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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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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,
I definitely misspoke. My Diastolic target is about 75 or so. I was talking about one, but quoted the other.
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?
Yes 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 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.