Blood Pressure tablets

[birdofprey]

It is looking increasingly likely that I shall have to take medication to control my BP.

I am only fifty and do not really wish to have to take these for the rest of my life.

Is it possible to stop taking them once you have started.

I have tried natural methods of getting my pressure down but it has been between 90 & 105 consistently (lower reading).

If I start taking medication but carry on losing weight and controlling my diet is it likely to be possible to be weaned off the medication?

[rov1200]

White coat syndrome is well known for elevated BP readings. Don't just take my word for it but read about others who have had the same problem

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Disease/Whi te-Coat-Syndrome/show/251798

That is not to say their are genuine cases of people who do need medication and probably comprise the majority. But if you are in the minority then who wants to take tablets for the rest of their lives?

All tablets have side effects, my other half could not stop coughing and then you get the lethargy.

[BertiWooster]

rov1200

No one is arguing that ' white coat syndrome ' does not exist .
The essence of what is being stated is that if your BP is raised , following being tested by your GP, dont assume that it is , WCS .

A good GP will try and calm your nerves before taking about three readings , over the period of consultation .

The nervousness / aprehension can be lessened by having your reading taking by others - which is why I stated , using the NHS walk in centre , for example .

[Sqad]

rov...Berti is quite correct.

Ther is a condition called Episodic Hypertension which I think that you are describing, but MOST Drs would treat this.

Your link is a non scientific link and is basically a question/answer forum and is not a publication from a reputable medical source.

Now, if you can get your BP down to normal with diet and exercise, then you do not need BP lowering drugs.

Yes, all drugs of ANY kind can have side effects and one must weigh the adverse effects against the benefits.

[birdofprey]

Thank you for all your answers.

I should clear up this question of White Coat Syndrome.

This is assuming I have understood my Doctor correctly- he is the first person in the past ten years to explain it properly.

You have two readings. The upper reading is not so significant as it can be comntrolled reasonably easily by personal circumstances. In other words if someone pulls out a gun and sticks it in your face this reading will go off the scale but sit in a dark room and mefditate and it will lower. This is therefore the reading affected by WCS.

The bottom reading is much more difficult to stabilise and can (very often) be caused by a genetic factor.

I have had a home tester for ten years and have managed to get the bottom reading reasonably low (80/90) and always really low in the evenings (70/85) but since November I cannot seem to get it down in the daytime, although I still have low readings in the evenings, and am about to make a further appointment with the doctor.

As several people have mentioned taking pills is better than the alternative.

Thanks for your constructive contributions.

[rov1200]

Taking medicines when they are not required is a dangerous game. Only this week we were warned about healthy people taking Asprin.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8230048.stm

I hate to think what BP tablets do to your system when you don't need them but its your choice.