Blood Pressure Pills and Heart Failure
It’s estimated that one in three adults have high blood pressure. If you are one of them that suffers with hypertension your doctor may request you take blood pressure medication to help stabilize your blood pressure. Many patients either forget or purposely skip taking their prescription thinking they will be fine and are startled to find out it can put you at risk of heart failure.
An Italian study suggests that patients who consistently and frequently skip taking their prescribed blood pressure medication are more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure than patients who only skip taking their medication on occasion. The study was conducted by researchers who followed about 4,000 patients who took prescribed medication to lower blood pressure in the Lombardy region of Italy.
The research lasted about six-and-a-half years. When compared to patients that rarely took their hypertension medication, to the patients who took their pills 26% to 50% of the time were 17% less likely to experience heart failure and become hospitalized. It turns out that the risk was 34% lower for patients who took their hypertension medication at least 75% of the time.
According to Veronique Roger, a cardiovascular disease researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, “treating hypertension reduces the risk of heart failure, it is logical to hypothesize that failing to take prescription medication would be associated with an increase in the risk of heart failure.
Many people do not even realize they have high blood pressure due to lack of symptoms. You can walk around for years with hypertension issues and not even realize you are at risk of heart failure. Visiting a doctor on a regular basis and getting a check-up is essential to maintaining blood pressure levels. Even patients who are diagnosed with hypertension and prescribed high blood pressure medications feel fine and decide to skip their medications. Patients who are hospitalized for heart failure generally take a wide variety of anti-hypertension medications and have other health issues such as diabetes.
Lifestyle Changes to Lower Blood Pressure
In addition to taking prescription medication your doctor will most-likely recommend that you make some lifestyle changes such as quit smoking, exercise daily and change your diet. Eliminating sugars and high sodium foods is generally recommended. In addition to replacing them with fresh fruits, vegetables and lean protein such as chicken and turkey.
Exercising 30 minutes a day, most days of the week is a goal you will want to achieve. Daily exercise provides a variety of benefits for your heart, plus helps you maintain a healthy weight for your body type. The combination of exercise and a healthy diet will help you improve your lifestyle overall.
Natural Blood Pressure Supplements
Many patients do their own homework and find out ways to help themselves maintain healthy blood pressure levels. A popular and effective option is PD120. It helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels, is made with natural ingredients and has no negative side effects.
Always discuss adding natural blood pressure supplements to your daily routine with your doctor first. Every patient is different and only your doctor can determine what is best for your specific situation. Be sure to discuss PD120 with your doctor.
Adapting to a New Lifestyle to Stabilize Blood Pressure
Since high blood pressure has the potential to negatively affect your heart and possibly cause heart failure, you will want to adapt to a healthier lifestyle as quickly as possible in order to lower blood pressure levels. While this may not be easy for some people to do, it is wise to make changes immediately. You can also include your family and friends to join you in your new daily schedule and healthy habits and hobbies.
Start by cleaning out your kitchen cabinets and refrigerator and getting rid of unhealthy, processed, high saturated fat and sodium filled foods. Usually these items are canned or package goods. Refill your pantry with healthy food items that will provide plenty of vitamins and nutrients. Your doctor may give you a list of preferred foods for you to eat.
Participate in hobbies that keep your body moving. Common hobbies that provide plenty of exercise are walking, hiking, swimming, jogging, running, yoga, tai chi, tennis and bicycling. Many patients love to be outdoors in fresh air due to its calming effect and change of scenery.
If you tend to get bored with doing the same activity day after day, invite friends or family members along to hold a conversation while you exercise together. If you find that you have to exercise alone, make your sessions interesting. Do a different sport each day, take a brisk walk around your neighborhood or at your local park twice a week, swim in the morning before you go to work, go bicycling on weekends, take a yoga class or tai chi class on days the weather is not cooperating. The most important thing is to focus on your overall lifestyle, keep it healthy, listen to your doctor and take your hypertension medication as prescribed to help avoid heart failure.