Isolated systolic hypertension: Should I take Amlodipine?
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi all I am a male in my seventies and for the last 8 years I have had isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). During this time, I haven't been on any medication for the problem and the BP readings have been fairly similar for most of this time, averaging 170 / 70. However, at a recent visit to my doctor, he took several BP readings which fluctuated quite widely, between 148 and 220 systolic and a low diastolic between 60 and 70. I have seen in some articles that, with ISH, older adults do worse when the diastolic reading falls below 70mm because 70mm is already low enough.
So the question is, should I take medication for my ISH or not as the latest reading using my own BP machine was 180/66 with a pulse of 58? In other words, because I already have a low diastolic reading, would it be dangerous to go on to medication to reduce my high systolic reading? And if you do recommend that I need to go on to medication, is Amlodipine a suitable choice? Overall, I am in very good health, and walk about 4 kilometres a day, and I don't feel any ill effects when walking up hills. Thanks very much for your help with this. Regards Martin
1 like, 69 replies
g.90572 nzmartin
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lily65668 g.90572
Posted
That's interesting. I'll look into it.
g.90572 lily65668
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nzmartin g.90572
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I tried hibiscus tea a few years ago and with my home BP machine it didn't make any difference to my readings. I might, however, investigate taking Vitamin D tabs, but the Lab I deal with doesn't do blood tests for Vitamin D levels so this is a bit unsatisfactory!
Regards
Martin
lily65668 nzmartin
Posted
I take high doses of vitamin D3 for osteopaenia (pre-osteoporosis) so maybe that's why I manage to keep my BP under some kind of control! But you're right - you do have to monitor your blood levels when taking it. As well as eating quite a lot of oily fish and a bit of full-fat dairy, I take around 45mcg/1800IU per day in supplement form, but that still only just brings my blood levels into the bottom end of the range. That being said, my GP is always amazed when he sees my results. He says it's actually very rare to see anyone of my age who's even within range in this part of the world!
However, I'm assuming you're in New Zealand, where I think you get more sun than we do in northern Europe. You'd therefore need to check your levels - winter and summer - before starting supplementation. Can you find another lab? I'm surprised they don't do vit D levels. I don't think it's a complicated test, it's certainly not expensive and it's done on all routine blood tests in continental Europe.
g.90572 nzmartin
Posted
I might try hibiscus tablets because that's a lot of tea to drink
g.90572 nzmartin
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g.90572
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nzmartin g.90572
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Thanks for that, yes there is some interesting reading on that topic. I think I need a new BP machine as my old "Omron" gives readings that are quite variable even within a 15-minute period. Unless there was a huge difference caused by eating a specific type of food, I doubt whether my machine could give me the information that you are able to get about the effect on BP of one food.
Regards
Martin