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What Causes Raised BP Levels While At A Higher Altitude?
Question: I am on vacation in the mountains, my blood pressure medicine is not working. I take benicart20/12 5 mg. I even started taking them every 12 hours. Pressure has been running about 170/80 also feel pressure in temples and in the right side of my neck
Brief Answer:
Some changes to your therapy may need to be done
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and I would like to explain that this therapy seems to be not very effective and changes may need to be done.
I would like to know when you started taking it every 12 hours. Usually it takes up to a week for the therapy changes to show their effect.
So I recommend a closely monitoring of your blood pressure frequently during the day. If it is passed more than a week from the changes of therapy (twice daily) and your blood pressure is still high, other changes should be done.
Some tests like: a careful physical examination, a routine blood test, kidney and liver function tests, thyroid hormone levels and blood electrolytes are needed to exclude other possible causes of high blood pressure.
I would advise you to consult with your attending physician and consider the possibility of adding a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine, lercanidipine etc.) to your therapy.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions!
Best wishes!
Dr. Iliri
Some changes to your therapy may need to be done
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and I would like to explain that this therapy seems to be not very effective and changes may need to be done.
I would like to know when you started taking it every 12 hours. Usually it takes up to a week for the therapy changes to show their effect.
So I recommend a closely monitoring of your blood pressure frequently during the day. If it is passed more than a week from the changes of therapy (twice daily) and your blood pressure is still high, other changes should be done.
Some tests like: a careful physical examination, a routine blood test, kidney and liver function tests, thyroid hormone levels and blood electrolytes are needed to exclude other possible causes of high blood pressure.
I would advise you to consult with your attending physician and consider the possibility of adding a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine, lercanidipine etc.) to your therapy.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions!
Best wishes!
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have only been taking the benicart twice a day for two days. I had blood work done and a physical last week. I have taken benicart for over 3 years it always seemed to work for me. I don't suppose the mountain elevation can cause this effect, I don't have elevation sickness just high blood pressure. Will monitor my pressure and hopefully I will see some down ward trend in the next couple days. Thank You
Brief Answer:
Close BP monitoring is a reasonable strategy.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXX!
I agree with your opinion. Just let me know how things are going on in the next days!
Wish you pleasant vacation!
Best regards,
Dr. Iliri
Close BP monitoring is a reasonable strategy.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again XXXX!
I agree with your opinion. Just let me know how things are going on in the next days!
Wish you pleasant vacation!
Best regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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