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Have High Blood Pressure And Alcoholic.How To Change Life Style And Have A Baby?
Question: fat high blood pressure smoking alcoholic wants to change her life to live fit and strong needing a baby step program
Hi,
It is good to know that you have decided to change your life for the better. You have mentioned four problems - being fat, high blood pressure, smoking and alcoholism. Let us tackle these one by one. High blood pressure would improve by itself once you lose weight and quit alcohol and smoking. Out of the other three, in my opinion you should target alcohol first and then smoking. Life style changes to control obesity can be implemented side by side.
Start with getting a base line health check up including liver function tests and ecg to assess the status of your body. If there are no major abnormalities, start taking a brisk walk everyday for 45 minutes. Also try to eat less junk food. You have not mentioned the amount of alcohol you take and whether you experience any withdrawal symptoms or not, on attempting to cut down. In most cases, detoxification in alcoholics is best carried out under medical supervision due to a risk of complications. After the withdrawal phase, which lasts for around a week to ten days, is managed, you can discuss with your doctor the medications available for long term prophylaxis and start one of them. Continue with dietary modification and regular exercise. Start cutting down on the number of cigarettes you smoke. Try to throw away the cigarette after taking just one to two puffs. You can also opt for nicotine replacement in the form of nicotine lozenges, patches etc. If you still find it difficult to control your craving, ask your doctor for medication to reduce the craving.
After you manage to quit both alcohol and cigarettes, concentrate more on physical fitness. Try to increase physical activity with further modification in the diet. Do not fast. Eat foods which keep your stomach full but are low on calorie count. If you can burn more calories than you produce, nothing can stop you from losing weight. High blood pressure would gradually improve with these steps, but continue your anti-hypertensive medication till then.
Hope this has been of help. Best wishes for a healthy life.
Dr Preeti Parakh
It is good to know that you have decided to change your life for the better. You have mentioned four problems - being fat, high blood pressure, smoking and alcoholism. Let us tackle these one by one. High blood pressure would improve by itself once you lose weight and quit alcohol and smoking. Out of the other three, in my opinion you should target alcohol first and then smoking. Life style changes to control obesity can be implemented side by side.
Start with getting a base line health check up including liver function tests and ecg to assess the status of your body. If there are no major abnormalities, start taking a brisk walk everyday for 45 minutes. Also try to eat less junk food. You have not mentioned the amount of alcohol you take and whether you experience any withdrawal symptoms or not, on attempting to cut down. In most cases, detoxification in alcoholics is best carried out under medical supervision due to a risk of complications. After the withdrawal phase, which lasts for around a week to ten days, is managed, you can discuss with your doctor the medications available for long term prophylaxis and start one of them. Continue with dietary modification and regular exercise. Start cutting down on the number of cigarettes you smoke. Try to throw away the cigarette after taking just one to two puffs. You can also opt for nicotine replacement in the form of nicotine lozenges, patches etc. If you still find it difficult to control your craving, ask your doctor for medication to reduce the craving.
After you manage to quit both alcohol and cigarettes, concentrate more on physical fitness. Try to increase physical activity with further modification in the diet. Do not fast. Eat foods which keep your stomach full but are low on calorie count. If you can burn more calories than you produce, nothing can stop you from losing weight. High blood pressure would gradually improve with these steps, but continue your anti-hypertensive medication till then.
Hope this has been of help. Best wishes for a healthy life.
Dr Preeti Parakh
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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