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Original poster

Has anyone lowered blood pressure without meds?

35 replies

charitytodayislovely · 02/04/2023 15:49

High BP runs in our family and I usually take mine about every 6 months or so. I get really anxious taking it so the readings are usually quite high on the first few tries. Anyway took it today and it's defo way too high so I'll ring the GP first thing in the morning.

It's a bit of a wake up call as I'm 3 stone overweight and I've been mucking about for ages, gaining a few pounds/regaining them so this is the kick up the bum that I need,

Question is, has anyone managed to lower their BP without need for meds? I've recently started Weight Watchers (I'm only 1 week in) and if possible would love to do this without meds.

OP posts:
CaveatmTOR · 02/04/2023 15:52

Fasting. There's nothing to touch it if done properly. It's natures miracle secret for healing tonnes of things.

mrsfennel · 02/04/2023 15:53

I did by walking, im not overweight ,dont smoke, dont drink.

Mine was really quite high. I started Working as a Dotcom picker in Tesco part time, the store was huge and I was doing a lot of fast walking.

mrsfennel · 02/04/2023 15:53

Whilst pushing a heavy trolley!

Asummersday · 02/04/2023 15:55

Yes, I have. 1 hour walks a day changed it incredibly quickly

FlipFlops4Me · 02/04/2023 15:57

Cut down salt and saturated fat, stop smoking, go de-caf, increase exercise and water. I also gave up alcohol. I'm still on the meds but won't be this time next year - I'm slowly decreasing them (with GP approval) and actively working towards a healthier lifestyle.

Original poster
charitytodayislovely · 02/04/2023 16:00

Thank you...that's encouraging. Mine was 179/90 and I was horrified! There's defo an element of anxiety involved but I will call doc in the morning. I imagine they'll want me to check it for a few extra days and in the meantime I'm going to get moving and get serious about healthy eating.

OP posts:
FlipFlops4Me · 02/04/2023 16:06

There are some excellent Youtubes - Dr Joe, Dr Sinatra, Sten Ekberg - all do loads of really good youtubes.

I also bought two books - Fix your High Blood Pressure in 90 days or Less by Dr Joseph Amagada, and 30 days to Natural Blood Pressure Control by Dr Derose. Both are excellent and say pretty much the same thing. Dr Joe focusses more on correct nutrition being totally essential but Dr Derose's book requires active participation - check lists etc.

I believe totally in nutrition being key, along with daily exercise (just half an hour, no need to go overboard) and it has certainly really helped me.

Greentree1 · 02/04/2023 16:06

Lose weight, cut down on salt, cut down on caffeine. If your BP goes up with anxiety try to relax and take your BP routinely, every day, so that it starts to not feel like a scary thing, just something you do.

FlipFlops4Me · 02/04/2023 16:07

Oh yeah - mine was 199/137 - with meds over Christmas just gone! Now I'm averaging under 120/80 and some days down to 110/60.

Original poster
charitytodayislovely · 02/04/2023 16:15

FlipFlops4Me · 02/04/2023 16:07

Oh yeah - mine was 199/137 - with meds over Christmas just gone! Now I'm averaging under 120/80 and some days down to 110/60.

Wow, well done! When I took my first reading it was 211/100 and I nearly fainted. But then I calmed myself right down and the next two readings were considerably lower...still way too high though.

There's heart disease on both sides of my family and at 48 and 3 stone overweight I know I've been sticking my head in the sand. So this is not nice at all but if there's a way to do it without meds I'd love to try. If meds are needed then fair enough but right now, I'd like to see what I can do.

OP posts:
Original poster
charitytodayislovely · 02/04/2023 16:16

Thank you all, you're really encouraging me! I got myself into quite a state!

OP posts:
Namechanged131 · 02/04/2023 16:16

Well I could have written your post . Mine was high this week and I do veer on the high side . But it was 170/95 last night . Got up and walked this morning and tackling the nutrition again . Taking it 3 times a day now for a few weeks and I will see if I need to go to the gp then . Had the monitor last year and it averages out ok but I have put on weight since and eating totally crap 😢

Vermont252 · 02/04/2023 16:20

Yes, I have. I had a BMI of 29 and was told my BP was too high (I think it was 140/90). I was in my 50s.

I lost nearly 3 stone over the course of about 9 or 10 months. And the next time my BP was tested it was 120/80.

I didn't do anything drastic, I didn't cut anything out. I ate a reasonably healthy diet and did exercise I enjoyed. I have managed to stick within a few pounds of my goal weight, and ten years later I'm not on BP meds.

So keep going, losing weight will have a lot of health benefits for you.

Original poster
charitytodayislovely · 02/04/2023 16:25

Namechanged131 · 02/04/2023 16:16

Well I could have written your post . Mine was high this week and I do veer on the high side . But it was 170/95 last night . Got up and walked this morning and tackling the nutrition again . Taking it 3 times a day now for a few weeks and I will see if I need to go to the gp then . Had the monitor last year and it averages out ok but I have put on weight since and eating totally crap 😢

As much as it sucks, I'm relieved there's others in a similar situation. I realise that even though I'm doing Weight Watchers, I'm using some of their ready meals and I bet they've got loads of salt so my first step is to start cooking and cut out the salt, plus aim for 15-30 minute walk every day. I'll still ring the doc in the morning but I do want to give this a good go.

OP posts:
Rogue1001MNer · 02/04/2023 16:26

I did.

Low carb
Less salt
Cut down on booze
Drank more water
Re-started exercise. Swimming at first, all sorts now

SilverGlitterBaubles · 02/04/2023 16:30

Yes DH has, also diabetes fixed both by changing diet, loosing weight and regular exercise.

mathanxiety · 02/04/2023 16:36

Weight loss - get serious about changing your diet and start exercising. Walking is fine - a mile to start with and work up to two miles of brisk walking.

CambsAlways · 02/04/2023 16:36

Well done you FlipFlops4Me that’s great to hear! Love to hear people doing well

Roselilly36 · 02/04/2023 16:39

Go onto meds, don’t risk a stroke OP, hbp runs in families. Follow your GP’s advice, rather than unqualified advice.

Original poster
charitytodayislovely · 02/04/2023 16:47

Roselilly36 · 02/04/2023 16:39

Go onto meds, don’t risk a stroke OP, hbp runs in families. Follow your GP’s advice, rather than unqualified advice.

I'll defo call the GP tomorrow regardless.

OP posts:
efeslight · 02/04/2023 16:50

I am taking medication at the moment for high blood pressure so am interested in what people think have helped them

HydrangeaHo · 02/04/2023 16:58

Whjy would you not take prescribed medication?
While it's definitely a good idea to take other measures to bring BP down it's a risky strategy to do that instead of taking drugs.
Your risk of heart attack, stroke , kidney damage etc is raised. Safer to get it down with drugs and then work on the lifestyle / diet and wean off.

JE17 · 02/04/2023 17:05

I wasn’t trying to lower pressure but it happened as a side effect of a strict low carb / low salt eating plan which I was following.

Cranarc · 02/04/2023 17:51

Yes. I got to a healthy weight (was obese) and developed an exercise habit.

coloursquare · 02/04/2023 18:08

Does anyone know (preferably an HCP!) if you have the 24 hour monitor and the average is ok do the spikes matter?