Blood Pressure Meds

Anyone out there take blood pressure medication and still able to lift successfully without any side effects? How about supplement intake?

Mine is high, not sure exactly why, probably a combination of too much energy products over the years and genetics. I am not obese or anything. I am trying to get it down naturally, but I may have to eventually start in on the meds at only 36. I am a little paranoid about it, maybe making it worse than it is.

If you do take meds, could you let me know what kind and category? Are any particular supplements off limits? Any input at all is apprecoiated.

None taken, but I just thought some comments from individuals who have a similar lifestyle as myself would prove a bit more insightful than some blanket statements. I have searched elsewhere too, so the post wasn’t created out of laziness, just looking for some “testimonials”.

BBB, for what it’s worth, I did find an old post of yours, sounds like ACE inhibitors are the least problematic as far as side effedts.

My biggest concern is I just don’t want any compromise in training, with maybe supplement intake being of a somewhat secondary concern. Although I suppose stimulants will be off the list…

[quote]paulypaul wrote:
Anyone out there take blood pressure medication and still able to lift successfully without any side effects? How about supplement intake?

Mine is high, not sure exactly why, probably a combination of too much energy products over the years and genetics. I am not obese or anything. I am trying to get it down naturally, but I may have to eventually start in on the meds at only 36. I am a little paranoid about it, maybe making it worse than it is.

If you do take meds, could you let me know what kind and category? Are any particular supplements off limits? Any input at all is apprecoiated.

[/quote]

I had to go thru about 10 differnet BP med’s until I found one that worked for me. One BP med landed me in the ER as it dropped my BP way too low.

Currently using Avapro (new class of drug) with no apparent side effects. If you’re like me your BP may hover just around borderline???
I also notice that when I use benadryl at bedtime my BP is always much lower the next day. Most likely suppresses the nervous system somehow, but it does work. Not a longterm solution I’m sure.
Talk to the doc about Avapro.

I have a heart condition, and the medication I take for that lowers my bp to the low end of good, borderline too low. With this, I was told to stay away from resveratrol, as it could lower my bp even more.

So for you, I’d suggest trying out some sort of res. supp. (REZ-V perhaps?)

Theoretically wouldn’t arginine help as well?
Check the Mayo Clinic website and type in arginine and see what they say about it.
I take the resveratrol juice, but don’t know if it has the same effect as rez-v???

36 is too young for that man. You can get your BP down without meds. I doubt stimulants have caused chronically high BP.

What’s your diet like? How is your LDL/HDL?

That’s the thing, my diet for the most part has been pretty clean. I don’t eat perfect all the time, but for the most part it is low fat meat and fish, low-glycemic carbs, lots of fruits and veggies, mostly water and some milk. Nuts here and there. Eggs and egg whites.

The last time cholesterol was checked, the bad stuff was a bit on the high side, early in the year. My diet wasn’t that much different then. Kind of frustrating because it seems like I have been doing everything right for the most part. I hope what you say about the supps is true, I do like them, at least in moderation. Going to the cardiologist in a couple days, see if I can get him to let me try to get it down in a month or so doing all the things I mentioned above first then go from there. Thanks for the reply.

Start on 400mg of CoQ10 each day.

Monitor the meds along with your doctor, you may find you may be able to come off.

If your av is any indication then you could lose some weight; normally I’m not in the fat phobia crowd, but if you have health issues, there might be a case to be made for weight loss. Personally I would rather do anything than end up on meds.

I’m 48, and on Ramipril and Bendroflumethiazide. No effect noticed in my training, or generally.

[quote]paulypaul wrote:
That’s the thing, my diet for the most part has been pretty clean. I don’t eat perfect all the time, but for the most part it is low fat meat and fish, low-glycemic carbs, lots of fruits and veggies, mostly water and some milk. Nuts here and there. Eggs and egg whites.

The last time cholesterol was checked, the bad stuff was a bit on the high side, early in the year. My diet wasn’t that much different then. Kind of frustrating because it seems like I have been doing everything right for the most part. I hope what you say about the supps is true, I do like them, at least in moderation. Going to the cardiologist in a couple days, see if I can get him to let me try to get it down in a month or so doing all the things I mentioned above first then go from there. Thanks for the reply.[/quote]

There are about 1,000 different things you can do or try. Yes losing weight is the first start, but it’s not always that simple. You didn’t say how high the BP was???
Among the “natural alternatives” are things like Michael’s BP supplement, natural water pills-parsley/uva ursi, Hawthorn, arginine, magnesium, and potassium (careful) and of course less sodium which some guys are just real sensitive to. Hell I’ve even heard some of the old spanish ladies at my work place say their old time docs had them start drinking those little cans of grapefruit juice 1-2X daily ands its helped (most likely as a result of increased potassium intake.)But usually it’s the excess weight.