Young w/ hypertension and seeking advice

In article <[email hidden]>,

Equinox said:

Is it reasonable at the pressures I'm seeing at to think that weight loss,
combined with resuming exercise and diet is going to bring my pressures down
into the normal range?

A resounding, "YES." Your pressures really aren't that far above the
"normal" 120/80. I believe the weight loss alone could do it for you,
but if you do get to the point of trying meds, the route to start out
with is via a diuretic. Then if the diuretic doesn't do the trick (after
the weightloss and curbing excessive alcohol) - then look to the ACE,
beta and whatnot blood pressure drugs.

Losing weight and exercising (seriously, not 20 minutes 3 times a
week) is very likely to fix your blood pressure problems. Also change
your diet. Drop junk foods (full of salt and who knows what else) and
I also recommend dropping sugar, soda, etc from your diet. Essentially
return to good foods and drop commercial junk.

i

In article said:

Hiya,

I'm 30 years old and have recently discovered that my resting blood pressure
is 150/80. This was confirmed by several measurements, all of which showed a
range from 145 -> 155 over 75 -> 85.

I've been very sedentary over the last 6 mos. because of a repetitive stress
injury from trail running. I haven't been eating well, and have managed to
gain 40lbs.. up from 190 to 230 (I'm 6ft tall). I've also been consuming
more alcohol than normal. I have no family history of CVD, stroke, or
hypertension, so my question is this:

Is it reasonable at the pressures I'm seeing at to think that weight loss,
combined with resuming exercise and diet is going to bring my pressures down
into the normal range?

I ask this because I've seen 3 doctors who've given me 3 different opinions,
if you can believe that. lol. One wants to medicate me pronto, the other
says try diet and exercise for 6 months, and the last one, a friend, says
either/or/and is fine.

Regards,

- CFG.

Equinox said:

Hiya,

I'm 30 years old and have recently discovered that my resting blood pressure
is 150/80. This was confirmed by several measurements, all of which showed a
range from 145 -> 155 over 75 -> 85.

I've been very sedentary over the last 6 mos. because of a repetitive stress
injury from trail running. I haven't been eating well, and have managed to
gain 40lbs.. up from 190 to 230 (I'm 6ft tall). I've also been consuming
more alcohol than normal. I have no family history of CVD, stroke, or
hypertension, so my question is this:

Is it reasonable at the pressures I'm seeing at to think that weight loss,
combined with resuming exercise and diet is going to bring my pressures down
into the normal range?

Yes. Alcohol can also elevate pressure in susceptible folks.

However, losing weight permanently is a tall order.

Would suggest you ask your doctor about the 2PD approach as described at:

http://www.heartmdphd.com/wtloss.asp

Quoted message said:

I ask this because I've seen 3 doctors who've given me 3 different opinions,
if you can believe that. lol. One wants to medicate me pronto, the other
says try diet and exercise for 6 months, and the last one, a friend, says
either/or/and is fine.

That's why they are called opinions.

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

Equinox said:

I've been very sedentary over the last 6 mos. because of a repetitive stress
injury from trail running.

What is the injury?

Quoted message said:

I haven't been eating well, and have managed to
gain 40lbs.. up from 190 to 230 (I'm 6ft tall).

Sounds like you have been eating very well (next to a starving
person). It's not so much about what you eat as how much you eat.

Quoted message said:

I've also been consuming
more alcohol than normal.

What is normal...for you?

Quoted message said:

Is it reasonable at the pressures I'm seeing at to think that weight loss,
combined with resuming exercise and diet is going to bring my pressures down
into the normal range?

Possibly. See your cardiologist for more exact diagnosis and
information.

Quoted message said:

I ask this because I've seen 3 doctors who've given me 3 different opinions,
if you can believe that. lol. One wants to medicate me pronto, the other
says try diet and exercise for 6 months, and the last one, a friend, says
either/or/and is fine.

Chunk the friend's advice and try the exercise/diet/ETOH consumption
route unless you choose a doctor. If so, then follow his advice.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

"M_un Over Seattle" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Equinox said:

I've been very sedentary over the last 6 mos. because of a repetitive

stress

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

injury from trail running.

What is the injury?

Tibia stress fracture brought on by overzealous intervals. I was training
for a 100k trail ultramarathon at the time.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I haven't been eating well, and have managed to
gain 40lbs.. up from 190 to 230 (I'm 6ft tall).

Sounds like you have been eating very well (next to a starving
person). It's not so much about what you eat as how much you eat.

Quoted message said:

I've also been consuming
more alcohol than normal.

What is normal...for you?

During my inactivity I've been downing around a bottle of wine a night. I
cut that way back to 2-3 light beers yesterday and am planning to begin a
month or two of complete abstinence after the weekend.

- Eq

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is it reasonable at the pressures I'm seeing at to think that weight

loss,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

combined with resuming exercise and diet is going to bring my pressures

down

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

into the normal range?

Possibly. See your cardiologist for more exact diagnosis and
information.

Quoted message said:

I ask this because I've seen 3 doctors who've given me 3 different

opinions,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if you can believe that. lol. One wants to medicate me pronto, the other
says try diet and exercise for 6 months, and the last one, a friend, says
either/or/and is fine.

Chunk the friend's advice and try the exercise/diet/ETOH consumption
route unless you choose a doctor. If so, then follow his advice.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

"Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Equinox wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Yes. Alcohol can also elevate pressure in susceptible folks.

However, losing weight permanently is a tall order.

I'm naturally lean and have lost weight easily before. Prior my stress
fracture I was running 50 mile trail ultramarathons, so I've pretty much
just eaten, drank, and couch potatoed myself into tubbyness. I don't expect
losing will be a problem now that I can at least walk vigorously again.

Quoted message said:

Would suggest you ask your doctor about the 2PD approach as described at:

http://www.heartmdphd.com/wtloss.asp

Thanks, I'll take a look at that.

- EQ

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I ask this because I've seen 3 doctors who've given me 3 different

opinions,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if you can believe that. lol. One wants to medicate me pronto, the other
says try diet and exercise for 6 months, and the last one, a friend,

says

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

either/or/and is fine.

That's why they are called opinions.

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

Equinox said:

Tibia stress fracture brought on by overzealous intervals. I was training
for a 100k trail ultramarathon at the time.

Nasty. Did you have "shin splints" first? Have you tried bicycling
with a properly adjusted downstroke?

Quoted message said:

During my inactivity I've been downing around a bottle of wine a night. I
cut that way back to 2-3 light beers yesterday and am planning to begin a
month or two of complete abstinence after the weekend.

Good for you. Lots of calls in wine especially by the bottle.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

Question is - was your bp normal before you gained weight? If so,
it's likely that losing the 40 lbs will bring it back to normal. Re:
drinking - more than two drinks a day isn't healthy. Do try to
exercise again and lose your excess weight. You might consider giving
yourself six months to improve, after that it's on to BP meds.

"Equinox" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hiya,

I'm 30 years old and have recently discovered that my resting blood pressure
is 150/80. This was confirmed by several measurements, all of which showed a
range from 145 -> 155 over 75 -> 85.

I've been very sedentary over the last 6 mos. because of a repetitive stress
injury from trail running. I haven't been eating well, and have managed to
gain 40lbs.. up from 190 to 230 (I'm 6ft tall). I've also been consuming
more alcohol than normal. I have no family history of CVD, stroke, or
hypertension, so my question is this:

Is it reasonable at the pressures I'm seeing at to think that weight loss,
combined with resuming exercise and diet is going to bring my pressures down
into the normal range?

I ask this because I've seen 3 doctors who've given me 3 different opinions,
if you can believe that. lol. One wants to medicate me pronto, the other
says try diet and exercise for 6 months, and the last one, a friend, says
either/or/and is fine.

Regards,

- CFG.

"Brad Sheppard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Question is - was your bp normal before you gained weight?

Thats one of the problems, I have no idea. Hadn't seen a Doc in 10 years
before this.

Quoted message said:

If so,
it's likely that losing the 40 lbs will bring it back to normal. Re:
drinking - more than two drinks a day isn't healthy. Do try to
exercise again and lose your excess weight. You might consider giving
yourself six months to improve, after that it's on to BP meds.

I think thats how I'm going to play it. I've learned quite a bit since I
started researching this. I was a bit paniced at first..thought I was a
walking stroke waiting to happen. As I understand the
situation now, 150/80 is high but does not put me in any short term
danger. I had two EKG's (one under stress), blood workup, and kidney tests
done with no evidence of damage.

Thanks for your response,

- EQ

Quoted message said:

"Equinox" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hiya,

I'm 30 years old and have recently discovered that my resting blood

pressure

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is 150/80. This was confirmed by several measurements, all of which

showed a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

range from 145 -> 155 over 75 -> 85.

I've been very sedentary over the last 6 mos. because of a repetitive

stress

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

injury from trail running. I haven't been eating well, and have managed

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

gain 40lbs.. up from 190 to 230 (I'm 6ft tall). I've also been consuming
more alcohol than normal. I have no family history of CVD, stroke, or
hypertension, so my question is this:

Is it reasonable at the pressures I'm seeing at to think that weight

loss,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

combined with resuming exercise and diet is going to bring my pressures

down

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

into the normal range?

I ask this because I've seen 3 doctors who've given me 3 different

opinions,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if you can believe that. lol. One wants to medicate me pronto, the other

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

says try diet and exercise for 6 months, and the last one, a friend,

says

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

either/or/and is fine.

Regards,

- CFG.

"M_un Over Seattle" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Equinox said:

Tibia stress fracture brought on by overzealous intervals. I was training
for a 100k trail ultramarathon at the time.

Nasty. Did you have "shin splints" first? Have you tried bicycling
with a properly adjusted downstroke?

As for the injury came without warning. I always assumed that overtraining
would show up in other things first.. hip flexors, ITB, plantar fascitis
etc. The only running related problems I'd had before that were minor hip
flexor irritations when doing more miles than I was trained for.

As for bicycling, I purchased a brand spanking new Bianchi road bike
yesterday =) Going to start riding tomorrow after I've bought some gear.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

During my inactivity I've been downing around a bottle of wine a night. I
cut that way back to 2-3 light beers yesterday and am planning to begin a
month or two of complete abstinence after the weekend.

Good for you. Lots of calls in wine especially by the bottle.

Yeah.. I have a serious yen for california red zinfandel. The good ones are
among the most concentrated, alcoholic (a few in the 17% range) dry wines in
the world, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if many of them pack 800+
calories per bottle. And of course I'm much more inclined to eat less than
healthy stuff after lubing myself up with a few glasses.

Guess its the hedonist personality. I tend to overdo things whether its
running, wine guzzling, or stuffing my mug with USDA prime.

Cheers,
EQ

Quoted message said:

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

You're welcome. BP is a key number to know, what I do is check mine
at least weekly at a supermarket or drug store (they have free BP
machines). If you do, make sure you sit quietly for 5 minutes before
taking it. Most cases of hypertension are called "essential" meaning
they don't know the cause. In your case the weight gain must have
been a factor. I'd also urge you to exercise - when you can't do one
(trail running) try to find an alternative - EFX machine at gym,
biking, swimming, etc.

"Equinox" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Brad Sheppard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Question is - was your bp normal before you gained weight?

Thats one of the problems, I have no idea. Hadn't seen a Doc in 10 years
before this.

Quoted message said:

If so,
it's likely that losing the 40 lbs will bring it back to normal. Re:
drinking - more than two drinks a day isn't healthy. Do try to
exercise again and lose your excess weight. You might consider giving
yourself six months to improve, after that it's on to BP meds.

I think thats how I'm going to play it. I've learned quite a bit since I
started researching this. I was a bit paniced at first..thought I was a
walking stroke waiting to happen. As I understand the
situation now, 150/80 is high but does not put me in any short term
danger. I had two EKG's (one under stress), blood workup, and kidney tests
done with no evidence of damage.

Thanks for your response,

- EQ

Quoted message said:

"Equinox" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hiya,

I'm 30 years old and have recently discovered that my resting blood

pressure

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is 150/80. This was confirmed by several measurements, all of which

showed a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

range from 145 -> 155 over 75 -> 85.

I've been very sedentary over the last 6 mos. because of a repetitive

stress

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

injury from trail running. I haven't been eating well, and have managed

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

gain 40lbs.. up from 190 to 230 (I'm 6ft tall). I've also been consuming
more alcohol than normal. I have no family history of CVD, stroke, or
hypertension, so my question is this:

Is it reasonable at the pressures I'm seeing at to think that weight

loss,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

combined with resuming exercise and diet is going to bring my pressures

down

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

into the normal range?

I ask this because I've seen 3 doctors who've given me 3 different

opinions,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if you can believe that. lol. One wants to medicate me pronto, the other

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

says try diet and exercise for 6 months, and the last one, a friend,

says

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

either/or/and is fine.

Regards,

- CFG.

Equinox said:

As for bicycling, I purchased a brand spanking new Bianchi road bike
yesterday =) Going to start riding tomorrow after I've bought some gear.

Excellent alternative.

Quoted message said:

Guess its the hedonist personality. I tend to overdo things whether its
running, wine guzzling, or stuffing my mug with USDA prime.

lol

Easy boy.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.