Blood pressure

[grumpy]

Prior to going on BP meds my pressure typically ran in a range from 155 to 165 over 70 to 80. Now I am taking Toprol 25 mg. and typical BP is 125 to 135 over 52 to 62. I am wondering why the first number has remained fairly high (compared to what others here have reported on meds) while the second number seems quite low. Anyone have any knowledge about this?

Grumpy

[TromboneAl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cube_rat * 15 lbs overweight - see female, over 40 note

Hey, you look fine in your avatar picture. Was that taken right after you looked at the reading on the scale?

[Zoocat]

This topic is timely for me as I have been on the path to lower my BP the past few months. What I've discovered is that my daily espresso raised my BP at least 10 points 135/70. Now that I've given up the caffeine my BP is regularly 125/65. I want to lower it further. Thanks cube rat for the hint about the nightly chardonnay habit which I have been induging in for approximately two years to help along my divorce recovery. I've cut out alcohol for the past two weeks. We'll see if that works. It would also help if I could lose this extra 30 lbs of divorce weight that I've been carrying around but haven't been able to do it yet despite my regular exercise.

[mathjak107]

i always say exercise dosnt cause weight loss,it only makes you eat more..cutting calories is the key to weightloss ...actually exercising and cutting calories together is the answer but exercise alone nope.exercise does help my wife and i maintain our weight as we barely budged 2lbs in 6 years...but you should see us eat on our intense cardio days and since we are avid cyclists we can do 80-100 miles a week...omg we dont get full we just get tired lifting things to eat lol

[CyclingInvestor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathjak107 i always say exercise dosnt cause weight loss,it only makes you eat more..cutting calories is the key to weightloss ...actually exercising and cutting calories together is the answer but exercise alone nope.exercise does help my wife and i maintain our weight as we barely budged 2lbs in 6 years...but you should see us eat on our intense cardio days and since we are avid cyclists we can do 80-100 miles a week...omg we dont get full we just get tired lifting things to eat lol

I agree completely. I have been battling weight gain most of my life,
while maintaining a fairly high exercise level. Computer nerd that I am,
I have my monthly exercise totals and weight back to 1983. For example,
in 1996 I managed to gain 12 lbs while bicycling 14148 miles, hiking
183 miles plus some gym time. Other years have similar results. Not
eating is much tougher than financial discipline for some of us.

[mathjak107]

thats alot of miles,phew in one year.i thought we did alot.
just curiouswhat bike you ride? my wife and i use a couple of klein q-pro road bikes as well as klein mountain bikes

[mathjak107]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldbabe . It would also help if I could lose this extra 30 lbs of divorce weight that I've been carrying around but haven't been able to do it yet despite my regular exercise.

it also depends what your exercise routine is for improving your cardio vascular system or strength .i see loads of people walking 2 miles an hour on the tread mill day after day and calling it cardio and they complain they arent getting the results they want.unless one is so out of shape that doing the things we normally do in life like walking,carrying groceries,cleaning the windows elevates there heart rate into their target zone the walking is okay for some weight loss and some minor cardio improvements up to the limit of the walk but for good solid cardio growth and weight loss you need to get a heart rate monitor and get yourself up into the growth area.the key word is "and" cardio and weight loss.walking will help weight loss but there is a limit to its cardio ability unless you pick up the pace to a very very fast walk which is excellent for cardio growth. the weights will build calorie burning muscle but not to much cardio there.the heart is like any other muscle.its only going to be as strong as its called on to do and no stronger ...a guy can dig ditches for a living and he will never be any stronger than is needed to lift that shovel no matter how long he does it...after a while to keep being called exercise the routines get harder and harder.in the beginning 6 years ago i was 220lbs and got dizzy running 1 minute. today im 175lbs and on my running days (which i keep to once or 2x a week ) i run 4-5 miles..its amazing what you can build up to but it takes constant elevating all your routines.
havent needed* my blood pressure pill,my tryglyceride pill and a diet in 6 years now.

[spideyrdpd]

Hmm
Rich I think your confusing Hctz with something else ?

Grumpy the top number is the pressure when your hurt beats or pumps.

I vote for the medications. Especially since yall listed cutting out about a half dozen vices 8)

Seriously the issue with BP is you cant really tell when its high. Unless your testing at home. So even though lifestyle may improve it the medications will keep it more even oven time. They estimate that controlling bp can add about ten yrs or so to your life.

[Khan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spideyrdpd Hmm Seriously the issue with BP is you cant really tell when its high. Unless your testing at home. So even though lifestyle may improve it the medications will keep it more even oven time. They estimate that controlling bp can add about ten yrs or so to your life.

I can tell when the BP is high. Then I get into a negative feedback loop where the stress about high BP leads to higher BP.

But I'm feeling much better now.

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spideyrdpd Hmm Rich I think your confusing Hctz with something else ?

No, sorry Spidey. May not be what you expected but it's true. HCTZ initiates a diuresis but in usual doses like 12.5 to 25mg daily within 2-3 weeks there is compensation to the diuretic effect and a steady state is achieved. The net diuresis (fluid loss) ceases at that point (as dose potassium loss). Happily, the antihypertensive benefits continue longterm through other mechanisms. Won't bore you with the references, but I've got 'em in spades.

BTW, even lots of physicians aren't aware of this. To wit: they check blood tests for sodium, potassium twice a year indefinitely while only about one month of blood testing is needed - if you haven't developed imbalances by then, you won't (unless you stop and restart, develop other reasons for fluid loss or poor intake, etc.).

So, next time you friendly doctor tells you it's time to recheck your electrolytes cause you're taking HCTZ, tell him/her that some guy on the internet said you don't have to do that. Then start looking for a new doc .

[CyclingInvestor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mathjak107 thats alot of miles,phew in one year.i thought we did alot. just curiouswhat bike you ride? my wife and i use a couple of klein q-pro road bikes as well as klein mountain bikes

I ride $300 - $600 cross bikes, generally whatever is on sale when I need
a new bike. I keep 2 ready at any time. As long as they have a low enough
gear for long climbs (20" or so), can hold a 38mm or more tire, can hold low-rider
pannier holders, they are fine.

I ride cross bikes because road bikes are built too weakly to handle someone
of my size, mountain bikes all have suspension and as such cannot take
low-rider pannier holders, and up until recently specialty touring bikes were
too expensive. Now that I am retiring, I may treat myself to a nice specialty
touring bike.

[wabmester]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyclingInvestor For example, in 1996 I managed to gain 12 lbs while bicycling 14148 miles, hiking 183 miles plus some gym time.

That's a lot of biking.* Are you sure it wasn't muscle mass gain?

I googled "too much exercise" and got back some interesting hits.

Too much exercise will weaken your immune system, cause loss of muscle, strain ligaments and cartilage, etc.

Seems like 30 minutes/day is good, but more than 90 minutes/day might not be so good.

[cube_rat]

I do 90 minutes of cadio 2 times a week and 60 minutes for 3 days. All running and biking. I also weight train 2-3 times a week. I've had no immune system issues what so ever. But then, I've been continuously very athletic for over 20 years. My knees hate me, but I look good 8)

[CyclingInvestor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wab That's a lot of biking. Are you sure it wasn't muscle mass gain? Too much exercise will weaken your immune system, cause loss of muscle, strain ligaments and cartilage, etc.

Unfortunately, the mirror does not lie. My stomach could press 800 lbs
if it was all muscle.

I cannot verify the weaker immune system, since I never really get sick,
but I can certainly verify the strained joints - repeatedly.

[wabmester]

I used to always catch a cold after overexerting myself.* *Now I know why.

Laboratory research shows that athletes exercising at a high intensity for 90 minutes or more experience a steep drop in immune function that can last up to 24 hours. The drop in immune function appears to be caused by the elevation of stress hormones released during and following heavy exertion. This is what exercise immunologists believe allows viruses already in the body to spread and gain a foothold.

And here's a bit on compulsive exercise:

To maintain cardiovascular health, 2,000-3,500 calories should be burned each week through aerobic exercises, such as running, dancing, cycling and the like. Thirty to forty-five minutes a day, five or six days a week is sufficient to acquire these health benefits. Exercise beyond 3,500 calories per week, however, leads to decreased physical benefits and increased risk of injury.

But there is hope for you compulsive types:

Can a person who compulsively over-exercises become cured?

About 80% of persons with body image disorders who seek professional help recover completely or make significant progress. All in all, these disorders are behavior patterns that display very complex emotional conflicts, which need to be resolved for the person to have a healthy relationship with food and exercise.

[cube_rat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wab But there is hope for you compulsive types: Can a person who compulsively over-exercises become cured? About 80% of persons with body image disorders who seek professional help recover completely or make significant progress. All in all, these disorders are behavior patterns that display very complex emotional conflicts, which need to be resolved for the person to have a healthy relationship with food and exercise.

But I look good, wabby!

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyclingInvestor I agree completely. I have been battling weight gain most of my life, while maintaining a fairly high exercise level. Computer nerd that I am, I have my monthly exercise totals and weight back to 1983. For example, in 1996 I managed to gain 12 lbs while bicycling 14148 miles, hiking 183 miles plus some gym time. Other years have similar results. Not eating is much tougher than financial discipline for some of us.

So you spent approx 1000 hours, or 20 hours a week, exercising?

Wow.

Ha

[mathjak107]

I figure we are good for 10-12 hours a week on average .The rest of the time is spent eating.

[CyclingInvestor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaHa So you spent approx 1000 hours, or 20 hours a week, exercising? Wow. Ha

That sounds about right. About a 1 hour ride each way to work (*200 days) for
400 hours, a cross country ride for about 240 hours in 48 days, and at least 40
long day rides on the weekends averaging 8 hours for 320 hours, plus 100
hours hiking and some gym time.

I have always enjoyed exercise, especially the riding. In my 20s and 30s I seemed
to have very good recupurative powers and felt fine by the next morning to go
at it again. If only I could control what I ate as well, especially after a ride.

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cube_rat But I look good, wabby!*

We'll need some pornographic photographic evidence, cube_rat!*