Blood pressure Spikes.

Not tried htcz but think will ask Dr when l go on the 28th Sept.

Will see what she says as she knows l have so many reactions to most drugs. Am sure she thinks I'm a nightmare.

Have tried a lot of bp meds, all with unacceptable side affects.

I can't have curries turmeric or ANY spicey foods as 18 months ago had allergic reaction to chilli/paprika/spice! I'm a lost cause l think. My highest bp was 170/110. Goes up and down...

Under the circumstances it's good news that you aren't eating turmeric!  But then still have to look elsewhere for cause.

What are you eating?  Have you read about the DASH "Mediterranean" diets?  Are you watching your salt?

Then there are specific foods that may lower BP directly.  I quite accidentally discovered two different dishes at my local Chinese restaurant that dropped my BP 20 points or more within hours.  One was eggplant.  Another was bok choi with black mushrooms (aka shiitake).  Of course BP would just go up again twelve to twenty-four hours later, but it can still be useful.  You can search for more info on these, there's somewhat more info on eggplant.  And I've found I can buy a Chinese eggplant (smaller, and you can eat the skin) at my local market, cut it up and microwave it for about three minutes, preserve the water that comes out as it has most of the active ingredient, mix in your favorite Chinese or Italian sauce, and that works fine.  Same with store-bought shiitake mushrooms.  What information there is on these suggests the eggplant has both ACE and calcium-channel ingredients, the shiitake may be another kind of calcium-channel effect.  There's also beets, and even arugula.  If you don't like the meds, you can certainly try these.  In any kind of normal quantities they should at least be safe enough.

Well all those foods you recommend sound good but am so allergic to most things so will have to tread carefully.

I eat lots of fruit, berries, grapes, apples. Also salmon,haddock etc. Eat little cheese couple of eggs a week, wheetabix, plenty of veg.

So don't know where am going wrong in the food line. Oh yes l eat chicken, the odd lamb chop, no sausage, some bacon, tomatoes.

Beetroot juice is said by many to reduce BP. I tried it but it tasted too earthy for me. It also might worry you with red tinged pee and poo.

My records are marked Bisoprolol intolerant. Not many people seem to tolerate it well. Is your digestion OK as stomach problems can set off your vagus nerve and mimic heart problems. 

Yes my digestive system seems ok, bit of heartburn occasionally.

I actually eat beetroot on sandwiches but it's the pickled variety so not sure if it will do the same good as pure beetroot juice.

Beetroot sandwiches... YUK :-)

 

Love them. Just hope they are doing me good!

I'm Mr Bland and prefer simple things in my sandwiches.

My Losarten dosage is actually 12.5mg derek76.

My highest bp number is 170/110. Has been lower at times of course, just wish it could be more stable.

Sorry I realised later that it was a typing error.

If you have regular 170/110 you should be on a much higher dose. What lows are you getting and are you getting 170/110 at home or just at the doctors? 

 

My lows are usually 140/81 which for me is good.

I seriously cannot eat any foods with preservatives due to my allergies so think Chinese foods are well out for me, much as l loved them. And l cannot go on a higher dose of meds because thats when the problem with side effects start. Like l said, am a lost cause.

My highs used to be much higher than yours and I used to get sudden drops like 52/48. If you are in the UK with your readings you are entitled to be referred to a hypertension referral centre. All major hospitals have them and your GP has probably never heard of them. They are usually part of the renal unit. Ask, no tell your GP you want to go to one .They can do all sorts of tests to find reasons for your fluctuating hypertension from a three day urine collection test for checking kidney function and kidney and head MRI scans. As my consultant says doctors are too busy to treat BP and cardiologists are very clever people who do things that I cannot do but they don't  understand blood pressure like I do.

I presume that you have had a 24 hour ambulatory monitor.  There are several procedures that can reduce BP without medication.

There is a procedure called renal denervation that has been around for several years where radio waves are used on the kidneys and it can reduce BP quite a bit. Another is a paper clip-size device called a Rox coupler that is inserted into an artery in the groin. It diverts blood to a nearby vein, relieving the strain on the artery and reducing the heart's workload. The  Lancet finds the device successfully works to stabilize blood pressure in patients..  

 

Thanks for all that information Derek.

Go to Drs on 28th so will tell her about the hypertension unit and see if she knows anything and will she refere me. I had a 24 hour ambulatory monitor at.the very start of my finding out l had high bp, but not since. Didn't know about the Rox coupler. How come they don't offer it to all bp patients am wondering? Will also mention this to doc.

Thanks once again.