
Suggest Ways To Manage Blood Pressure

I have Hypertension, without drugs, average is app.180 over97.
I am taking Losartan50mg once a day (
Prescription says one twice a day).
Also I am taking DiltiazemMR 60mg once, sometimes twice a day
In the past ,my Doctor has tried me on various drugs ,including Bisopralol, Amlodipine, etc.etc.
After i have been on these drugs for a few days, I feel terrible, indescribably ill and unable to function.
after a few hours of taking the losartan and Diltiazem, the pressure reduces to app.165 over 90
but is back up next morning.
I had an angiogram last year, the cardiologist said my main arteries were all pretty good except for one
small artery (which he likened to a slip road on a motorway) which was slightly blocked, and nothing to worry about.
I observed on his written report, it says that I have mild heart disease.
Last year I was admitted to hospital with Atrial Fibrilation on 2 occasions, on second my pulse reached 251 bpm.
The bouts of AF. seem to be triggered by exertion I have had 2 bad instances of AF this year after going for fairly long steady walks.
First time it struck me the next morning ,after the walk, it was quite an unpleasant attack, lasted about 3 hours and in the first hour
I had to pass urine app 300mm. about every 12 minutes.
The second time AF appeared about 3 hours after the walk, but was not so bad. I have now started getting to feel flat and depressed in the afternoons,then not so bad later. I feel ill if I bend over from my waste or if I make sudden movements or get into awkward positions or do anything strenuos. Even talking tires me out! I am aged
75 so don't expect to set the world alight!
My day is mostly spent watching sport and Rom Coms on television, I have been taking BP drugs and Omeprazole type drugs (I have Reflux) for about 25 years. My first "bad turn" which I now think was a mild episode of AF. was after hurridly eating a sandwich,then swinging a golf club. ( i suddenly felt ill, vauge upper chest discomfort and sick feeling in my throut and dissy head causing me to get down on my haunches for relief after a few seconds.
over the years since, i have had many sinilar short "bad turns" asscotiated with effert or exertion.
Trying to play Golf last year, I mostly felt ill after 1 hole of golf, although i was using a buggy, the action of swinging a golf club (and possibly bending on the Tee and Green ,made me feel quite ill with early AF symptoms and I often had to leave the course.
When I go for a gentle walk, I notice that I feel slightly ill on any upwards incline
I don't smoke (not since1979) or drink, I am seeing a nutritionist to eat healthy and address the hypertension and AF problems.
I am starting to believe that the BP drugs are preventing me from doing much at all and seriously believe that they are a factor in the AF attacks! I am trying to help myself with Diet, Breathing relaxation and gentle exercise etc.
Please excuse my bad spelling, ( don't do much writing and this has worn me out!)
I am due to see the cardiologist next month to review my situation and I expect to discuss me going on blood thinners!
However that might be more side effects! and on many occasions recently, I don't think life is worth living!
Coming from a medical standpoint, I don't expect you to have a "Magic Wand",but wonder if you have come across patients with similar symptoms to myself, and wonder if you have any helpful suggestions
Kind regards,
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Please, find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
At first, your blood pressure is not well controlled, there is a need to increase either the dose of Losartan or Dilthiazem MR. In your case increasing dose of Dilthiazem will be much better, as it can prevent high rate atrial fibrillation episodes.
Atrial fibrillation can be frequent finding among patients for longstanding arterial hypertension, especially after the age of 70. You need 24 hour Holter monitoring, to see if you have short silent episodes of atrial fibrillation. In this case you will need anticoagulatin (specific blood thinners, not aspirin), to prevent stroke.
About ischemic heart disease, if you were my patient, I would perform stress test to see if there is a real ischemia which needs a treatment.
About physical activity: as I understand correctly you can't perform mild to moderate physical activity, as you feel ill. I would advise you to try to perform at least mild physical activity, e.g. slow walking. Your organism can get used to that specific activity after some time and you can slowly increase the activity, e.g. speed or distance.
Hope I could help you
Wishing you god health
In case of further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,

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