I blame the anxiety!) and back on some meds again for the BP. I will much rather improve myself naturally if at all possible rather than rely on meds.
Joey Deacon said:
Because changing your lifestyle to have any meaningful affect on your blood pressure is incredibly hard and taking drugs is much easier.
This and for some their lifestyle won't be the reason for having high blood pressure, or at least, so I was told, that in my case having high blood pressure was hereditary, and is most likely not curable for me without medication.Mine was stratospheric though, but we do have form in my family. I'd be highly surprised, given what I started out with, if I could ever be normal without medication.
Lifestyle factors are part of it, but I know people who say they lie to their GP about how much they drink, smoke, exercise instead of just being honest. So maybe some GPs just dispense with the opportunity to hear bulls
t now.
Likewise how many people hear "drink is pushing up your BP" and actually give up booze? I bet it's a tiny minority. I know heart attack and stroke survivors who get pissed on a regular basis.
t now. Likewise how many people hear "drink is pushing up your BP" and actually give up booze? I bet it's a tiny minority. I know heart attack and stroke survivors who get pissed on a regular basis.
Realistically it is a choice of:
1) Have high blood pressure and try to reduce it through diet and exercise while knowing you are at elevated risk of heart attack and stroke
Or
2) Take the pills and get it down and do diet and exercise as well.
Personally I went with option 2 - I don’t fancy snuffing it while exercising.
1) Have high blood pressure and try to reduce it through diet and exercise while knowing you are at elevated risk of heart attack and stroke
Or
2) Take the pills and get it down and do diet and exercise as well.
Personally I went with option 2 - I don’t fancy snuffing it while exercising.
It could be because the pills are cheap, easy and avoid a much bigger, more expensive mess later on with severe medical issues.
I guess that if they didn't question the pills with the doctor at diagnosis it's unlikely they are the kind of people that would consider a lifestyle change anyway.
I guess that if they didn't question the pills with the doctor at diagnosis it's unlikely they are the kind of people that would consider a lifestyle change anyway.
All interesting points, I’m not moaning about it as such, it just strikes me as a bit strange as I would always like to sort things out without medication.
I can understand now why they give meds immediately but I still think they should talk to patients about possible causes and ways to improve things.
I can understand now why they give meds immediately but I still think they should talk to patients about possible causes and ways to improve things.
Joey Deacon said:
Because changing your lifestyle to have any meaningful affect on your blood pressure is incredibly hard and taking drugs is much easier.
Yes, this.Few people make sufficient, significant, change to their lifestyle. Medication is far more guaranteed.
Obviously, there's nothing to stop the more determined from *also* altering foods, drink, excercise etc.
Red9zero said:
Slow.Patrol said:
And the NHS are really good at treating symptoms and not the cause.
Back pain? Take pain killers.
I wish. Last time I rang (I couldn't actually get out of bed) I was prescribed a phone appointment with a physio three days later.Back pain? Take pain killers.
Your friends can challenge it and try and get it down via lifestyle but it’s easier and quicker to pop a pill than cut out all the crap food and do a st load of exercise.
I’ve had those 24 hour monitors twice and it was fine but suffer from that white coat hypertension when faced with a doctor so monitor it at home also have cut out dairy, cheese, red meat and exercise 4 times a week minimum.
t load of exercise. I’ve had those 24 hour monitors twice and it was fine but suffer from that white coat hypertension when faced with a doctor so monitor it at home also have cut out dairy, cheese, red meat and exercise 4 times a week minimum.
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