Re: Blood Pressure Rates on Rise in U.S. Study Finds

From: Ron Peterson (ron_at_shell.core.com)
Date: 08/31/04 

Date: 31 Aug 2004 08:25:18 -0700

jstubley@aol.com (Jon) wrote in message news:<1d20ac59.0408310249.26728e5@posting.google.com>...

> I am very interested in this, because I visited the doctors recently
> for something unrelated to BP, but she took it anyway and announced
> that it was 156/92 which is pretty high, and I must have regular
> checks, no salt, no alcohol, no processed high calorie foods, etc etc.
> My immediate response (after a short spell of acute depression) was to
> purchase an electronic BP measuring instrument, and to take several
> readings per day for myself. I am assuming that my machine is not too
> inaccurate and I try to follow the instructions as close as possible
> (have the cuff an inch above my elbow etc) but I have not yet recorded
> a level as high as that. However, I have found that my BP varies
> greatly through the day and seems to be about 130/70 when I am sitting
> and relaxing. I just wonder how much of the statistics are derived
> from people who only have increased BP because they are visiting the
> doctors surgery?

You and my SO have white-coat syndrome. My SO takes Lisinopril for her
hypertension, but a visit to the clinic causes her BP to get high.

> And how exactly do fruit and vegetables lower BP? And do all fruit&veg
> have the same lowering effect, or are some better than others?

Fruits are high in potassium and some like watermelon act as
diuretics. The melons usually have fewer calories for the amount of
potassium.

> One thing that I have 'experimented' with is alcohol, and I can say
> that the main effect of drinking 5 glasses of beer was that my BP
> dropped to 115/55. I was so shocked that I had to take the reading 3
> times. However, the sting comes in the tail, as the following morning
> feeling a mild hangover I was up to 152/88 and this persisted for some
> time through the day.

The alcohol probably caused your blood vessels to dilate. The fact
that your readings were high the next day probably indicates that you
should consult your doctor about BP medication. 

-- 
   Ron