diastolic hypertension

[mickey1313]

7months ago I was a very healthy 45 year old woman. 5'3 110lbs. BP was about 80/50 HR 60. Ran 3-5 miles a day 6 days a week. Seem to have a cold/flu for 3 weeks so went to the doctor thinking I had an ear infection. Was told no that I had vertigo and there were exercises I could do but no cure. BP was 144/100 HR101. Was told it was because my body was stressed. Now,7 months later, still dizzy, headaches and have gained 20 lbs for no apparent reason. had a complete physical. Thyroid function on the low side of normal cholsterol is excellent but my blood pressure continues to climb. 168/110 yesterday. Started taking diuretics today. I don't use salt,eat prepared foods or anything "white". I'm having a hard time grasping how doing everything right can go south so quickly. Any suggestions?

[NTB]

Chris, about "fluid free" I'd meant: do you have some measure of that? A few weeks ago I'd taken one torsemide. I lost about 5 pounds in 5 hours, and maybe 10/10 off of BP. But by the next day, my BP was back to where it had started. I was eating very low salt in those succeeding says but still gained back all the water weight. A week later another torsemide, but I lost only half the water weight.

I took niacin a little earlier tonight and dropped from 84 DBP to 78. As you must know, it doesn't last long. I took 1000mg because I am now used to 500mg and that little doesn't work anymore.

When I took niacin the day after my first sublingual nitro, the flush was so powerful that it was almost alarming, way more than normal. My DBP went below 70 that time - but I wasn't able to reproduce that much of a drop again.

If they want you to work upwards with Niaspan, it's probably because they want to avoid the flush -  because some PTs stop taking it. But I can say I almost like it.

Yes, beets have magnesium :)    I also have Mg glycinate powder (said to be the least laxative form) , and take at least 300 mg  / day. When my sudden onset HTN started, I also began a headache that lasted for three weeks straight. Within 24 hrs of starting the magnesium, the headache was gone - but this other feeling in my head still remains.

Or you could even try a bath in epsom salts. Sounds wacky but it does seem to work as you absorb the Mg sulfate through the skin.

Nice comparing notes with you, Chris.

[chrisr]

Thanks for the reply.

Nitro patches work best for me after trying out the spray, gel, sublingual, nitro glycerine tabs and imdur. It gives the fastest response to dropping the SBH.
As for the Arginine – seems risky for folks like myself.
Beets seem to lower the BP also but being diabetic can’t overdo it.

Fluid free – the Diovan HCTZ induces a lot of  urination but little BP effect?

I believe the trick with Niaspan (not niacin) is to start low dose like 250mg and work up to 500 and above.

Yes at 5’ 7” and 184lbs I do need to lose weight but because of the Diast Dysfunction can’t exercise too much.

I do take K as Kgluconate to replenish that lost with xs urine. But never thought about  Mg. How much do you take?

Thanks again
ChrisR

[NTB]

Hiya, Chris.

- I got hold of some nitro and saw a big drop in SBP and DBP. Same with Imdur.
- the first time I took arginine, I saw a modest drop in BP.
- but there is a study that shows increased **death** in MI patients taking arginine
- another study in PAD showed less NO synthesis after longterm usage, while short term use usually shows increased NO

- how are you defining "fluid free"?

- is niacin flushing due to NO? I'd think it's part vasodilation from NO - and part inflammation, which might depend on presence of arachidonic acid (like in beef). I generally flush after 500mg niacin. I don't mind the sensation one bit. Aspirin is said to inhibit the flush.
- leukotrienes are chemical messengers made by immune cells. a pressor raises BP
- for kidneys, I was talking about Renal Artery Disease, a blocked artery that causes HTN. But ARBS and ACEIs help with Kidney Disease that is associated with having HTN. But yes, if a blocked artery in a kidney makes it pump out too much aldo, then spiro is given AFAIK.
- "any means possible"? I'd think that for *most* people with essential HTN, or even ISH like you have, then losing enough weight will make BP go down  :)

- also, exercise (if you're able) is likely to improve NO production. And the body needs Magnesium to make NO.

Good luck to you, Chris.

[chrisr]

I also have high BP mainly systolic 140s over 80s but affected mainly at early mornings on awakening.
Since I also have angina-like symptoms I do use Nitro patches as needed and almost always see a significant drop in my SBP with little in the DBP.
I would like to try some other form of NO-induction and read a lot about Arginine. Have you tried it? Any side effects?
I also use the ARB Diovan with HCTZ which keeps me fluid free but with little or no effect on theBP.
I am also on Niaspan for lipid control but with no flushing side effects although it elevates my BG levels. Is flushing a sign of vasodilation/NO response?
What are leukotrienes ‘pressors’ and how do they affect BP?
Finally your explanation of HTN-induced renal disease. Would the Diovan take care of this or the spironolactone be better suited?
Sorry for asking so many questions but I would really like to lick the persistent elevated SBP by any means possible.
Thanks in advance for you response.

Chris R.

[NTB]

I guess you should also know that sudden onset HTN, especially when severe, is associated with renal vascular disease. Did your doc use a stethoscope to listen to your kidneys? If he's put you on spironolactone instead of HCTZ, then that's a clue.

If a person has a blockage in a kidney artery (which seems unlikely in your case), then the kidney thinks that BP is low and it keeps pumping out aldosterone to raise BP. Spiro blocks aldosterone.

[NTB]

you sound like me: "Seem to have a cold/flu for 3 weeks".

I am 54, 6'3" 205, BP had been around 115/75 for years, rather fit and can bike through hilly terrain for hours, etc

Then I got some kind of seeming virus cold. My ear sometimes hurt, too. From Sept to Oct I increased to 145/95. I know I also had/have mineral deficiencies - notably magnesium. Do you have headaches?

I've spent a very large amount of effort on this. I'm generally now 122/84 without meds, but I can't get back to how I was. I occasionally go high for short periods, as far as 145/98 or so. I occasionally get down to 112/72 without medication.

You've obviously been to a doctor, since you're on a diuretic. (HCTZ? that effects lipids and BG, just so you know)

Maybe we have something similar. I suspect the virus infection. If that is true then this condition is rare and we're on our own in finding a cure. Has your virus recurred? Mine does.

One possible mechanism is that superoxide, which is a free radical that immune cells use to fight pathogens, also consumes Nitric Oxide. NO is the chemical produced in the endothelium that causes the smooth artery muscle to relax.

I absolutely notice that my vasodilation response is impaired. Did you ever get a flushing in the hands when on a long walk? I always had a great NO response but now I don't. EXCEPT sometimes it does come and then I take my BP and it's normal. I even hit a 66 DBP once that way.

Are you aware of the "niacin flush"? Have you tried arginine, which is the precursor to NO?

Another possible mechanism is that leukotrienes are pressors.

I have had no weight gain. But yours makes me wonder if you are having glucocorticoid dysfunction - which would also lead to Na mediated water retention and so your higher circulatory volume = higher BP. If you lose several pounds quickly from water loss, that would be a clue.

BTW, the glycemic index of whole wheat bread is not much better than white bread - unless it's stone ground which is indeed lower GI.

[Encephalomalcia]

Your blood pressure needs to come down right away.  Call your doctor if your blood pressure is still 168/110.  Blood pressure of 110 can cause stroke.  My husband had blood pressure of 157/100 and was sent home from work and told to go to bed and relax until he could be seen by his doctor.  He works at a college where there are nurses to take blood pressure.  You need to have heart testing done to see why the sudden change and if anything happened to your heart to be bringing on these symptoms.  Thyroid funtion can below low at your age (which is my age also).  Call your doctor.  Take care of your blood pressure and get it lowered.