High Blood Pressure

Ramipril I believe is a Enzyme inhibitor - I was coughing a lot when I took it as my throat was often dry and tickly, so the GP changed it to Losartan Potassium which didn't have side effects for me. I know quite a few people who have issues with Ramipril. There are also listed on its information sheet. Everyone should have a blood test around 7-14 days after placed on new medication too.

Tablets that make your kidneys and bladder work faster can reduce BP too. For examples it reduces the amount of water in your body and this reduces pressures. This also helps if you have any swellings/water retention issues. Indapmide is an example of this medication.

General point look at your parents medical histories and other blood relatives - do/did they have strokes/heart attacks - there is a hereditary element.

As a number of posters have mentioned losing weight and reducing fat intake will reduce BP for most people.

Btw the MFC Foundation do work on improving the health of people in the Teesside region and can help Boro fans.
 
BigUnit said:
I'm having tests regarding my heart at the moment.
Despite been on tablets my was reading 180/120..
Chlorestol 8.5 also
Had a Angiogram and have a Echocardiogram Monday so hopefully sorted..
The Chest Pain Started when we went one nil up against Sunderland funny enough.
Thankfully not too many exciting moments since lol
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That's a perfect storm mate high cholesterol and BP.

I had cholesterol of 6.9 and BP of 170 over 110 and the doctor went straight to full blood work ups and medication.

The good news is I got my BP under control in 2 weeks with
Amlodopine and cutting salt out of my diet.

127 over 80 roughly when I monitor now.

Best of luck.
 
Laughing said:
That's a perfect storm mate high cholesterol and BP.

I had cholesterol of 6.9 and BP of 170 over 110 and the doctor went straight to full blood work ups and medication.

The good news is I got my BP under control in 2 weeks with
Amlodopine and cutting salt out of my diet.

127 over 80 roughly when I monitor now.

Best of luck.
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Cheers mate. I'm on the same Med as you 80mg a day.
Plus beta blockers to slow heart
In fact I'm on 26 tablets a day .
Jesus 🤣
 
BigUnit said:
Cheers mate. I'm on the same Med as you 80mg a day.
Plus beta blockers to slow heart
In fact I'm on 26 tablets a day .
Jesus 🤣
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Might be worth investing in a BP monitor. We paid about 30 quid for one and it was well worth it. It let's you monitor from time to time and knowing your BP is normal probably helps keep your BP normal.

I am now lookin forward to my 60th when I don't have to pay for prescriptions
 
I had a long spell in hospital last year when my blood pressure was taken regularly, up to three times a day. It was consistently 115/75, a safe level. Had it taken recently the at GPs as part of my annual MOT when it was much higher. Beware the white coat reading.
 
Great thread

Just to develop it further, not only would i recommend the free BP check, but if you're over 40 get the free NHS check done at your Doctors. I've just had my first one (aged 48) and my BP was slightly above average, but also my cholesterol too high (7.5) and my blood sugar high enough to be "borderline diabetes". Just waiting to get on the Diabetes prevention programme and have been offered Statins (which I've rejected at the moment)

Never considered myself to be massively unhealthy and I'm pretty active, but this has given me a real kick up the bum. Will be checking my BP at home to keep track from here
 
I've got a doctors appointment tomorrow and also booked the "free NHS health check" for a couple of weeks time.
I think if you are over 40 with no underlying conditions you qualify for a free health check so it must be worth doing to catch any issues early.
 
Carl1978 said:
I've got a doctors appointment tomorrow and also booked the "free NHS health check" for a couple of weeks time.
I think if you are over 40 with no underlying conditions you qualify for a free health check so it must be worth doing to catch any issues early.
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Absolutely. Good luck

I regret not going when I was 40, could've headed some of this off earlier, but it's never too late
 
A few years ago I had 2 stays in hospital. Not long after each other.

The first one was for high blood pressure. The second one was for arrhythmia.

Have now been on medication for at least a couple of years for the two illnesses. Touch wood all has been OK so far.
 
I noticed Mixmag running a story on Dr Dre talking about a brain aneurysm in 2021, that he puts down to high blood pressure.

Keep talking about it lads, keep checking and keep staying healthy.
 
I haven't had any side effects but I had noticed my libido dropping off but assumed it was an age thing. I don't know what is average for a 60 year old couple. Not asking others to share personal details but we went from 3 times a week to about once every 5 days.
 
RollingtonRolls said:
You're right about genetics, I was 29 years old and went in for a doctor's appt about my vision becoming blurry, turns out I was in hypertensive crisis and rushed to hospital.

Spent all day trying all kinds of meds to get it down, they even gave me an ultrasound on my kidneys to check for organ damage it was so ridiculously high.

They couldn't find anything wrong with me at all, otherwise completely healthy apart from my BP. My dad's been on meds since his mid 30's too, so I guess that's where I've got it from.

Been on medication ever since and I'm 36 now. Never been mega fit but 5 a side twice a week and gym 2/3 times, still a little overweight but the meds have probably saved me from an early demise.

The scary thing is I felt absolutely fine as well.

Go get checked, my readings at home are still averaging around 120/85 - 140/90 and the docs seem happy with how it's being managed.

Lower salt in food helps a lot, as does drinking decaf tea/coffee.

Go get checked out if you can find the time.
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Gym three times a week and 5-a-side twice is pretty good sir.
 
In March last year after a particularly stressful couple of years at work, I had been feeling lousy so took a week off work. On the Tuesday I saw the Dr and registered 176/96 BP. They suggested I buy a blood pressure monitor and check my readings for a week and get back to them. On the Saturday I was building a new bed but had chest pains using the screwdriver. Thought I was probably just fatigued so ignored them. I went and picked my son up that evening from the Riverside after we had been 'Warnocked' away at Huddersfield. About 9pm I got these unbelievable chest pains. My wife called an ambulance and after tests at North Tees they confirmed I had had a heart attack. I was kept in the EAU ward to wait until a bed came free in James Cook so I could have an angiogram. It was bed blocked so I was still in North Tees on the Wednesday. That night I remember waking up in the middle of the night dreaming I was having another heart attack. Turned out it wasn't a dream. Don't remember a great deal as I was out of it but fortunately I was in hospital and it being 4:30am apparently they got me over to the Cardio Lab at James Cook in less than15 mins. I had a blockage of the left anterior descending artery and had angioplasty and 2 stents. I'm 50 and was carrying a few extra kilos but nothing excessive and was doing weekly park runs etc. Just goes to show you can't tell so keep an eye on yourselves.
 
It was a massive shock when found out I had high cholesterol, lipped levels, BP. Hadn't had a "wellbeing" appt for 6 years, so asked for a blood test and eventually got one. Massive chest pains one morning in August. Took 45 mins to get to GP with emergency appt, when it usually took 15 mins. Hanging on to walls. Sweating, dizzy, breathless. GP told me I was going to hospital in an ambulance. Three days and two nights in respiratory. Still undergoing scans + tests. Went from a couple of tablets a day to: Amlodipine, Atorvastatin, Ramipril, Clobazam, Carbocisteine, Lamotrigine, Levetiracetam. Go from being fit and active to being totally dependent. I hate it.
 
r00fie1 said:
It was a massive shock when found out I had high cholesterol, lipped levels, BP. Hadn't had a "wellbeing" appt for 6 years, so asked for a blood test and eventually got one. Massive chest pains one morning in August. Took 45 mins to get to GP with emergency appt, when it usually took 15 mins. Hanging on to walls. Sweating, dizzy, breathless. GP told me I was going to hospital in an ambulance. Three days and two nights in respiratory. Still undergoing scans + tests. Went from a couple of tablets a day to: Amlodipine, Atorvastatin, Ramipril, Clobazam, Carbocisteine, Lamotrigine, Levetiracetam. Go from being fit and active to being totally dependent. I hate it.
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When I complained about taking 2 medications my doctor mentioned if I had a heart attack I would be on nine different meds roofie.

I think those of us who find out early we have BP problems get a little lucky.

Never liked chemistry at school but thank christ some kids did.
 
Laughing said:
When I complained about taking 2 medications my doctor mentioned if I had a heart attack I would be on nine different meds roofie.

I think those of us who find out early we have BP problems get a little lucky.

Never liked chemistry at school but thank christ some kids did.
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Having worked as a Nurse, I always advised my patients to ask why / what meds were for. Sometimes "health "professionals" proscribe tablets like they were on commission. When it comes to the "carer" becoming the "patient", it's a massive shock. Knowing you are dependent on the bluddy things is like planning your life around collecting them and trying to remember taking them. I still hate it. Gets depressing.
 
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