DOCTOR’S VISITS
Most clinics have their patients visit every 3-6 months, depending how well-controlled the blood pressure (BP) is and if there are any other medical issues. Your doctor wants to know how good the meds are working in order to prevent complications and to detect any early signs of damage to the organs.
The patient will get:
MEDS
There are many medicines used to control the BP. Some patients do fine on just one pill; some need a combination of two or more. All meds have possible side effects and it’s very important to discuss any you experience with your doctor. Some effects may be minor or simply annoying, such as dry cough, while others can be life-threatening. A common side effect in men is difficulty with their erection.
Please do not stop your medicine without informing your doctor. Also please bear in mind that if you stop your meds, the blood pressure may remain lowered for up to a day off meds, but it doesn’t mean it won’t go up again.
MONITORING AT HOME
This is critical! Monitoring your BP allows you and your doctor to make better management decisions.
Some persons have White-Coat Hypertension, where their blood pressure shoots up because they are anxious while at the doctor’s office. When you check your readings at home, you have a true reflection of what’s really going on.
Another reason to monitor yourself is for you to see how various things may influence your BP. For example, does it go up after eating certain foods or when you’re angry or anxious? Use this information to guide your decisions.
Many people are not 100% compliant with taking medications because they feel fine. How can you be sure that you are truly fine unless you have sustained normal readings? So, there are many reasons to self-monitor and it’s easy to do. Get a machine and have someone teach you if you don’t already know how to use it. Machines are inexpensive and easy to use.
Caution: Don’t get carried away with over-testing!
DIET
Sodium or salt content is very important with high blood pressure (HBP). Salty foods, like cheese, bacon, cured meats, and chips, are counterproductive. Foods rich in potassium are helpful. Junk foods, which provide no nutrition to the body, are best avoided, except for the occasional splurge.
Weight reduction should be pursued in a way that won’t overwhelm you. Slow, baby steps of reducing high-carb foods are probably the easiest way to begin since results will come relatively quickly. Google low-carb diets.
There are many supplements that are helpful for HBP – they are too many to list, but a naturopath may help here. Research anything you plan to use before putting it into your body. Please bear in mind that there are foods and supplements that also elevate the blood pressure, such as caffeine in coffee, sodas, certain diet pills, decongestants in cold medicines, etc.
The main point here is: do your research first.
You may consider adding magnesium, omega-3, and vitamin D supplementation, if you are deficient.
EXERCISE
I recommend gentle exercise for beginners and especially if you’re overweight. Be gentle and gradually increase the intensity of exercise as your fitness and endurance increase. Exercise helps with weight reduction, mood and well-being, and improving the cardiovascular system. Aim to walk for about 15-20 minutes per day, and increase when you can to about 45 minutes a day. When you feel more fit, remember to add resistance training by lifting weights and always include stretching.
There are many ways to exercise. Please don’t do anything too strenuous that may put a burden on the circulatory system – like pushing yourself too hard when the blood pressure is not yet under good control.
Start gently and work yourself up once the BP is controlled.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE FOR MEN
Sexual intercourse may be too strenuous or intense if your blood pressure is poorly controlled. Please be mindful of this and the risks to your health. Certain blood pressure meds can affect the erection. If they do, please consult with your doctor to prescribe a different pill. Please do not stop your meds abruptly and take nothing at all. I’ve seen many men do this and eventually end up with a stroke.
WATER
I can’t say enough about water and its importance. Drink at least 2 litres per day. Some patients are on diuretics/water pills for the BP and may need supplementation with certain electrolytes. This should be discussed with your doctor.
SLEEP
Sleep is essential for controlling HBP. Let me be more accurate – restful night sleep. Aim to get to bed by 10 p.m. Hypertensive patients who work night shifts or are up late watching movies are at a major disadvantage.
REST
This rest I’m referring to here is more of mental rest. Think of it as a break. When the mind is always active with productive work, it eventually causes the body to be tense, for there is a major mind-body connection to health and healing. Hypertension means high tension. Take the time to relax! Go to the park, garden, river, or theatre. Go socialise with your family and friends; do some deep breathing and meditation. Do this often!
Time should be allocated for just being, just resting. When you’re hypertensive, you need more rest. Don’t let anyone allow you to feel bad because you don’t want to keep up with the demands of the rat race. Hypertensive patients need rest.
PEACE
Everybody has stress at some time or the other, but chronic stress disrupts your PEACE. Patients with HBP should aim to have peace of mind, heart, and soul. Arguments, conflicts, provocations, and worries will only create distress and raise the blood pressure. Dealing with toxic people and being the perpetual people-pleaser or the control freak are certainly not peaceful positions. Other issues such as long-term anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness make people sick.
DEALING WITH THOSE BAD HABITS
Excess alcohol, food, and cigarettes will only make you sicker. Take baby steps to tackle these vices, as they are bad habits that will need to be broken. Please be patient with yourself.
Hypertension/High Blood Pressure is very treatable if you’re willing to be healed. I’ve seen many patients do the required work and have come off some and even all of their meds while under medical supervision because of simple changes. Some persons lost weight and that fixed their BP, others reduced their stress load significantly and came off meds. Each person has his/her journey to a healthier level.
I hope these gems have been helpful to you.
Blessings, Dr Jen.
________________________
Serving God and the elderly are two of Dr. Jennice’s passions. A house call doctor and health educator, she has been a Christian from her youth.
