Blood pressure alternatives/supplements

[woodwiss]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post but I have replied to others.

I have high BP which stubbornly refuses to budge below a certain level. I take 10 mg of ramipril and 2.5mg of amlodipine. The amlodipine was originally at 10 mg but when the ramipril was increased, the amlodipine caused awful side effects. My face turned bright red, I swelled up like an elephant, had ice cold hands and panic attacks.

I am a vegetarian, non-smoker and walk 10000 steps a day for fitness. I get out of breath very easily.

Has anyone had any success by adding supplements to their prescribed meds? I have acupuncture which brings my BP to a normal level but within an hour it peaks again. I have read about health supplements but wondered if anyone had tried them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

You don’t say what level of Pred you are on - that may well be the problem. If it is then your BP should reduce as the Pred dose tapers.

Think you need to discuss with doctor, if it’s consistently high even with the medication.

[woodwiss in reply to DorsetLady]

I am not on any pred. I just wondered if there was anyone out there who could help. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to woodwiss]

Ok,

But still think you need to speak to doctor, high blood pressure not properly controlled can lead to lots of other problems- and with your exercising regime & medication normally it would be. So please get it checked, there are other medications which may suit you better.

[Hidden]

Amlopidine was terrible for me and I stopped it all together. Just felt so ill.

I am still on pred and have diabetes but my blood pressure has come down in last 6 to 8 months having been high as a kite previous 3 years. I am on linsinopril only for bp. He only thing i have changed is i have just about cut salt out...stopped maldon sea salt and went onto himalyan pink salt that was in grinder rather than a pinch here and there. I still have a little but think I was over doing it because dry mouth took taste out of food. I have been veggie for 30years.

[TooSore]

Do you currently have PMR or GCA or is it in remission? If you are experiencing inflammation, could it be causing the high blood pressure? I know prednisone does but thinking inflammation might as well. Definitely a return trip to the doctor and either a change in medication or some exploratory tests are in order. Good luck, it sounds as if you're in a tough spot.

[woodwiss in reply to TooSore]

Thank you for your kind words

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I can't find any previous replies of yours - are you sure you are in the right forum? This is for PMR/GCA.

There are many other medications for treating high BP and if your GP isn't up to working it out you should be referred to a cardiologist for expert input. Supplements are unlikely to reduce raised BP. In view of your healthy lifestyle, the fact you say you get out of preath very easily suggests to me there is something more underlying this and you need expert medical care to identfy it and find the appropriate treatment,

[Ruadh]

Hi woodwiss -

Think I would be concerned about the breathlessness. Definitely seek an appointment with a cardiologist - and probably a pulmonologist, respiratory physician.

You don't indicate what your current BP readings are. Depending on age, guidelines have been changed somewhat. Do you have your own upper cuff monitor ?

Take care -

[woodwiss in reply to Ruadh]

Hi,

Still reading high 170/100

Nurse aiming for 150/90

Yes, I monitor with an upper cuff machine,

Thanks for replying.

[Hidden in reply to woodwiss]

Make sure you try and relax everyday and drink water. And btw it's you that is aiming for reduced bp not your nurse🌻

[Ruadh in reply to woodwiss]

Yes, is high - Need to consult with a good cardiologist. Take care -

[Joydeck in reply to woodwiss]

You might try the very successful treatment for blood pressure widely prescribed in the 1960's: a very low salt diet. Patient compliance was the prime drawback.

I'm aged 68, and it sure works for me: a stable 105/70.

[woodwiss]

Hi Joydeck,

Thank you for replying.

I was never a salt lover but now I'm cutting it back to the bone and being very careful checking to see if any foods have added salt. Fingers crossed and I might get blood pressure like yours.

Thanks again

[PMRnewbie2017]

Whilst I cannot give you medical advice I have to agree with others and you really should see a Dr.

I can pass on what I have discovered during my new journey. I have hypertension which was controlled with Lisinopril 10mg. Prior to being diagnosed with PMR/?GCA in Nov 2017, I had an HbA1c test result of 42mmol/l which in the UK classified me as prediabetic despite fasting glucose of 5.0. I immediately cut out all refined carbohydrate (cake, biscuits, white pasta, crisps) and reduced potatoes and white rice and I stopped snacking!! I upped my intake of oily fish to a minimum of three times a week and take Omega 3 fish oil supplements. I have also stopped using sunflower oil in cooking (Omega 6, which can be inflammatory if diet is deficient in Omega 3) and eat almost no processed food. I now follow The Clever Guts Diet to improve the quality of my gut microbiome. In 7 weeks, I lost 9lbs and my blood pressure fell so much my GP reduced the Lisinopril dose to 5mg because I was feeling faint and dizzy. Then I was diagnosed (CRP 185 and ESR 116) and take prednisolone and calcium with VitD. Having read the marvelous book Vit K2 and the Calcium Paradox I also take Vit K2, I also take extra Magnesium. I am refusing Biphosphonates until I get a DEXA scan.

This morning my BP was 103/62 Pulse 60 on waking, and despite taking Pred for two months my weight is stable. On 2nd Jan CRP 20 and ESR 40. For me STRESS and the effects of cortisol have certainly affected my health over the years but radically changing my diet, changing my lifestyle and using supplements in a scientifically verified approach seems to be having positive results for me and I hope that as my steroid dose reduces, I have a smooth journey.

Please remember that hypertension does not have symptoms and there could be many reasons why it is resistant to treatment. Also as a vegetarian are your Vit B12 levels normal? A deficiency in Vit B12 can cause symptoms of breathlessness and anaemia.

[Joydeck in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

An interesting post, PMRnewbie2017. Your new diet has been mine for decades, except for white rice. A good diet for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease.

As for supplements, I differ in that I don't trust fish oil but eat some oily fish daily, I don't take vitamin K2 because it seems too hard and confusing, and I don't take calcium but have plenty skim milk yoghurt. I do take limited D3 daily, low-dose C and aspirin every second day, and B12 monthly.

[woodwiss in reply to Joydeck]

I am looking into D£

[woodwiss in reply to Joydeck]

D3 even

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Joydeck]

Absorption of calcium from skim milk products is far lower than from those with a small amount of fat.

[Shavasana]

Hi, I haven’t taken supplements but I have changed my medication over the years . Ramipril has been ok for me with the exception of the “ Ramipril cough”. However, I tried amlodopine twice and hated the fuzzy head and lethargy. I finally succumbed to a diuretic, indapamide; this has been amazing. Not only is my my lower than it’s been in years, I haven’t noticed any side effects at all.....just a thought