I did a search on hypertension on this site so it seems like I'm am not alone here and there is quite a resource to draw from. So perhaps I can get some idea what I am looking at with my situation.
I'm only 34, started swimming again nearly a year ago. Partly because I new I had high blood pressure, but mostly I started swimming for overall health and fitness benifits. Since then I have lost roughly 30 pounds. At 6'2" I now weigh about 200 pounds. I would expect that all this work would have some impact on my blood pressure. Especially since I rarely drink, and my diet isn't terrible. I generally eat healthy meals. But the sad truth is that it hasn't changed. Nearly a year ago my BP was 140 over 100. This week... The same. Absolutely no change!!! As a result, my doctor put me on Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor. So naturally I concerned about a few things.
1. Does this mean I will be taking BP medication for the rest of my life?
2. How will this impact my swimming/ability to train? is there a better medication that I should ask about so there are not adverse effects?
3. Do I need to start taking things easier in the pool?
4. Since I have a family history of hypertension does this mean there is really nothing I can do aside from medication?
5. Anything else I need to be concerned about?
Thanks in advance for any advice or helpful comments.
Kevin
Parents
Former Member
A lot of sodium is "hidden", especially in restaurant meals and pre-packaged food. The amount you add from the salt shaker is small by comparison. For example, a popular vegetable cocktail contains about 33% of the r.d.a. for sodium. This cocktail is widely advertised as a "healthy" choice. A surprising number of "healthy" choices - such as cottage cheese - are chock full of sodium. You have to really read labels carefully to find it sometimes.
The more you can cook your own meals from scratch, the closer you'll get to the recommended sodium levels.
A lot of sodium is "hidden", especially in restaurant meals and pre-packaged food. The amount you add from the salt shaker is small by comparison. For example, a popular vegetable cocktail contains about 33% of the r.d.a. for sodium. This cocktail is widely advertised as a "healthy" choice. A surprising number of "healthy" choices - such as cottage cheese - are chock full of sodium. You have to really read labels carefully to find it sometimes.
The more you can cook your own meals from scratch, the closer you'll get to the recommended sodium levels.
