General Chat

A couple of months ago my doctor advised me to take a course of tablets to lower the blood pressure. These, I found, gave me a persistant cough. I informed the doctor and he changed the tablets. This second lot made my feet and ankles swell. Again I informed the doctor of the side effects. He has given me a third type to try. Yesterday, after taking two tablets, (one per day), I felt dizzy, 'spaced out' and just very, very, lethargic and tired. I do not really feel that I want to try any more of these tablet 'cures', so, please, has anyone got any idea of a natural remedy to bring down blood pressure ? (other than a bullet of course, as that is rather drastic...and tends to be permanent !!!) Over to you, thanks, Mick.

*waves finger sternly at Mick* Don't talk like that, young man! lol Seriously, sorry no advice but it's not pleasant is it, suffering these different side-effects. Hope you find an effective solution soon. Take care. :-)

hiya michael, please go back to your doc and i am sure they will find what suits you best,If i was you i would buy a bp moniter(lords? are advertiseing them on tv for a £10)you will be very surprised at how low your reading is(well mine is lol) when you are not in the docs chair, they call it the white coat syndrome, as soon as you see the doc your bp rises , take care x

Stop smoking if you smoke. Eat less fat/fatty foods, more fruit & vegetables. I think I read bananas lower blood pressure but can't be certain. With regards to diy bp monitors, there was an article in the paper the other day suggesting that the arm ones are more accurate than the wrist ones. I have also read somewhere that following the GI diet helps to lower blood pressure naturally. :0) Joan

Cheers Glenys, ( wagging finger accepted !!) I would not know where to get a bullet anyway. Then there is the problem of a gun, Oh problems, problems, life is full of problems !! lol. The high BP does not worry me as much as it perhaps should, after all, it is much worse when there is none. Mick.

hi michael, firstly, please take high pressure seriously, as it's a killer. secondly there is no cure as such, it can only be controlled. don't know what tablets you have tried, but the dosage may have been a little strong for you... the most popular tablet is atenalol, and is not known for it's side affects. fruit / veg will help, cutting down / out coffee, tea, cigarettes, table salt, will also help, as will gentle exercise. have another word with your doctor, as it really needs to be treated. bryan.

If you are interested in a small booklet on the subject, published by The British Heart Foundation, PM me with you address. len

Cheers Sandra, I dont really like keep going back to doctors. He, bless 'im, is doing his best and I feel that his time can be spent so much better on others who are really ill. I know that sounds a bit 'sicky' but thats really how I feel. J of A, Thanks. Just about everything that you said reminds me of...................me. Ok, the answer is in my own style of life. Re the monitors..... a while ago a friend of mine questioned the nurse that actually took his BP, asking what it should be. Her answer was that she did not know, she just gave the readings to the doctor. Surely everyone is, within limits, different ? Mick.

Hi, My first lot of blood pressure tablets made me feel dreadful, 'spaced out' and ill. After two days I knew I couldn't take them. (I thought I would rather die than live the rest of my life feeling like that) Can't remember what they were called but then changed to atenalol and had no problems at all so persevere with finding the right tablet for you. All the best Chris Just seen your bit about not wanting to bother your doctor so he can spend his time on people who are really ill-he is trying to prevent you being really ill, heart attacks, strokes so go back to him at once !!!!! Take care

:-)) Good luck!

Hi Len, Is that the booklet that uses the 'traffic light' system on what you can and cannot eat ? Mick.

I was on bendrofluazide several years ago -hated urgency of having to go to loo 2 hours after taking them, then amlodopine-like you ankle and feet swollen to my knees . I read a book called 'Your body`s many cries for water'---increased my water intake BP returned to normal , Ros

rosalyn, that is really interesting, as i've been reading about an iranian doctor / researcher, who has travelled the world, lecturing on the serious effects of dehydration, on the body. bryan.

Hi Bryan, The tablets that 'spaced me out' are Diovan 80mg capsules. I forget what the first two were called. I do not read what the side effects may be before I take a tablet as I do not wish to be influenced by, maybe, imaginary side effects. Hope that makes sense. Cheers, Mick.

Mick, No its a booklet which tells you all about blood pressure, how it is measured and what it means. It probably mentions diet too, as a way of control. I am the sec of a cardiac rehabilitation group and have literature on any aspect of the cardio-vascular system. len

well, don't leave it there michael, your doctor is highly paid to look after your well being, he also knows your lifestyle, so can advise you, unlike us, who have never met you. best wishes, bryan.

Think it`s the same book Brian, Ros

hi mike, what was your bp reading?

Hi Suzanne, Would you believe I do not know. A bit like 'know your cholestrol numbers'........how many do, and if they did, how many would know whether they were ok or not ?. I shall make a note of them when I go back for a check on Wednesday. Crispy..........Cheers my friend. I will have a word with my doctor again. Thanks for your advice. THANKS TO ALL that have responded. I appreciate your time, and advice. WATER ? you mean, as in WATER ??? Do you know what fishes do in water ??? lol, Mick.

I've just had a look at the book Mick. Its not the one you describe but 44 pages of information such as Why don't I feel ill?, Why is high b.p.harmful, What is high b.p., What causes high b.p., What tests will I have, How is is measured, Tablets for high pb, Drugs available, Technical terms and so on. No traffic lights whatsoever. If I were you, Mick, I would take it seriously as usually doctors are keen to try diet first. It must worry your GP if he/she is prescribing drugs. Its a cause of heart attacks and strokes. There are plenty of drugs for the condition but 'One man's meat is another man's poison'. len