Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

Page 2 of 2 | First | Previous | Next | Last
| Flip | Customise |

Newly diagnosed with high BP- just wondering about general do's and dont's

(29 Posts)
Add comment | Report
mamaa Sat 19-Mar-22 12:33:42

Hello Dear Gransnetters,
Following on from a thread I started on the health forum and to which many of you kindly replied I have a question or 2 now as per the subject heading, which are:
1. I've just been diagnose with high BP and prescribed amlodipine 5mg daily and am on day 4. This morning I woke with a headache and after a while did take 2 Nurofen and its now gone.
I googled whether it was safe to do so and to be honest there is so much info out there its hard to tell! I read the contraindications leaflet in both packets of tabs and they sort of suggest its ok now and again, but paracetamol less so.

2. This got me worrying as to what would be the best course of action re Covid symptom relief as its now rife yet again, as I had stocked up with lemsips etc just in case before the diagnosis but wondering if they'd be a no-no now.

3. Also I seem to be needing to urinate more frequently during the day, but this could just be that Ive upped my fluid intake, ie water, as I read somewhere it was beneficial re BP.

Any other advice re this new path I'm now treading would be welcome- also I am trying to lose the lockdown weight which has obviously not helped, and be less anxious, haha, if only. I'm 63 btw.

Thankyou in advance if I get replies. thanks

Add comment | Report
aonk Sun 20-Mar-22 11:30:22

I’ve been taking 5mg of amlodipine for some years. I had a long talk with my excellent GP ( sadly now retired.) He told me that in my case there was very little I could myself to lower my BP. I’m not overweight, drink very little alcohol and follow a healthy diet. I do exercise but should do more. This was proved when I had an operation 3 years ago. I was told to take the amlodipine on the morning of the operation but not the following day as the general anaesthetic lowers the BP and mine was low that morning. The following day when I was still in bed it was very high and so I was told to resume. So I never miss a dose. Like many people I don’t like taking daily medication but have no choice.

Add comment | Report
Whiff Mon 21-Mar-22 06:49:57

I was on Amlodipine 5mg plus Ramipril 10mg. But after I started having Afib take off the Amlodipine because my lower legs swelled. Swelling went done. Doing fine just on the Ramipril had taken both tablets for decades.

Loosing weight helps a lot if you need to . And I cut red meat out of my diet but eat chicken and Quorn plus plenty of vegetables and fruit and pulses.

My GP told me to have 8-10 drinks a day only as when I upped it to 12-14 made my sodium and folic acid levels to low. Had to take folic acid for 3 months.

Exercise if you can doesn't need to strenuous. Walking is good but you need something to raise you heart rate. Marching on the spot of 10 mins is enough to raise it.

But the best thing is don't make a worry of it.

Add comment | Report
BlueSky Mon 21-Mar-22 09:31:37

Unfortunately if the high BP is genetic, lifestyle changes can only help so far. I was reluctant to take BP tablets but if I don’t, it still goes through the roof. No problems with Amlodipine 5mg, while the 10mg gave me palpitations. The only painkiller I take is paracetamol. I’ve been on medication for the past 20 years.

Page 2 of 2 | First | Previous | Next | Last
| Flip | Customise |