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My 3 ways to immediately lower my blood pressure - wine is one
I am a male, 72 years old, in good physical condition, rated "Excellent" by the Fitbit Cardio Fitness score. 5'10" 175 pounds, trying to lose 10 more. I work out regularly, play Pickleball, do weights often, walk 10,000 steps per day. People often comment on how youthful I look and act.
I have no stress in life. I am happy, healthy. I have a great marriage. My wife is also happy and healthy. We have fun together, laugh often. I am fairly well-off, financially speaking.
But I do have a Blood Pressure concern. I take 10 mg of Lisinopril in the morning, 10 at night. I often wake up with a BP of 145-150 over 90-95. My first few hours normally are devoted to getting my BP back down. Medication does not help immediately. It's hard to see if medication helps at all.
The three things I can do just about every morning are 1) drink 2 to 3 oz of red wine, 2) briskly walk, mild jogging, for 2 to 3 miles, and 3) breathing into a paper bag for 5 minutes.
I see so much discussion, some lecturing, about wine. It may/may not be good for me long range, but 3 oz is definitely good for me almost immediately. Why is red wine that good, that quickly ? Please forget the mind/social/Chi benefits. I am a Chemical Engineer, believe the body to be much like a factory, and would like to know what chemical/physical reaction takes place with red wine to reduce my BP so repeatedly, so quickly.
Yes, walking is definitely good for me long range. Keeps my weight down, better oxygen efficiency, better coordination and muscles, better Chi. But why does brisk walking have such a beneficial immediate reduction of my blood pressure?
The paper bag over the head is often recommended to lower stress, control breathing, put the body back into a lower rhythm. But I believe there is also an immediate chemical/physical effect. Is it because my blood becomes higher in CO2 concentration quickly, and CO2 leads to vasodilation ?
I often can get my blood pressure down to about 120-125 over 65-70 after one or more of these three techniques. It may stay that way most of the day. I do need to stay reasonably active, because the BP may go up again if I slouch on the sofa all day, which I seldom do, since I am a physical activity person.
I would appreciate any comments. I want to get my BP down, and keep it down, hopefully without having night-time increases.
Clark
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I’ve inexplicably gained weight, since hubby died. I’m 72 yo female, used to have normal or slightly under weight & my blood pressure was low to normal. Now I’m not only struggling losing weight, but getting BP lower. My Dr, whose fantastic female DO, says it’s stress due to his death & the crazy life I have now. I was an avid hiker, am very active even today, and don’t eat junk. Lots of fresh veggies/fruit, no processed foods/snacks. TYPICALLY eat 1200,1300 cals a day, 40-50 g carbs. Struggle to get to 70g protein daily; even met with a dietician. At 5-5 height I’m stuck at 150-154 lbs. I used to weigh 116 lbs. I am on thyroid meds for hypothyroid, & my levels are normal now, so we both are perplexed. She insists it’s a stress/cortisol artifact. Stresses: death, moving, then hit by tornado at the new place, so yeah , I got STRESS! Just joined this group to get ideas on doing all possible to get weight & BP down. Very curious on the post regarding red wine, which I do enjoy. I’d feel weird having that for breakfast !??
I wonder if you would be interested in a 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor. That way you would learn if your blood pressure is normal when you are asleep or not doing your blood pressure management strategies.
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1 ReactionYes I read that book years ago. I good reminder to drink plenty of water. My only criticism of that book is it was written in approx 1985 and there has been so much change and knowledge in relation to cause and treatment of hypertension since then.
I have nothing against red wine, but was just reading that beet juice, pomegranate juice, and/or cranberry juice can help lower blood pressure. Perhaps these could be some other options for a morning drink?
Martin,
I definitely misspoke. My Diastolic target is about 75 or so. I was talking about one, but quoted the other.
Good thinking, Clark. But I'm a little confused about a diastolic pressure of 125. That's very high for diastolic. Most medical professionals want diastolic to remain below 100, with systolic (usually the first number) no higher than the 140s. Like you, I spend a lot of time tracking down information on the Internet. What I find is most helpful in formulating questions to put to my medical team. I'm not comfortable following my own interpretations of what I find in references on the Internet -- or in the library, for that matter. Your focus on this measure or that measure -- and your decisions on how to deal with changes in them -- provides good fodder for a discussion with trained medical practitioners. Martin
Martin,Thanks for the reply.
My primary interest is how best to keep my Diastolic pressure low, 125 or less. I mentioned CO2 because I saw more than one site stating that higher levels of CO2 dilated the arteries, keeping BP lower. Breathing into a bag seemed to work for me, although a very unscientific test. I remain focused on how best to keep my Diastolic pressure from rising, thereby also causing my Systolic pressure to increase, maintaining the same pulse pressure to keep a constant blood flow
Hi Clark,
Mayo Clinic Connect is an online community where you can share your experiences and find support from people like you. You can read more about Connect and how it is managed and monitored here:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/about-this-community/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/about-our-moderators-and-mentors/
Clark (@clark711), I looked into the web site you suggested. It provides no explanation of its status in its discipline -- pulmonology, which focuses primarily on lungs and the diseases that threaten them. I was also struck by the site's obvious sales pitches, perhaps designed to attract patients, so I looked into ownership of the web site and found it to be the product of a relatively new pulmonology practice near a new hospital located a few miles from Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia (NOVA). As with most advertising, I find it no more trustworthy than political rhetoric, which also shows up on this web site by disputing scientific information about the role of carbon dioxide in global warming.
Given Nova Pulmonology's written materials and pointed political views, I will be looking toward recognized medical research groups (like the National Institutes of Health) for information about the benefits and disadvantages of carbon dioxide in human physiology.
Martin
This morning my BP was 117/67 after waking. Very good.
Yesterday morning my BP was 151/96 after waking. Kinda bad.
Pulse rate about the same. No morning medicine, exercise, wine, for those first readings. I woke up in good spirits, good night's sleep, good day before, on both occasions. Yet there was a big difference in BP. I wish I knew why.
Why do I believe that Diastolic BP is the problem ? Because it apparently "leads" my BP up or down. The differential pressure between DP and SP (pulse pressure as doctors term it) is about the same, and normal, which would say to me that artery/arteriole tightness is not a problem. If it were, then my pulse pressure would increase with higher BPs, my SP would go up, but the DP could stay about the same.
That is also the reason why I don't think my Lisinopril is helpful, since its purpose is to make the arteries and arterioles less rigid.
No, I have not sought help in depth. My doctor just basically treats the prescribed way. I go into his office, take my BP, he says it's better or worse, and adjusts Lisinopril accordingly. And the nurse is always jabbering, asking questions, when she takes my BP.
But I have learned a lot about my daily cycle of BP, and have significant data on the numbers, since my last doctor visit. The next time I see him, I will ask more in depth. My BP problem is obviously more complex than either a) clogged arteries or b) rigid arteries.
Martin, thanks much for your comments. They are very helpful.
By the way, I forgot to include the link about the benefit of higher CO2 in arterial blood. I Googled this morning, found the link but also found other links which apparently stated that BP goes up with higher CO2.
This is the "CO2 is good" link, which includes this comment -- 'Since CO2 is the most potent vasodilator' Wait, the forum won't let me post links. The website is normalbreathing dot com. The tab is CO2 Effects.
Another question - Does anyone from Mayo itself check the discussions on this forum, or is just us civilians ?
Thanks --- Have a great day, low BP included.
Clark