Submitted via IRC for Bytram
Elderly people with high blood pressure, or hypertension, who took medicine to keep their 24-hour systolic blood pressure around 130 mm Hg for three years showed significantly less accumulation of harmful brain lesions compared with those taking medicine to maintain a systolic blood pressure around 145 mm Hg, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. However, the reduction in brain lesions, visible as bright white spots on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, did not translate to a significant improvement in mobility and cognitive function. Researchers said it is likely that three years was too short a time for such benefits to become apparent.
The study, called INFINITY, is the first to demonstrate an effective way to slow the progression of cerebrovascular disease, a condition common in older adults that restricts the flow of blood to the brain. The study is also unique in its use of around-the-clock ambulatory blood pressure monitors, which measured participants' blood pressure during all activities of daily living, rather than only in the medical care environment. In addition to seeing beneficial effects in the brain, those who kept their blood pressure lower also were less likely to suffer major cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack or stroke.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday March 19 2019, @08:59PM (1 child)
Lower blood pressure (in a large population) should lead to fewer strokes, less catastrophic damage, good thing.
On the other hand, lower blood pressure can also decrease cognitive, albeit less dramatically than a stroke, but more of a mild, across the board reduction.
Best med change they ever made for my grandfather was to back off on the BP control meds and give him clot preventing thinners - the increase in blood supply to his brain reduced his apparent mental age by 10 years, for a year until he had another (rather inevitable) aneurysm in his leg which led to a choice of loss of leg or death by gangrene...
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 19 2019, @10:52PM
My old pops was on too much BP medicine (multiple types).
A rep from the insurance company (self-interest) was sent to subscribers to see if they could eliminate some meds.
When he saw my pops' very low BP readings, he told him to see his doc about tapering some dosage and eventually possibly eliminating some meds.
So he did. He is much more energetic and alert now with a higher, more "normal" BP.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Tuesday March 19 2019, @10:11PM (2 children)
I dodged 2-3 bullets over the past year, but they finally recalled my blood pressure medicine. So, I can either stroke out (hopefully) quickly, or die of cancer slowly
/ yeah, I know the risks are low for cancer
// and the risks are high for high blood pressure
/// but jebus cristo, they've been recalling blood pressure medicine for what? 6 months? A year? dafuq? What does the supply chain look like?
Of course I'm against DEI. Donald, Eric, and Ivanka.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by DavePolaschek on Wednesday March 20 2019, @02:47PM
My understanding was that the process was making NDMA and NDEA (the carcinogens) because the process they were using to make Valsartan [wikipedia.org] since 2012 was flawed. Now it's off the market until a new process gets developed and approved by the FDA. Figure more than a year, during which time other blood pressure meds will be in lower supply (because more demand), and they'll be taking a look at all the others, too. I would be shocked if there aren't multiple recalls over the next few years.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 20 2019, @06:09PM
if your blood pressure is caused by atherosclerosis you can use ginkgo biloba to thin the blood and (likely) eat away the plaque in your veins. it may also help prevent cancer. keto diet. ayurveda has some herbs that may help. they say that cancer is caused from not enough life. this may sound counterintuive or nonsensical but if you think about it it's correct scientifically. cancer is caused by too much fuel, not enough action/burning it and old cells off through autophagy, etc. learn about fasting and diet and supplement with herbs that actually help and you can be much healthier.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 19 2019, @10:44PM (3 children)
For probably most people, high blood pressure is a consequence of lifestyle.
If you can eliminate alcohol, cut way back on caffeine, get in vigorous exercise (aerobic AND resistance), lose weight, eat healthy, try not to stress, and GET PLENTY OF SLEEP (believe me, this is critical), you can lower your blood pressure significantly. In short, you must live as a Mormon.
As an aside, if you are a loud snorer who wakes up tired and with headaches, esp. if overweight, you may have sleep apnea where you suffocate multiple times an hour. This causes high blood pressure and worse. Get a sleep study and you may be prescribed a CPAP.
All of these things can be lifesavers. Oh yeah, and medication in the meantime. My low dose gets me readings of 120/80 in the morning. I have found that any higher pressure than that and I feel like s***. If I ever decide to get off my sedentary ass, I am sure I could lower it to where meds might not be needed. My wife started very vigorous circuit training and spin class, and she lowered her 2 BP numbers by over 10 points each!
Just don't let it go untreated.
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Wednesday March 20 2019, @07:47AM
I'm doing great. Because I never touch Alcohol or Caffeine, never exercise, and sleep as little as possible.
(Score: 2) by schad on Wednesday March 20 2019, @01:29PM
I've known plenty of fat Mormons. You need to live more like you're Amish (except you're allowed to use modern dental hygiene).
Regarding even small BP changes: Try taking your BP when sitting slouched in front of your computer. Then sit properly: feet flat on the floor, butt pushed against the seat back, using the backrest for support but also using your muscles to keep your back straight, arms on the armrest (if you have one, on your lap otherwise). Take your BP again. I'll bet you $2 that you get consistently better/healthier readings when you have good posture.
In my case, the difference between bad and good posture is about 10 points to both numbers, and I am not exaggerating. If I have no backrest -- as when I'm sitting on the exam table at the doctor's office -- it's closer to 15.
This is one of the reasons that doctors will generally mentally subtract 5-10 points from the BP readings they take, unless they have another reason to believe that your BP might be a problem. (For example, if it has always been 125/80, but the last few visits it's been 135/90.)
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday March 20 2019, @03:12PM
High blood pressure + lots of caffeine == Cranky person. That's a verifiable fact.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday March 20 2019, @05:30AM
At my last blood donation session I registered 105/51, and felt woozy and lightheaded and panicky for a couple of hours afterwards. It's really scary; it felt like my limbs were too far away, I couldn't think straight, and was for some reason certain I was going to collapse and die. That might actually have been low-grade hypovolemic shock, as the cure was apparently a cup of coffee chased with a quart of lemon water. Too low is very, very unpleasant.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 20 2019, @06:33PM
Nothing to see here move along. The body knew what it was doing when it increased the bloodpressure. We can stop worrying now.