High Blood Pressure: Important To Take Care

I got the graphic here. The site talks about causes of hypertension and is worth a read.

This was advice to a fellow blogger who is experiencing serious money problems. When will this shit economy resolve? It really is enough to elevate anyone's blood pressure!

Once you can afford it, invest in a self-monitoring cuff and take your blood pressure at home daily. They usually aren't terribly expensive. It may be entirely situational in your case, but chronic high blood pressure can lead to a stroke. This is what happened to my father and the last six years of his life were very debilitated. I don't like to be an alarmist, but I feel very strongly about this matter because of what happened with my father.

My brother had to start taking blood pressure medicine at 35. He is in a high stress profession (Firefighter/paramedic.) I started having to take it this year at age 46. My blood pressures had gone from being in the 130's over 70's and 80's to being in the 150's or 160's over upper 80's and 90's. For me, high blood pressure is not asymptomatic. I develop anxiety and tinnitus in conjunction with it. 

I take amlodipine besylate, which is a relatively inexpensive medication because it's been around for a while. Initially I experienced a slight drowsiness, which has long since resolved. Blood pressure meds really aren't "slippery slope" type medications. There are many people for whom that's the only thing they take. 

The "slippery slope" meds tend to be psych meds and sometimes prescription pain killers. With the psych meds, people start by taking one med and have to take another to counter the bad effects of the first one. That can end you up with a box of meds. Blood pressure meds, not so much.

I'm a nurse by profession but I don't believe in polypharmacy either. I see a lot of people in the retirement community where I work with a whole tray of meds, but it can be deceptive. Some of these folks like for us to put their vitamins in their med boxes so they don't forget to take them!

Again, sorry if I come off as lecturing. I just feel strongly about the blood pressure issue after what I watched my father went through. It can lead to atherosclerosis and worsen other problems. I hope you get your money very soon!