I've been diagnosed with mild hypertension and borderline diabetes, both a few years back. I've been on Metformin for about two years and my HGA1C is down to 5.7. After being on Micardis 40 mg for several years and having my pressure back in the normal range, a doctor (not my regular doc) suggested I try doing without it for 6 months. My pressure used to be about 140 over 90 w/o meds, but I think from having started swimming regularly some 14 months ago, I have brought it down to an average (resting) rate of about 135/73 (with a resting pulse in the 65-74 range). I went back to my regular doc and he wants me to go back on the BP meds, because he believes in an "aggressive" approach and says it is still too high. He also says that Micardis will help protect my kidneys.
I am wondering two things...
1) Should I always and everywhere listen to the doc...or get a second opinion. What will the meds do to my swimming times? Positive or negative effect...or does it differ from person to person? Anyone with any experience with this?
2) If my bottom number is already as low as 73, I am wondering how safe it is for it to possibly go down another ten points.
BTW...I am 55.
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Former Member
I realize there are a couple of additional thoughts I should add.
First, do you have a validated blood pressure cuff you can use at home? It should be an arm cuff (not wrist or finger). It should be big enough for your arm (many adults need large or extra-large). For many of use, home readings differ from office readings. The medical (and specifically the Hypertension) community has come around, finally, to recognizing that home readings if valid provide a better basis for making decisions about treatment.
Which leads to your question which I didn't address before: Is it safe to go below 73? The answer is maybe not, particularly if your home readings are lower still. As I alluded to in my earlier response, its quite possible to go too low. It strikes me that at this point if you re-institute Micardis with the goal of protecting your kidneys, you're going to need a lower dose. And thus you should monitor it to be sure it doesn't go much below 70 on average.
I realize there are a couple of additional thoughts I should add.
First, do you have a validated blood pressure cuff you can use at home? It should be an arm cuff (not wrist or finger). It should be big enough for your arm (many adults need large or extra-large). For many of use, home readings differ from office readings. The medical (and specifically the Hypertension) community has come around, finally, to recognizing that home readings if valid provide a better basis for making decisions about treatment.
Which leads to your question which I didn't address before: Is it safe to go below 73? The answer is maybe not, particularly if your home readings are lower still. As I alluded to in my earlier response, its quite possible to go too low. It strikes me that at this point if you re-institute Micardis with the goal of protecting your kidneys, you're going to need a lower dose. And thus you should monitor it to be sure it doesn't go much below 70 on average.
