If I Did it, so Can You

If you lowered your BP, how did you do it?

  • Mostly with meds

    Votes: 2 33.3%

  • Mostly with diet and exercise

    Votes: 2 33.3%

  • A combination of meds, diet, and exercise

    Votes: 2 33.3%

  • Some of the above, but with natural medicine or meditation or accupunture, etc.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    6
spiderweb

spiderweb

Final Approach
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
9,488
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Display name:
Ben
After a year of work, I finally got my BP down to normal--not hypertensive, not prehypertensive--normal.

The issue came to a head a couple of years ago, and my medical expired. I took a hard look at my life and what was important. I decided health was first, and flying second (and anyway, one can still fly with a friend or CFI who acts as PIC).

I also decided NO MEDICATION. It is rare to hear of someone who got on BP meds and then got off later.

So, now it is time to go get a fresh medical.

If I can do this, so can you.

P.S. I'd like to thank Dr. Bruce for his advice on this matter. I have already thanked my family for their support.
 

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I took BP meds for more than a decade, and thought nothing of it. Then, when I decided to start flying, I started doing research and learned how bad most meds are for us. I also learned how sugar is what is killing us, not fat, along with lack of exercise. So I changed my diet, stopped drinking sodas (water only now, and the morning coffee) stopped eating fast food (except for the occasional stop on the road) and started wearing a fitbit and tracking what I eat and what I do. 40lbs lost, 40 to go. Still taking my BP med, but I have reduced the dosage from 50mg/day to 12.5 per day. My goal is 220, (which is about the right weight for my size and build) and to be med-free. I'll get there.

BTW: Before I started, I had a COMPLETE cardiac workup, just to be sure I was okay to start exercising more. Luckily, the ticker is in very good shape.

Everyone should get the heck off their meds, and off their butts, and go for regular walks, at the very least. As a society, we spend far too much time sitting.
 
I'm on meds at the moment since my BP was high enough that meds and any side effects were better for me long term than the elevated BP. Trying to work on diet and exercise so I can wean myself off the meds.
 
Congrats and well done. I tried to go the no meds route but it didn't work for me. My weight and exercise was never the issue. I stopped drinking soda, coffee, gave up lunch meat, fast food maybe twice a year, and never add salt to meals. The wife doesn't cook with salt and we don't eat out much (hard to know the amount of salt being added to meals in restaurants). Doctor was perplexed, anything else I might be able to learn from you?
 
I'd rather not take antihypertensives, but nonpharmacological efforts have not worked for me: not overweight, exercise regularly, hate salt in/on food, lipid panel excellent, low stress now that I've retired, cannot change my family history.
So y'all that preach against meds - don't be so self righteous.
 
Rykymus said:
I took BP meds for more than a decade, and thought nothing of it. Then, when I decided to start flying, I started doing research and learned how bad most meds are for us. I also learned how sugar is what is killing us, not fat, along with lack of exercise. So I changed my diet, stopped drinking sodas (water only now, and the morning coffee) stopped eating fast food (except for the occasional stop on the road) and started wearing a fitbit and tracking what I eat and what I do. 40lbs lost, 40 to go. Still taking my BP med, but I have reduced the dosage from 50mg/day to 12.5 per day. My goal is 220, (which is about the right weight for my size and build) and to be med-free. I'll get there.

BTW: Before I started, I had a COMPLETE cardiac workup, just to be sure I was okay to start exercising more. Luckily, the ticker is in very good shape.

Everyone should get the heck off their meds, and off their butts, and go for regular walks, at the very least. As a society, we spend far too much time sitting.
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Great job! That's a lot of dedication.
 
NoBShere said:
Congrats and well done. I tried to go the no meds route but it didn't work for me. My weight and exercise was never the issue. I stopped drinking soda, coffee, gave up lunch meat, fast food maybe twice a year, and never add salt to meals. The wife doesn't cook with salt and we don't eat out much (hard to know the amount of salt being added to meals in restaurants). Doctor was perplexed, anything else I might be able to learn from you?
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One thing I found was that it isn't only that salt raises BP, but adequate magnesium and potassium are good for BP. I eat two cups of berries a day and lots of fresh vegetables. I like eating that way, so it wasn't like it was hard to do.
 
spiderweb said:
One thing I found was that it isn't only that salt raises BP, but adequate magnesium and potassium are good for BP. I eat two cups of berries a day and lots of fresh vegetables. I like eating that way, so it wasn't like it was hard to do.
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Yeh, I was/am good with fruits and veggies (mostly uncooked, some times you gotta grill on the bbq) and even gave up red meat (ok, still have a steak about twice a year).
 
Rykymus said:
Everyone should get the heck off their meds, and off their butts, and go for regular walks, at the very least. As a society, we spend far too much time sitting.
Click to expand...

I've always exercised and watched my diet. Always had blood work up along w/ my Class 1. Some people it's heredity. I'm still on BP medication.
 
Been on BP medication for thirty years. It wasn't up in the danger zone, just needed a slight shove downward. Cholesterol has always been high enough to make some doctors scream though it's never caused a problem. Here's where you'll find me when I quit eating bacon and other goodies. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy a full stomach.

iu
 
I work to keep my blood pressure lower. I will have to go on meds since heredity is working against me.

One good thing is I do not have the heart disease that runs rampant in the family, but I do have the belly fat that almost all men in the family have. Even when I was in high school and very active in sports I still had the belly. The DI in basic said he would get rid of it for me, and he almost did until his weight loss program put me in the emergency room.
 
wrbix said:
I'd rather not take antihypertensives, but nonpharmacological efforts have not worked for me: not overweight, exercise regularly, hate salt in/on food, lipid panel excellent, low stress now that I've retired, cannot change my family history.
So y'all that preach against meds - don't be so self righteous.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say I'm preaching against the meds, especially for those whom they are absolutely needed.

What I am saying (and what I know is also a fact) is that oftentimes doctors make it seem that those medications are the preferred solution, and worse--that it is normal for people to be on them.

"Take a pill and be on your way."
 
I had moderate (I think) hypertension. I don't remember the numbers. At one point I was well controlled while taking 3 different medications. I lost ~60 lbs and am now on the lowest dose of a single medication. I've put some of the weight back but it has not resulted in an increase in blood pressure. It was never a problem with my medical.

Diet and exercise make a dramatic difference. Many Drs assume that any advice to lose weight will fall on deaf ears. And they're not often wrong (on that topic anyway).
 
I usually hover at the high end of the acceptable range. 80 mile bike rides on the weekends go far to keeping it under control.
 
Good for the OP, high blood pressure is really bad for you. Mama Steingar was on BP drugs forever, but when she lost husband number 2 she lost a bunch of herself. Now skinny mama Steingar didn't need no meds no more. A good thing too, since she didn't have a whole lot of noggin left no more either.

Steingar is the only one in the family to not need BP drugs. Perhaps its the perpetually sunny outlook. Perhaps its the near-constant exercise. Could even be the vegetarian diet. What it isn't is genetics, since everyone else in the clan of Steingar has moderately high BP or hypertension.

At the Mooney owner's forum last year a doc got up and said there was something everyone could do that would help them loose weight, lower their BP, and pass their medicals. His prescription was for a daily walk.
 
steingar said:
Good for the OP, high blood pressure is really bad for you. Mama Steingar was on BP drugs forever, but when she lost husband number 2 she lost a bunch of herself. Now skinny mama Steingar didn't need no meds no more. A good thing too, since she didn't have a whole lot of noggin left no more either.

Steingar is the only one in the family to not need BP drugs. Perhaps its the perpetually sunny outlook. Perhaps its the near-constant exercise. Could even be the vegetarian diet. What it isn't is genetics, since everyone else in the clan of Steingar has moderately high BP or hypertension.

At the Mooney owner's forum last year a doc got up and said there was something everyone could do that would help them loose weight, lower their BP, and pass their medicals. His prescription was for a daily walk.
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That seems quite sensible
 
Good for you, Ben!

I've been on BP meds for about 8 years now. Diet, weight, and exercise were not going to get me any further, so the pills were all there was left for me. My BP was never really high (except sometimes in the AME's office - go figure - more often 130/80-ish) but after reading Dr. Bruce's perpetual warnings, I decided to start prodding my providers to get me on something. Today my control is excellent, usually in the 110/70 range, I feel fine, and above all I know I've lowered my risk of stroke and vascular disease substantially.

But if you can do it "naturally", with no meds, more power to you!
 
azure said:
Good for you, Ben!

I've been on BP meds for about 8 years now. Diet, weight, and exercise were not going to get me any further, so the pills were all there was left for me. My BP was never really high (except sometimes in the AME's office - go figure - more often 130/80-ish) but after reading Dr. Bruce's perpetual warnings, I decided to start prodding my providers to get me on something. Today my control is excellent, usually in the 110/70 range, I feel fine, and above all I know I've lowered my risk of stroke and vascular disease substantially.

But if you can do it "naturally", with no meds, more power to you!
Click to expand...

That's great! I wish the general public really knew the consequences of high BP.
 
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