Blood pressure medication side effects are one of the main reasons that people find it difficult to keep their BP numbers under good control. The tablets or capsules they get from their doctors are effective – no doubt about that, but the adverse effects or adverse symptoms that arise are sometimes so bad that the person simply gives up and stops the treatment. They’d rather feel well and take their chances with stroke or heart attack than live a miserable life with drug related symptoms.
So is there an answer to this? Is there some way to lessen the need for these drugs? A way to allow people to take fewer of them or smaller doses so that they can have all the known benefits but without the drawbacks and the misery? Well yes, I think there is.
The secret to better BP control lies in mixing natural remedies for high blood pressure with lifestyle changes and diet alterations. For those who follow some simple principles they can expect to feel better in general health terms – and they’ll also find themselves much less reliant on doctor issued drugs.
Now – lets keep a bit of perspective here. It might not be possible to completely avoid the need for conventional medications and even the most thorough change in diet or lifestyle might not be enough for some of us. But if you work at it patiently and keep a close check on things using a blood pressure monitor then you will see steady and convincing improvements as the weeks and months go past. The main thing is to take your time – and to stick at it once you start the process.
Common side effects of BP meds include some of the following. Calcium channel blockers like amlodipine tend to cause headaches or swollen ankles. ACE inhibitor tablets or capsules like lisinopril or ramipril will often trigger a chronic dry cough or problems with kidney functions. Beta blockers like atenolol induce fatigue, bad dreams and cold hands or feet. Diuretics or water tablets can cause leg cramps or gout in some patients.
So how do you start on a more balanced approach to things?
First up is to buy yourself a home checking device – you can read some blood pressure monitor reviews here. Get in the habit of checking things every day and build up a profile of how your own numbers vary. You might be surprised to see how things change over the course of a day depending on what you’ve eaten or drunk, or on the exercise you take.
Second is to take a real hard look at your diet and lifestyle. Salt is the real villain here for most of us. Research shows that salt sensitivity is much more common that was previously realised – and that the amount of salt in our normal daily western diet is enough to trigger dangerous increases in the risk of having a stroke or a heart attack. Reducing the level of sodium salt in your diet can make literally amazing differences in your ability to control your BP. Many people who restrict salt are able to either stop or markedly reduce the medicaitons they take for hypertension.
The third tip relates to exercise. If you take thirty minutes worth of exercise on a regular basis – preferably daily – then you can expect to lose weight and to see a drop in your BP numbers by about ten points on the scale. That’s a very worthwhile reduction. The good news too is that doctors have now discovered that three ten minute chunks of exercise are as effective as one thirty minute spell. So it’s much easier to fit some fitness into your busy day.
Lastly – choose a herbal or natural treatment to supplement your diet. Alistrol is a good choice because it combines a total of four active herbal compounds and has been shown in research studies to be an effective choice for nine out of ten people.
The main message here is to be persistent and to stick to a simple plan. If you simply take a slow, patient and plodding approach then you’ll be amazed at the differences you can achieve.
Doctor Gordon Cameron is a specialist doctor based near Edinburgh in Scotland. He has a long standing interest in the treatment of high blood pressure – partly because he suffers from it personally and partly because he sees dozens of people each week who struggle to cope with it.High blood pressure is a huge problem for many millions of people around the world. Drug side effects are common and many turn towards a more natural type of cure. But will that approach suit you?http://generalhealthsites.com/fitness-wellness/blood-pressure-medication-side-effects-and-how-to-avoid-them.html
