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
Hi, Mary.
I, too, am 57, by the way.
When I went to the doctor's office, the nurse suggested I cut back on salt. I didn't think this would do much for me. I'd always heard that there is a portion of the population that is "salt sensitive" and that when these folks cut back, it can make a huge difference.
As a lifelong pretzel gourmand, and the kind of guy who leaves a salt ring at the dinner table when his plate is removed, I didn't think I was salt sensitive.
But I decided to give it a whack, and it seems to have made a little bit of a difference.
I also got diagnosed (in the interlude from starting this thread till now) with sleep apnea, a topic which I have started to cover in my swimming vlog (for anybody else out there who is interested.)
It's possible that once I start sleeping with CPAP, this might help my bp a little, too. By the way, I don't have too many of the traditional red flags for sleep apnea. My BMI is around 23-24; my neck is skinny at 15 inches; I don't snore too much or too loudly; and I don't drink alcohol.
My main symptom has been persistent daytime sleepiness (different from fatigue--I could work out hard, just very groggy while doing it.)
Anyhow, feel free to follow my progress (I hope there will be some!) at my swimming vlog: forums.usms.org/blog.php
Hi, Mary.
I, too, am 57, by the way.
When I went to the doctor's office, the nurse suggested I cut back on salt. I didn't think this would do much for me. I'd always heard that there is a portion of the population that is "salt sensitive" and that when these folks cut back, it can make a huge difference.
As a lifelong pretzel gourmand, and the kind of guy who leaves a salt ring at the dinner table when his plate is removed, I didn't think I was salt sensitive.
But I decided to give it a whack, and it seems to have made a little bit of a difference.
I also got diagnosed (in the interlude from starting this thread till now) with sleep apnea, a topic which I have started to cover in my swimming vlog (for anybody else out there who is interested.)
It's possible that once I start sleeping with CPAP, this might help my bp a little, too. By the way, I don't have too many of the traditional red flags for sleep apnea. My BMI is around 23-24; my neck is skinny at 15 inches; I don't snore too much or too loudly; and I don't drink alcohol.
My main symptom has been persistent daytime sleepiness (different from fatigue--I could work out hard, just very groggy while doing it.)
Anyhow, feel free to follow my progress (I hope there will be some!) at my swimming vlog: forums.usms.org/blog.php
