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Anyone with hypertension?

pinklemonadegurl

pinklemonadegurl

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jul 24, 2013
Messages
385
I was diagnosed in October after a strange eye thing that happened while in Disney World celebrating my g-baby's third birthday. The appointment revealed narrowing of blood vessels in eye, a sign of hypertension. I've been on one med for it since October, and an anxiety pill, low dosage, but it was helping at first. Not now.

I am 55, have been in good health my entire life. I took up running, then tennis, several years ago during my divorce. I hurt myself and have spent almost 2 years couched more or less. The lack of activity has caused weight gain for sure.

I am simply looking for any tried and true suggestions to help bring this down naturally. The doc added a second pill last week which I readily received. BUT, when I came home, upon further investigation, the pill had bad reviews and frankly, I am afraid to keep piling pill on top of pill in order to get this under control.

I am monitoring my BP at home, keeping a diary, and my readings are high, even after I wake up! I have done some research regarding supplements, etc. but I feel stuck, AND afraid, as the eye effect/damage is irreversible and I don't want any further damage to my eyes.

If you have any thoughts, suggestions, I so appreciate it. I have given up alcohol, do not salt my food on the whole, and am definitely working on a more sodium conscious diet. I hope to resume exercise in next few weeks, as I know weight loss won''t hurt at all.

Thank you...
 
You're making the necessary stops to help bring your blood pressure down naturally. I would add meditation to your list. The mind is a powerful thing and bring stress down any way you can will be incredibly beneficial.

I would also suggest while lowering (processed) sodium in your diet you could consider adding sea salt which is good for us and not at all like the sodium/table salt added to processed foods that causes problems.

For working out I suggest cardio combined with strength training as both can help. Choose something you love so you will stick with it.

Good luck!
 
BP can be really hard to control naturally. Some people just have a genetic predisposition to it. What is your family history? And how high is high for your readings? What is your average high reading?

I know meds aren’t fun, but I take them and frankly, the pills v what HTN can cause is worth it to me. I think you need the right meds. If you are waking up with high levels, when it should be low then, you probably need meds. I know that is probably not what you want to hear, but I did that phase when I was told I needed meds at 26.

There are a lot of med choices that could work. I would really talk to your doctor. Beta blockers can do double the work for both HTN and anxiety and anxiety, even migraines are an off label use for them. The right meds matter.

Without meds, my blood pressure spikes out of control up and down all day at dangerous levels that are in the stroke range when they peak.

Exercise, water intake, lowered salt, are all good, but sometimes it’s just an acceptance process. And you may not need the meds forever, but even if you do, a pill or two as compared to what uncontrolled BP can cause is worth it if you ask me.
 
Hi @pinklemonadegurl :wavey:

Firstly, relax about this. I know what it's like to be suddenly, and unexpectedly, diagnosed with hypertension, and to tip-toe through each day, aware of every beat, waiting for something terrible to happen.

Hypertension runs in my mother's side of the family, so I was always a candidate. But in my late 30's, I started developing blocked sinuses, so started using a nasal inhaler called Sinex. A lot. A real lot. I had no idea how it could affect one's BP, so I used it over and over again, multiple squirts per time. Over a few weeks, I began to feel really off, so made an appt with my dr. The day of the appointment, I felt REALLY off -groggy, dizzy - just really, really fuzzy. Either side of my driveway were a pair of large stone pillars. As I backed out that day, I gently hit one on the right side of the car. I knew I'd hit it - I knew I was too close to it - and I just kept slowly reversing. The stone pillar ran the full length of my car, stoving in the side of the car from end to end. I didn't care. I didn't stop. I was so out of it, all I could think was "Whatever...."

When I got to the dr's, my BP was 260 / 160. I was put on everything immediately. She wouldn't even let me sit in a chair in her office - she made me lay down. When they couldn't control it, they put me into hospital - at which point, within 24 hours, it dropped to 70/40.

The long and the short of it it that I'm still hypertensive, and it flies up if I'm really, really, super razzed up about anything, but it never hits those original heights, and those episodes are brief and pass within hours. Normally, my BP sits between 130-110 / 85-70 - which is just fine, given that I'm 58.

So all that to say - the worst thing you can do (and wrong, to boot) is get stressed about this and think it can't be controlled. A lot of it is working out the right cocktail. I'm on Losartan, having been on Norvasc, and neither of those were a big deal for me at all. It took a couple of weeks to get used to it, during which I was pretty tired. But it passed, normalized, and I was fine from that point onwards. I had a takotsubo event a few years ago, and they added Metoprolol, but it's been no big deal either, and I'm on a very small dose.

Obviously I don't know what your regular BP is, but the standard wisdom is that your BP will drop roughly 1 point for every kilo (2.2lbs) you lose. So, depending on what your BP is, you may well be able to normalize with the help of low level drugs and weight loss. And yes - DEFINITELY exercise. I had a cardiac ablation due to postural a-fib 2 weeks ago (I hurt my back very badly when I was 14, grew crooked, and now my vagus nerve is overstimulated and my heart goes into afib when there's pressure on the nerve - like if I sit or lay in the wrong position), I've developed hyperthyroidism due to the drug they put me on for the afib, and 2 days ago was diagnosed with SHINGLES - just as the icing on the cake. But where was I this morning? Pounding it out on my elliptical - the same place I'll be this evening!

From my perspective, the shingles will heal. The a-fib should stop, due to the ablation - and if it doesn't, I'll have another one of them, and the hyperthyroidism will resolve of its own accord, since I'm now off the a-fib drug that caused the problem in the first place. But this will take about 6 months. And that's ok! Because I'm in this for the long haul.

And your hypertension will be controlled too! Make sure you have GREAT doctors, and they'll find the right combo for you. Lose the extra weight you're carrying and hit the treadmill! Lose the salt and any booze, find a heart-healthy diet....basically - do all the things you already know will help your heart. Because they really DO help.

You can do this. You CAN. And you have time. You can get all over this and beat it into submission.

By the way, I never take my BP at home. It winds me up. I do, however, get regular massages, which switches off my head and helps me relax. I'd advise you to do this; it's difficult for your brain to process pleasure and anxiety at the same time, and in processing the sensation of touch, it gives your head, and those parts of your brain, a rest. Also, as an exercise, choose something repetitive. It affects your brain in a similar way to hypnosis, in that it works the same parts over and over again with little thought. Walk, while composing a list of all the things you'd like for Christmas, or your birthday, or a mental catalogue of all the vacations you'd like to take.

These things sound simple, but, done daily, they really do work. If you care to share this info - what's your BP, what drugs are you on, and do you feel anxiety is at the root of your raised BP?

I'm sorry this response is so long - and normally I wouldn't respond, just because of the sheer length of it. But if any of this is helpful to you, feel free to use it. For reference - I've had hypertension now for 20 years and also worked for many years as a psychologist / therapist, till specializing in dispute resolution later in my career. I no longer practice, but the principles seem the same.

Good luck! And remember, altho your situation seems unique and impossible (just like mine did!), we're both just 2 of the 75 gazillion adults in this country with hypertension! And if all those people can find a way to live with it - so can we. I find that idea encouraging, and hope you do too. :wavey:
 
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@elizat Thank you! Your response simply makes me feel NOT alone. This is a journey, I realize, but a scary one as my eyes have already been affected. I'm such a strong person; I *know* there is a mid-life, aging OH NO! component to this for me as I have always been such an indomitable force. I have five children, ages 30-13, having had two of them in my 40s. I thought I'd never get caught up in health issues. Naive, I know.

@mrs-b Wow-it's so interesting. Your story. So, over two years ago, winter, I had a flu shot, spur of the moment. Only my second, ever. (The first was when I was pg with my third child and there was a deadly flu outbreak that winter). Anyway, the flu shot sent me into a FIVE MONTH respiratory illness-I literally was on the couch, hacking for my life. Mucuous and asthma like breathing challenges. So, I went on an allergy med. I was on it until the eye issue was discovered in October, 2018. Now noone can say and no one will, but *I* know that that damn med raised my BP. I was so sick, and desperate, and I am NOT a pill popper, but that allergy med I believe played a significant role in upping my BP and creating some of this issue for me. My BP had always been perfect, no issues.

I will re-read your responses and take heed. I am currently on 40mg lisiniprol, which was quickly upped from 10, to 20, to 40(max dose). My daughter, who's a therapist, also recommended asking for an anxiety med, as I tend to feel anxious at times. I am on 5mg Buspar as well, but doc says that is currently a sub-dosage(I think usually people start at 15mg) I agreed to bring home metopropol last week, but one dose caused a dull and unpleasant headache and frankly, the online reviews and info about it were BAD. I stopped it and since doc had first suggesting upping the Buspar to 15mg, I am going to address that at next appointment.

I also have suffered for 18 months with piriformis syndrome(weird muscle that wraps around/through the sciatic muscle) from playing mucho tennis for about 4 years(3-5 times weekly year round). It locked up my it-bands, and other muscle groups, causing excrutiating 'butt' pain. Chiropractic and deep tissue massage as well as stretching did little good. I recently began seeing a cranial massage therapist, a 60 something woman, a phenom, who works out of her modest, messy home and has worked with pro athletes for years. The massage isn't a massage at all-it's a redistribution of fluid surrounding 'locked' muscles and wow-it's painful but is worthwhile and helping me a lot. I am still in a good bit of pain, SI joint pain, as well as 'butt' pain, so an industrious walking campaign is something I aspire to, as well as a return to the courts.

I have a son, age 23, with significant mental health issues(major depressive disorder, anxiety and frequent suicidal ideations ) so no matter what I do, for myself, there is still sizable stress over his struggles. I do my best to remove myself-just booked a three day weekend for Memorial day for fiance and I in Amish country, Ohio, even though my youngest ages 13 and 15 certainly need, and deserve, a full time mom. I have used my divorce as an opportunity to 'return to me' and to focus hard on my own goals, and happiness.

Your words are reassuring and so helpful. It IS a blessing to know others get it, and can provide suggestions and encouragement. I appreciate both of your responses and I need to breathe, and just get on with it.

Have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy your sparkles :)
 
Sending you calming thoughts & healing dust. Lots of good advice here for you to digest & i’m afraid I have nothing to add as I have no experience with this. Big hugs!
 
@Alex T Your kindness counts! Thank you for the healing wishes. Now...back to diamonds...
:kiss2:
 
@missy Thank you! I need to get back to exercise with an injury I am working on recovery from currently. Everything has sodium-I am reading labels. Need to up the good food choices more even though I tend to be mindful. Need to get sharp about it. I appreciate your support :)
 
You also might want to book an appointment with a cardiologist for a full workup. Not necessarily to look for anything but just to make sure there are no issues there. Medications can be necessary things to treat a variety of issues and you can't afford to look at it as 'being a pill popper'. You just need to get the right medications to keep your blood pressure controlled. We all think that if we are healthy we will remain that way but Father Time often has other treats in store. I understand your displeasure and wariness over medications but the important thing is to get those numbers down. Diet and exercise will help you for sure and if the blood pressure comes down due to those measures, the meds can always be readjusted downward.

I hope you are feeling better soon - you've got lots to look forward to! Stress is such a hard thing to control as well so hopefully between the anxiety medication and the proper blood pressure meds, you'll be on your way in no time!
 
I too was diagnosed with hypertension when I complained of eye pain. I had always had low blood pressure throughout my youth and thirties. My readings started to creep up in my 40's but my GP ignored them, chalking it up to "white coat anxiety". When I complained of eye pain to my diabetic eye specialist he immediately called my internist and I was prescribed medication. Because of the delay in treating my hypertension I suffered kidney damage and eventually was placed on dialysis. Since then I have had a kidney/pancreas transplant. I will always be on hypertension medication and take 12.5 mg of metoprolol twice a day. Weight loss did not make a difference in my need for this medication. With medication my bp is at the low end of the excellent range.
 
Be careful with processed foods, sugars, chips, soda pop, etc. The bulk of your diet should be veggies, fruits, clean proteins, healthy fats like avocados, etc. When my hubby cleaned up his diet, his BP dropped significantly. There is a strong genetic component and some people do just tend to have higher numbers.
 
I have mild hypertension, it runs in my family and I take medication for it.
I would prefer not to take meds but it sure beats having a stroke.
More than half of all Americans over age 55 have hypertension so it is extremely common. And it is manageable!
It sounds like you are on the right path with diet and exercise, but realize that it simply may be necessary for you to be on maintenance meds forever. I currently take Metoprolol (beta blocker) which has the benefit of being used off-label for anxiety. It works for me and I have no side effects. Honestly, I have never looked up the side effects because it controls my BP and does help my anxiety.
Be honest with you Dr. , and be patient—-it may take a couple tries to get the right meds to get your BP under control.
And definitely look at stress management along with diet and exercise-very important.
 
How is your sleeping? Women with sleep apnea tend to have much milder symptoms than men. I was found to have severe sleep apnea and didn’t even snore! (I was completely obstructed).

Treating sleep apnea will bring down high blood pressure in many/most cases.

Do you have daytime sleepiness? If so, it might be time for a sleep study.

ETA: sleep apnea can also be the cause of your muscle issues too, not enough oxygen...

You can tape a pulse ox with an alarm to your finger and see if it goes off during the night. That could be a way for you to sort of screen yourself for it
 
I meant to add as well that I too take Metoprolol for blood pressure issues and have suffered no ill side effects either. It has been a good medicine for me.
 
I manage mine with one pill. It’s genetic. Even after I lost 42 pounds my doctor insists I shouldn’t stop taking my very low dosage prescription. I lost the weight doing weight watchers and I’m still doing it. Online. 20 dollars a month. My two sisters also did it and lost 50 pounds each. But also has to keep taking their medication. So hopefully you can keep trying until you find one that doesn’t cause you adverse effects. I will say that it was a trial and error for me. The first prescription was not effective. The second one made me cough non stop for 4 months. Thank God I found my current one. Doctor says that taking it reduces the chances of a stroke and that benefit outweighs whatever side effects it may cause. My mom has been taking medication since she was 40 as well. We have accepted its genetic and made our peace with it. Very grateful for medication. Weight watchers is an all natural lifestyle.
 
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Oh boy, yeah...

I’m young (30s) and otherwise healthy and have to take Lisinopril to manage it after my BP was so high I landed in the hospital.

It appears to be “just one of those things” and is very frustrating, because I always assumed high blood pressure was the result of age, weight, extreme stress, smoking... but in some cases like mine, it’s just an unpleasant thing to live with.
 
Stress, lack of sleep, weight, and diet...lots of contributors.

I have noticed my BP go up after I tried the keto diet, and I only noticed because I got headaches. But that's likely because I was eating a lot of animal fats, which make your blood vessels harden.

Lately I've been eating more plant-based foods, and I have seen my BP go down, but gradually. Olive oil, pistachios, and vinegar are good for your blood vessels. Olive oil will replace some of the fat in your blood vessels and "flush them out" gradually, whereas pistachios and vinegar have components that make your blood vessels more elastic, therefore the blood vessels expand when your organs need more oxygen, instead of building up more pressure.

Good luck, it sounds like you are doing the right things. If you can go off the pill, I would suggest it. Coming from a medical family, I know that medications ALWAYS have side effects. Their benefit outweighs the harm, but curing a problem with meds can cause other problems because the meds will create some imbalance elsewhere.
 
@mrs-b Shingles? ugh, did they put you on gabapentin or similary nerve drug? I experienced shingles 10 years ago, on my derriers and lady bits (yes but amazingly a very close friend had it in the same spot!).. so pain was intense. A woman I worked with had it on her face and eye and was left with a true Harry Potter scar! So sorry you are going thru shingles. It heals and if you are having nerve pain the gabapentin helped me immeasurably, was on it about 8 months.

Take care! and you sound like you have great control of anything that would or could go awry.

best regards.

OP: my mother had hypertension, my mother's mother died of a series of strokes, my mother's sister had high BP, I have hypertension, I take lisinopril for years now. As we age our BP does go up and some of us have a genetic calling to for it ;-) I hope you are feeling better. I don't know if there is a way to lower it naturally other than as Missy said I think, low sodium diet. Being active.. Sorry you have high BP and hope you can lower it naturally!
 
I have had mild hypertension for years..but the doctors I had in Missouri felt I didn’t need to take blood pressure meds. I insisted because I knew how stressful my life can be at times..and my blood pressure would spike. I lucked out that I was given Lisinopril....Some people can’t take it because they develop a cough. I’m lucky because it doesn’t give me any trouble at all. When I moved to Pa my new doctor told me I should have a screening echocardiogram..I was found to have a slight increase in heart size which the cardiologist attributes to a long period of uncontrolled blood pressure spikes. I also have a moderately leaky pulmonary valve. My ejection fraction is on the low side of normal. Fortunately, I insisted on the blood pressure medicine years ago. I was told by the cardiologist that Lisinopril kept my heart from increasing in size due to the high blood pressure. Don’t be afraid to take it..It’s a little pill in the morning that has enormous benefit.
 
Thank you all! I am on Lisinopril 40mg(max daily dose) since October, 2018, but it's losing its' effectiveness, so enter metopropol. I am afraid of the side effects(weight gain, lower metabolism and libido, etc) so I stopped taking it after one dose. The BP does make me feel anxious-chicken egg effect, which came first? We exercised outdoors yesterday and today, not always easy in Michigan, but I am researching mightily. Fiance bought me supplements a couple of months ago that I only recently began taking in earnest. I am a BAD PATIENT:eek2: this I know to be true. I know I must lose at least 30 lbs but a tennis injury has greatly affected my movement ability sports wise. I appreciate your stories and suggestions.
@princessandthepear YOU are my hero, my dear! You've been through an awful lot. Wow. My 29 year old son is type 1 diabetic, so I empathize greatly with what you have been through with your health challenges. I do have eye pain, and since appointment six months ago, blood vessels have not changed(for the bad) so a wee bit of relief, but still sticks in my mind regarding future damage or issues.

UGH. Big stuff, but your kind words and support are just what I need. Thank you all for contributing. It means a lot. I was a puddle of tears on the tennis courts earlier....
 
So did you go back to the doctor and tell him you weren't taking the additional med? You realize of course that you can't leave your blood pressure unchecked. Losing weight and exercise will most certainly help to a degree but as others have posted, it is not always the magic cure. In the meantime, you have to make sure those numbers are down. Damage ensues which can be far worse than lower metabolism. I hope you are closely monitoring your numbers!
 
MissGotRocks said:
So did you go back to the doctor and tell him you weren't taking the additional med? You realize of course that you can't leave your blood pressure unchecked. Losing weight and exercise will most certainly help to a degree but as others have posted, it is not always the magic cure. In the meantime, you have to make sure those numbers are down. Damage ensues which can be far worse than lower metabolism. I hope you are closely monitoring your numbers!
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I want to add that 80 percent of weight loss comes from a healthy diet and 20 percent from exercise. I used to do boot camp and eat whatever I wanted and didn’t understand why I couldn’t lose weight. Spent 7 years of my life doing this, which I hated bc I hate exercise. Now I strive to walk at least 10k steps a day and I eat better. And the results are so much better than exercise. Most of the days I only hit 7k steps.
I have to agree that in your post you don’t clarify if you stopped your meds. I see you are looking for a natural option but I think time is of the essence in this situation.
 
@pinklemonadegurl, YOU are my hero! My cousin's youngest son was three when he was diagnosed with diabetes. She had to become his advocate and fight with the local school system to make certain that he received proper care and the same opportunities to attend class outings and sporting events that the other children were able to. Other battles were to allow him to have a snack to eat each afternoon before riding the bus home and to have a school nurse available for injections. She only had two children with the other child being healthy. My sister had adopted a child with borderline personality disorder and seven personality disorders. My mother and I used to care for her when my sister and her husband needed a respite and after school each day. We only had a small glimpse into their lives. So I cannot begin to imagine how strong you had to be to raise five children including two that required extra care. Please don't forget to take care of yourself! Wishing you better health and positive energy.
 
My BP went up when I gained 20 lbs. I lost the weight and it's been fine ever since, no meds required. Even as little as 10 lbs can impact BP, particularly when combined with a lack of activity. I see this all the time.

As for reducing sodium, it sneaks its way into a lot of food, so definitely educate yourself in that regard. Buy fresh, not prepared or packaged. Cook with more seasonings. That being said, the latest information from a study done in 2017 suggests that a low sodium diet is not helpful in controlling HTN. It kind of stands prior thinking on its ear.
 
doberman said:
the latest information from a study done in 2017 suggests that a low sodium diet is not helpful in controlling HTN. It kind of stands prior thinking on its ear.
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Interesting but I would take that with a grain of salt.:lol: Seriously though, it worked for me many decades ago. I was diagnosed with hypertension at age 17 and my doctor at the time placed me on a low sodium diet. I was thin so had no weight to lose but was put on a strict low sodium diet plus aerobic exercise (though I was on the swim team at the time so not sure if the aerobic exercise made a difference) and it worked for me. So I definitely believe sodium (table salt found in processed foods, not healthy sea salt) can cause high blood pressure in susceptible individuals. And it sure cannot hurt to try to see if it could work for you.

Having said that I also agree that in many cases doing all you can do might not be enough and I have little doubt I will need high blood pressure meds in the future. My dad has HTN and my blood pressure tends to go high when I am stressed which is often so the question remains not if but when I will need to be put on meds for blood pressure control.

All you can do is control what you can and see how it goes. I am a big proponent of self monitoring as well despite what some people wrote here. My internist feels (and I agree) it is the only real way to know what one's blood pressure does during the normal and average day as some of us get too nervous when blood pressure is taken at the doctor's office.

No matter what happens don't blame yourself. You can only do what you can do and if it comes down to needing blood pressure meds they are life saving for those who need them as others have written here. And there are so many different ones on the market you will find what works best for you with minimum side effects if it comes down to that.

@princessandthepear I'm sorry you experienced damage due to uncontrolled hypertension. I am glad you are doing well now.
 
You are all so very kind. I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. I have been on Lisinopril since October 2018, but it is not working. My issue is that piggy backing another med on top of one that isn't working does not make sense to me. I teach part-time and only had to work this morning, but woke up 5am ish so worked up over this that my BP was quite high and I took day off. My 23 year old son kindly took dear son 15 and dear daughter 13 to school. I am binge watching RHOBH(The jewels! The cattiness! The $$$$!) and trying to relax. I will begin the Metopropol tonight, which doc prescribed a week ago. I am not in denial, merely afraid to be loaded up with meds that may or may not help me. I realize high BP is dire, and not to be taken lightly. I have five children-my entire life has been about taking care of others, also my empathic nature. It is HARD to focus on myself, and put me first. I will though, as I want to live and love for many years.

I had done extensive reading on diet etc. I am generally a healthy eater with a sweet tooth. I am accepting the no alcohol rule and don't think it will be terribly difficult, but sugar? UGH. It will take some time. I don't salt food, and don't eat fried food. I will have to be diligent about focusing on my diet daily. Exercise will be a slow crawl due to my injury/hip issue.

Thank you all. I'd been on PS years ago, so many familiar names still here. So lovely to find such a supportive community, for bling and life needs :)
 
Different blood pressure medications do different things so taking two or more is not so unusual. I would not second guess the doctor at this point but would rather do what he advises. If you don't like him or the result, you can consider someone else. Sometimes these things can be a bit of trial and error to see what works for you individually. All blood pressure medications have side effects that differ from one to the other. I would be very concerned if you are waking up with the blood pressure high in the morning. It is clearly not under control at this point - don't take a chance with this. I understand what you are saying but in all honesty - and I don't mean this in a mean spirited way - your reasoning doesn't hold water in this instance. Take the meds and good luck - you've got a lot of life ahead of you and you need to live it in grand style!!
 
I take 2 different meds...I have lost 100 lbs in the last 4 years....I walk well over 12,000 steps a day, I follow a fairly healthy low sodium diet....I still have high blood pressure it was 152/82 last Friday at the doctors...he might have to change meds or add more, he is waiting till my next appt with me monitoring it at home..with all that said I feel genetics plays a hugh role in high blood pressure...and anxiety and stress...I am under a tremendous amount of stress due to family situations and work...hopefully your blood pressure will get under control.
 
There are roughly five different classes of hypertension drugs. 1) beta blockers, 2) ACE inhibitors, 3) calcium channel blockers, 4) renin inhibitors, and 5) angiotensin receptor blockers. There may be more since the last time I was in a pharmacology class. It is not uncommon to take more than one class of drug at the same time. Each class of drug acts upon a slightly different component that causes hypertension.
 
missy said:
Interesting but I would take that with a grain of salt.:lol: Seriously though, it worked for me many decades ago. I was diagnosed with hypertension at age 17 and my doctor at the time placed me on a low sodium diet. I was thin so had no weight to lose but was put on a strict low sodium diet plus aerobic exercise (though I was on the swim team at the time so not sure if the aerobic exercise made a difference) and it worked for me. So I definitely believe sodium (table salt found in processed foods, not healthy sea salt) can cause high blood pressure in susceptible individuals. And it sure cannot hurt to try to see if it could work for you.

Having said that I also agree that in many cases doing all you can do might not be enough and I have little doubt I will need high blood pressure meds in the future. My dad has HTN and my blood pressure tends to go high when I am stressed which is often so the question remains not if but when I will need to be put on meds for blood pressure control.

All you can do is control what you can and see how it goes. I am a big proponent of self monitoring as well despite what some people wrote here. My internist feels (and I agree) it is the only real way to know what one's blood pressure does during the normal and average day as some of us get too nervous when blood pressure is taken at the doctor's office.

No matter what happens don't blame yourself. You can only do what you can do and if it comes down to needing blood pressure meds they are life saving for those who need them as others have written here. And there are so many different ones on the market you will find what works best for you with minimum side effects if it comes down to that.

@princessandthepear I'm sorry you experienced damage due to uncontrolled hypertension. I am glad you are doing well now.
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Sea salt is no better than plain salt. Sodium is sodium. The only difference is the presence or lack of iodine.
 
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