I went to the Dr this morning and was diagnosed with high blood pressure. She put me on a med called Atenolol. I have never heard of it. My blood pressure was 135/92 when I got there. She says it isn't super high but I have been having bad headaches and blurred vision and I have a family history of it so she decided I needed to start meds to keep it from becoming a big problem. And to stop the headaches and blurred vision. The last time I had a bad episode I was driving. I came home that day and checked it. It was 137/111. Way too high! Does anyone have any advice to keep it down and help myself get better?

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, March 15, 2007 - 11:43 am:

Cut down on salt - way down. This includes checking the salt content of packaged foods (frozen & canned vegetables, for example), soup, etc. Cut down on caffiene. If you are overweight, lose weight, but only under your doctor's supervision - no "fad" diets, fasting, water diets, etc.

Your doctor should give you a list of Do and Don't for your blood pressure. I think exercise is probably high on the list, along with what I mentioned above.

You were smart to go to your doctor, and your doctor is smart to start working on this problem now. I have really strong feelings about untreated high blood pressure - my dad didn't change his diet and didn't take his blood pressure meds and wound up having multiple small strokes, until he wound up with what is called multi-infarct dementia. I lost the "person" who was my father about 8 years before his body died, and every time I think about it I get angry at how much time with my father was lost to me and to my mom.

By Angellew on Thursday, March 15, 2007 - 12:03 pm:

As usual, great advise from Ginny!!!

I had pre-eclampsia with my DD, so I was on high blood pressure medication for almost four years after I had her. Thankfully, it's back to where it's suppose to be.

But, my DH, who was never one to go to a Dr. regularly, finally started going and was diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a thyroid condition. He was put on Atenolol, too. He has been taking all his medication, BUT, he was been following the Weight Watchers diet plan with me. I have lost 15 pounds and he has lot 25 (which I could kill him for, cause he doesn't follow even near as strict as I do). With this loss, he has lost over 200 points in his cholesterol and brought his blood pressure down to the point where they have cut the medication in half twice already.

The key to it with him was cutting out things like packaged food and deli meats. He was a deli meat hound... huge salt!!! He checks the sodium in EVERYTHING now and has really done well for himself!

Also, if you feel like you're running really high, lie down on your left side for a hour or so. This lowers your pressure, as well as relaxes you, which can't hurt.

Good luck and don't let it get you down!