Has anyone successfully resisted hypertension meds?

No, haven't needed to, but if you really mean it you might like to read Anthony Colpo's book The Great Cholesterol Con, ISBN 978-1-4303-0933-8 and then quote it at your GP.

Oh, thanks, I'll have a look for that.

There was a big article in the Telegraph recently that I'm considering hitting her on the head with showing her.

I only seem to have high blood pressure when pregnant, so if it happens again, someone please call the Guinness Book of Records.

However, I've been on statins for years because of high cholesterol. A few weeks ago I persuaded GP to let me come off them and have regular blood tests for lipid levels. She agreed, but only because I convinced her (with plenty of detail) that I'd totally changed my dietary intake. Thanks to the Gransnet diet thread.

We're very lucky to live at a time when medication can enhance and even save our lives. We're also lucky to have access via the internet to a mass of information, so we don't have to live by 'the gospel according to GP', and can challenge decisions made by them.

GPs should receive bonuses for getting patients off medication!

Medics no longer believe that 100 plus your age is a desirable blood pressure, they aim for 120 over 80. My doctor wanted me to take hypotensives with statins and I resisted, stupidly because I then went into hypertensive crisis and had to be hospitalised. Hypertension has no symptoms and you only begin to feel ill when the damage is done. Your GP really does know what he is talking about and you could be putting yourself at risk by ignoring advice.

Wouldn't it be great if they did get bonuses for getting patients off medication!

The drugs manufacturers wouldn't be too pleased though...

I'm with harrigran on this. I take mine. Higher BP, and yours (according to current best knowledge) is in that category, gradually damages the inside of your arteries over the years and prepares them nicely for those little fatty plaques to form. Cardiologists would tell you the same. Take the meds and do everything else you can to keep it down.
Of course you could try filling your days with jogging and meditation and do nothing else to try to get it down, but unless that is what you actually want to do....
Sounds like you are just resisting for the sake of it though, rather than having an alternative plan. Sorry to be blunt - but you asked what we think and suggesting that there is a GP plot to get you on these medications and that it is against your best interests seems misguided to say the least.

I'm with your JessM. My BP was similar to alchemillamollis' for years, but I knew I just needed to make some lifestyle changes, which of course I didn't. The upside of being on BP medication is a more chilled attitude to life, a headache once a year instead of once every few days and, of course, lower BP... mine normally sits around 115-120/75-80. To get to that revelation just took a mild stroke plus congestive heart failure caused by a dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart). The two weeks in cardiac intensive care while they waited for the meds to kick in hoping that my aorta wouldn't blow like a garden hose were a bit spooky, especially as I couldn't communicate because of the stroke, and the following couple of years of cardiac rehab on a disability pension were boring and did nothing for my financial well-being, but other than that it was a walk in the park.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but if your doctor prescribes medication they're just following evidence based best practice and trying to help.

alchemillamollis why do you have high blood pressure?

I went to see my doctor and I will add that it was one of the very few visits in my life. I was there to get the results of an xray because I had fallen down and damaged my knee while I was out having a very good time. When I had just sat down in the doctor's surgery and before I had spoken a word, he said he really was in hurry and then quickly proceeded to tell me the results of the xray. Before he could take a breath he then went on to say that he wanted to prescribe me medication for hormone replacement. He hadn't asked me if I was indeed having any problems, he never checked my blood pressure. I was livid, what is it with these doctors...was he getting a commission to get as many women as he could onto these tablets. Needless to say I did without his tablets and I successfully used alternative methods.

At a different visit his colleague prescribed antibiotics for my daughter that were not suitable for people with allergies, while she was suffering from a painful throat infection. I had mentioned at that visit that she had severe allergies. She became sick and I had to take her to the hospital. They informed me that these antibiotics were usually not prescribed anymore and there were newer, better antibiotics available. The GP told me not to be silly at another visit when I told him that she was allergic to cortisone cream. He prescribed it anyway...now wouldn't it had been more sensible for this fool to wonder why she had allergies and what was she allergic to. I didn't bother to get his prescriptions filled and I found out what she was allergic to and we eliminated that from her diet. No cortisone cream or tablets or any medication necessary. No doctors necessary either...we sorted it out ourselves.

I have mentioned this daughter before and this year her headaches started to come back (she had a continuous headache for over 60 days before she got pregnant). When she started to wean her son it started to come back. I was really worried about hypertension as she was eating excessive amounts of salt. I advised her to cut it out and that really helped, her continuous headache abated within a day. She has also found her neck or back is out of alignment and now she also has massages and that has also helped. She can't at her age be on medication for the rest of her life and I believe its better to get to the cause of it.

I understand there is medication that is vital for some people and they are lucky to have access to it. On the other hand why do some doctors rush for their prescription pads without ever suggesting to people maybe they could look at their lifestyles or the food they eat!

Interestingly just after I wrote my previous post I received an email from my son and it is a transcript of an interview with the miraculous surgeon Yves d'Udekem, who performed the two heart operations on my grandson. This is some of what he said about the patients and hypertension.
'We still today have no idea of the late consequences of this operation. We know that some of these patients will develop hypertension, high blood pressure at a young age. Which will mean that some of these patients will die at a much earlier age, in their 30s or 40s, compared to the rest of the population, because they have had this operation.'
I was concerned for my daughter because of the length of the headaches she was getting and the amount of salt she was eating. I knew hypertension is dangerous. I never dreamed that my grandson has a chance of suffering from it at a young age.

Faye sorry to hear that your GS is at risk of this. And sorry that your GP doesn't listen. I am no big defender of doctors and often find their communication skills are desperate. Yes people can do things about their BP - cut down salt, take exercise and lose weight (if they are overweight). But if you have already done what you can it is a better idea to take the meds than get not.

This thread worries me! Having spent many years nurinsg people who have had a stroke some of whom had not had their B/P monitored and treated and seeing the devastating effects I plead with you to follow your GPs advice on this one. I have taken my hypertension medication for over 30 years now (I had to start on them at aged 28 hypertension is a by product of Lupus) and once settled on the right one for me feel no ill effects. If a GP is difficult you can always change although many practices have a Nurse Practitioner in a hypertension clinic now which can be a much better experience.

Agree susieb that if a med is prescribed, there is a fair chance that you will benefit from it although it's always right to ask questions and get all the facts. My daughter's MiL was a friend long before she was MiL and we've disagreed over this. She has been on hypertension med's for years and her BP is still on the high side and monitored. I think she uses vast amounts of salt in cooking -to the extent that sometimes I can't eat what she cooks. Her husband has had heart problems too. She thinks it's all nonsense about some foods and additives being unhealthy - rubbished the idea of my daughter not eating pate or unpasteurised cheese when pregnant! On the other hand I use very little salt at all - my blood pressure was recently described as 'perfect' by practice nurse. Coincidence?

DH has just been prescribed with medication for high blood pressure. I have to confess to being mildly annoyed that the doc didn't say "try and bring it down naturally and if that doesn't work, we'll put you on meds" but I have now come to the conclusion that medication was the wake up call he needed and therefore a good thing. He always had to be physically restrained from putting huge amounts of salt on his food (I do not salt food when I cook it), and he does like a drop of Scotch or a glass of beer. He has cut down drastically on the salt and now only has a drink a couple of times a week. There seems to be a lot of conflicting information about blood pressure levels though; when mine seemed to be quite high (in the 145+ range) the doctor didn't seem to be concerned about it and neither did our local chemist when I went to buy a blood pressure monitor. I am now doing what I can to bring it down myself. I do agree, though, that salt is the major culprit - just cutting down a bit can make a lot of difference.

I was diagnosed with high BP at the age of 33 after the birth of my second child exactly like my mother was after my birth. She was not treated and died of a stroke at 64. I take my pills and have already outlived all my family (agewise)

Most BP pills are well tried and as for beta blockers, there are thousands of 'heart cases' walking about that would have died long ago without them. Its a pity that GPs have to bully patients into taking necessary medication, it must make their working day that bit harder.

The doctor has tried to put me on BP meds (for 145/90ish). I pick up the prescription and don't take them. If it stays around about that figure then I'm happy. I have cut down on salt drastically, get plenty of fresh air and exercise and eat a balance diet. I don't like the thought of being tied to taking pills for the rest of my life. Just as I refused to take painkillers for joint pains and sought alternative therapy.
Do I think I'm foolish? Probably but it's my choice.

DH's blood pressure is normal as long as he takes his meds. He has regular appointments with the Hypertensive Nurse and followed her advice to keep his weight down and cut out salt.

OTOH I have LOW blood pressure, which is not really a problem except that I have a tendency to fainting. However when I mentioned to my GP, during a routine appointment, that I had been experiencing more dizziness and faintness than usual, expecting her to say 'it is your age' - she, instead rechecked my blood pressure, declared it very low and knowing about my DH's HIGH BP asked if I was following my DH's diet. Which, of course, I was! No salt in cooking, no salt on the table, no crisps, tinned soup, ready made sauces or stock cubes. So I have been prescribed the odd pack of sea salt crisps, a little sprinkle on potatoes, salads, soup, etc.

As an aside, although back on topic, I/we have a really good family GP. She is my DD1 and DGC1 and DGC3's doctor too and sometimes sees DH. She does listen very carefully to MY opinions about MY health then explains her suggestions in detail. If people do not trust their GPs then I suggest that they need to find a better one. OK to see any Doctor in the practice in a sudden emergency but best to wait for an appointment with your own GP for on-going long term problems.

Faye the type of hypertension your GS is at risk of is different to older persons hypertension. Sometimes heart patients develop Pulmonary hypertension, too long winded for me to explain suggest you research on the web. My friend's son has PH, he has Down's syndrome and sadly was not operated on as a child to correct his heart defect. The condition is sometimes referred to by doctors as Eisenmengers syndrome.

Acheron I am astounded. That is quite a confession. You pick up the prescription and then chuck it away?! What exactly is the logic behind that? Do you think the doctor will check up on you to see if you have collected it? Apart from anything else why are you incurring this cost (on you or the NHS or both) in this way? Yes I do think you are foolish to frame it as "taking pills for the rest of your life".

I have to say again that usually hypertension has no symptoms, headaches are not usually caused by high blood pressure and strokes sometimes are facial weakness and limb weakness not a headache. Notice I say usually, there is bound to be somebody who will know otherwise so can not generalise.

I was horrified a few years back when chemists started marketing statins as the new elixir of youth and seemed to be selling them to anyone and everyone. Not cheap either; as I said at the time why pay that much when you can either get it free or for @£7 on prescription [with the proper monitoring as well]. Thankfully the chemists seem to have stopped selling them now [I think].

Wow, thanks for all these responses. I have to confess I left the thread, and indeed Gransnet, after Jess' rude response, but I am heartened to see others offering advice.

I can see most people here are not into trying yoga, meditation, vitamins, etc, but, Jess, you are wrong to say that I won't bother to try them. I will. And cutting out salt seems an easy solution, although I will clearly have to eat at more expensive restaurants now.

I'm interested to hear that people have no side effects with their meds. Friends of mine have had problems.

I've just ordered some of this. I saw it advertised on the back of a mag.

Should be worth ago - inhibits ACE, whatever that is.

Work with your Dr; if you don't agree with what one says see another for a second opinion and make a list of your concerns. Try any remedies of your own for a while and then go back for a check to see if they have worked. You only hear people talk of adverse reactions to medication. Statins don't suit a lot of people and any muscle pain should be reported immediately.

Thanks. One of the docs said I wouldn't be prescribed statins for hypertension anyway. They are keen on something that makes you gain weight.