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Hey guys
I always have a high blood pressure on normal days and on cycle it goes up a notch. Everytime when on cycle my doctor says I need to go on BP meds, I never took any BP meds. Is my heart gonna explode one day ? :) :chairshot
Apparently it's from my parents (genetic?) The doctor scares the crap out of me but everytime I say f it, I know I might be sitting on a ticking time bomb but I really don't want to go on BP meds for life :madd:
Should I or shouldn't I ?
BP meds is probably one of the safest meds to take and there is a reason high BP is called the silent killer.
I agree with Tarmyg. If your BP is always high and genetic, you really should be on the appropriate type of BP med(s). There are quite a few different types to address different underlying causes.
On the other hand, if your off cycle BP is only mildly elevated, cardio and/or weight loss may be sufficient to bring you into range and you may only need a mild BP on cycle, if at all.
I'm on Lisonopril 40mg 2x a day and atenolol 25 mg/day (split in two - morning and night). You're asking whether it's worth the health of your cardiovascular system to take a pill? What's so hard about taking a pill once a day? You shit once day? You shower once a day? It's not that complicated.
Genetics load the gun but your lifestyle pulls the trigger.
If genetics were the end all be all then you would have had blood pressure problems when you were 12 years old, or 16, or 18. This is obviously not the case as you don't see pre teen kids on BP meds (sans one off cases).
Before hopping on a pill forever I would do a deep dive on your lifestyle - nutrition, sleep stress, anxiety, work environment etc.
Better yet you could hire someone for a consultation since self reporting is extremely inaccurate
You don’t see kids on BP meds because nobody checks their blood pressure. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t kids out there with genetically high BP. I am one of them, and my mom is an endocrinologist - and I never found out until I was 19. I eat healthier than then majority of people on this planet and even with meds it’s still higher than my friends who drink nenergy drinks and eat garbage all day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Windex
It’s not all in our control. It’s not due to irresponsibility. Nobody wants to walk around and eat bland salads all day and tuna just to lower their BP by 5 points. I say take the BP meds if you need them, it’s not that big of a deal.
Absolutely - what I am saying is before defaulting to pharmaceuticals it's better to see if there's an underlying root cause. Then from there prescribe as necessary.Quote:
Originally Posted by Test Monsterone
People who are deficient in Magnesium and Vitamin B have the exact same symptoms as someone with insomnia - but default get scripted benzos or anti anxiety medication before investigating other options
Thanks for the response guys, first time when I found about my BP issue was when I was 24/25, now I am 37 and since then everytime doc takes a blood pressure it is always high (cycle adds bit more to it but normally it is at the high end even with no cycle and at the peak of my fitness). I have seen my parents taking BP meds (whole my childhood), they struggled with BP issues badly and I feel like I am young to take BP meds, my heart should be used a bit more before giving up, I go intense in my workout but although the BP is extremely high I never had anything which could tell me that the BP is stopping me to go hard, but my doctor wants me to go now (i very much limit myself for what I use during the cycle dude to BP, ensuring that it doesn't blast on me) makes me so sad.
Thanks for the advice guys, it really makes me feel that there is nothing wrong with taking BP meds, I have grown up seeing my parents cursing their BP whole life, I feel BP is evil and I don't want to acknowledge it (I know it's f'ed up) something I got stuck in my head in my childhood and never ever grow with my age
It's better be safe then sorry I guess
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dgs59
When I found out at 19 I was very sad as well. I had lifted weights since 14-15, but had just gotten a gym membership that year. I had the impression that I could no longer workout with weights, and my whole life I wanted to be strong and muscular. I, too, ignored the BP and continued working out without BP meds. I sometimes would take them, and then forget to take them. Right when I turned 26 I felt some weird PVCs in my chest while working out and when laying down in bed. These scared me and put me into a panic attack. I suffered from panic disorder for 6 months before deciding to go to a cardiologist because I thought my heart was messed up. I stopped working out at all during this time. I was so scared, I would get panic attacks walking up stairs, picking up boxes, talking a slow walk. I would get these PVCs nonstop. If I bent over I got them, if I twisted my body I got them. I still don't know what caused that to happen like that.
Well, I went to the DR, and I found out a few things. First, my mitral valve is slightly prolapsed, which can cause some atrial regurgitation under a heavy workout/load. Also, my left ventricle is slightly enlarged. Overall, though, the Dr said I had one of the healthiest hearts he's ever seen (maybe he tells this to all his patients).
The news didn't comfort me. I became obsessed with researching this mitral valve prolapse thing. I read about people dropping dead out of nowhere. I read about symptoms, etc. I became a hypochondriac. I stopped working out for 4 years. I no longer got the PVCs (except once in a blue moon). Around age 30, during spring, I decided to begin working out again. I bought a treadmill, a bench press, free weights, exercise bands, etc. I started at home because I was scared to get a panic attack/PVC at the gym. I started really slow, literally walking on the treadmill. I didn't buy everything at once, obviously. The more I found I could push myself, the more I did. Eventually, a year or so later, I bought a gym membership. I found I hadn't lost any strength or size. I was still the same me.
The difference after that episode when I Was 26 is that I take my BP meds consistently. I split them up in twice a day to maintain steady blood levels. Now my resting BP is about 110/65. I am still very excitable, in that it will increase a lot if I'm nervous or doing anything. I think that's just how I am. I eat much better than I used to. Much more vegetables and less junk food. I do not buy any junk at my house so that I won't be tempted. The only carbs I have is whole grain bread, in the freezer.
Anyway, I don't think you should be scared of your BP and ignore it. Look, we're all going to die one day. Just take care of your BP and do what you love.
A routine BP reading is part of every physical exam after age 2-3. What pediatrician/doctor did you go to?Quote:
Originally Posted by Test Monsterone
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonaparte
After I was born, I didn't actually go to a dr until I was like 19. I'm Eastern European, we don't go unless we're dying.
That just sounds like child abuse. I'm not talking about the ER, but just regular checkups. You didn't need a physical to go to school or play sports?Quote:
Originally Posted by Test Monsterone
And you say your mother is a physician? Are you sure you just didn't go because she thought she knew best and was treating your ear infections and strep throat herself?
Anyways, sorry to derail the thread.
OP, just take the damn BP meds. You'll live a lot longer.
But BP are notorious for having a host of side effects. Some get them some don't but the sides for some can be a real problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by tarmyg
Hypertension is usually asymptomatic. By the time symptoms develop, it is usually crazy high (hypertensive emergency) and has been damaging the body for a long time. Also, the symptoms vary by person and are usually non-specific.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashop
No, I never got a physical. Didn’t play sports. When I was sick I would just wait it out. She may have given me medicine at some point but it’s hard to remember. Even now that I run my own TRT she doesn’t ask me anything about it, nor does she want to know. She told me before I started that she wanted no part in it because I was still technically within the normal range. She loves me, but she’s just weird like that. :shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonaparte
What type of sides are you referring to? I don’t seem to get any sides, at least not that I’m aware of.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashop
I thought this same thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dgs59
I am wound for sound. Had hypertension since I can remember the doctors saying "Its just because he is in the hospital."
Anyway I tried remedies that helped a little, arginine, cialis, and finally I went to atenolol when it got to 180/110.
Blood pressure medicines are common as can be.
It aint that bad.
Go to a doctor and get it corrected and maybe you will live longer, who knows.
You should take a BP med or meds if it is needed. Beta blockers were the worst for me. It took several tries before I found one that agreed with my system.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dgs59
You can read online about the different types of meds and their potential dude effects, but IMHO, the worst side effect is much better than than the damage done by long term unchecked BP.
The potential damage from high BP is kidney damage up to possible renal failure if it is high enough and left unchecked. That's only one out of many.
Read this and maybe it will help convince you to get on an appropriate med.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...e/art-20045868
Read this to learn about types of blood pressure meds and their potential side effects.
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topi...re-medications
I'm on a combination alpha and beta blocker ( carvedilol) and telmisartan, an ARB. I was on candesartan, but the pharmacy couldn't keep it in stock.
Again, the worst side effects are usually mitigated by switching to a different medicine of the type originally prescribed and the worst side effect is much better than the damage that can be done by unchecked high blood pressure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by almostgone
He's talking about the medicine's sides, not blood pressure's sides.
I edited my post and hopefully addressed his concerns.Quote:
Originally Posted by Test Monsterone
I just loved the amount of information you guys provided, you guys probably don't realise how much it helped me and I thank you all for detailed information. Really appreciate it, just an update that doctor started me with BP med (irbesartan 75mg ED) so I started taking it from now on. What else he prescribed was BICARD 2.5 mg every morning, talking to the pharmacist and reading about it online, it seems to slow your heart rate which could end up in tiredness (I need to stay focused on gym as next week I start my next cycle and I really cant put up with tiredness therefore I am skipping BICARD, any advice on this med.
I have no advice beyond my personal experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dgs59
These meds are in a whole new world of anything I ever studied.
Take the med. It's in the beta blocker class, but he started you off on the lowest dose.
Thanks, just worried the heck out of me by looking at the followingQuote:
Originally Posted by almostgone
Common side effects
cold feet and hands
fatigue
nausea, weakness, and dizziness
dry mouth, skin, and eyes
slow heartbeat
swelling of the hands and feet
weight gain
Less common side effects are also possible:
sleeping difficulties and disturbances
erectile dysfunction
abdominal cramps
constipation
diarrhea
depression, memory loss, or confusion
back or joint pain
:jawdrop:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dgs59
LOL, sides come with most meds, but many times they aren't as widespread as people think. If I'm not mistaken, any sides that were reported during trials have to be disclosed to the consumer.
Not saying there aren't sides. They do occur, but they are rarely severe. I couldn't tolerate my first beta-blocker, metoprolol very well, so they switched me to a different and better med, carvedilol.
For example if you read all of the sides listed with naproxen or allergy meds it will be apparent that you probably aren't going to shoot the crapper although the way it reads, you would think you were taking cyanide.
Just keep a logbook and if you actually feel something is off, make a note and let your prescriber know.
As far as slow heartbeat, that's one of the actual uses of a beta blocker.
Been taking BP meds for 20 years no sides at all. Better than permanent organ damage you will get in the long run without it.
Prescient to this group, avoid spironolactone, a side effect is gyno (for natty's-worse for exogenous). If someone is reading this and taking spironolactone topically, it's a whole different story (even if your rubbing it on your chest). The vast majority of the medication will have a topical effect. So, it is okay for acne and hairloss, topically. But, it's really hard to find a compounding pharmacy.
Will keep in mind, cheersQuote:
Originally Posted by Quester
The best course of action is to measure your blood pressure every day, multiple times, and trend it to see if you're really hypertensive. Then analyze the factors that could contribute and see if you want to do something about it. Better yet, have a doctor help you do this and read info on Canadian Pharmacy . You're likely to get lifestyle advice and end up on antihypertensive medications but you'll be more likely to live a long life if you start treating it early.