High blood pressure

Asking for a friend... what are people's experiences of drinking while on Ramipril?
I started it 5 days ago and been pissed most nights. Blood pressure does seem very random but I presume that's the drink causing that. I'm stressed to fuck with life at the minute so.the thought of cutting down on the drink is a no no until things settle.
 


Exercise will reduce your blood pressure.
If you have a BP machine try it!

Take your blood pressure just before exercise, then do 20 to 30 mins vigorous exercise check it afterwards and it will be much reduced and it will stay down for quite a while plus exercise will de-stress you as well reducing the need for a drink... win / win.

Long term regular, vigorous exercise will improve your heart and circulation and mental health.
 
Anyone got any tips on best way to get it down? Been to the docs and they want to put me on tablets but I want to try and get it down naturally before I do that.
I'm 46 and probably drink about 40 to 50 units of alcohol a week which obviously doesn't help but I do get quite a lot of exercise. My diet isn't too bad. Never add.salt and I'm vegatarian. Thanks for all replies.
Drink less. Diet needs changed
 
I started it 5 days ago and been pissed most nights. Blood pressure does seem very random but I presume that's the drink causing that. I'm stressed to fuck with life at the minute so.the thought of cutting down on the drink is a no no until things settle.

I don't want to sound like a newage hipster but maybe consider some relaxation techniques.
 
Exercise will reduce your blood pressure.
If you have a BP machine try it!

Take your blood pressure just before exercise, then do 20 to 30 mins vigorous exercise check it afterwards and it will be much reduced and it will stay down for quite a while plus exercise will de-stress you as well reducing the need for a drink... win / win.

Long term regular, vigorous exercise will improve your heart and circulation and mental health.
Gonna invest in a pair of running shoes. I already do a lot of walking but need to be more rigourous
 
Walking interspersed with sprints is great workout especially for the likes of me with footballers knees and joints - the days of going for long runs are over.
Yep think it is more beneficial to get out of breath rather than some long aerobic jog
Have been lucky enough to get a good rowing machine and after wrecking myself on that for 30 mins my BP is much reduced for hours afterwards.
 
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Was prescribed Ramipril last week. Fookin blood pressure went up. Stopped taking it 3 days ago and it's much lower. What's all that about?
 
Exercise will reduce your blood pressure.
If you have a BP machine try it!

Take your blood pressure just before exercise, then do 20 to 30 mins vigorous exercise check it afterwards and it will be much reduced and it will stay down for quite a while plus exercise will de-stress you as well reducing the need for a drink... win / win.

Long term regular, vigorous exercise will improve your heart and circulation and mental health.
This. A good 45 minutes at 85% max HR brings it right down.
 
Was prescribed Ramipril last week. Fookin blood pressure went up. Stopped taking it 3 days ago and it's much lower. What's all that about?
Crap luck.
It could be that the fall in blood pressure initially from the Ramipril caused your body to release renin which increased it further.
 
Asking for a friend... what are people's experiences of drinking while on Ramipril?
Believe drinking can lower your blood pressure so adds to the effect of ramipril, I’ve been ok with it to be honest.

I’d recommend getting a watch that monitors your heart rate etc, it’s interesting to know how your heart copes with exercise and critically warming up to open them valves so your ready to roll.
 
Believe drinking can lower your blood pressure so adds to the effect of ramipril, I’ve been ok with it to be honest.

I’d recommend getting a watch that monitors your heart rate etc, it’s interesting to know how your heart copes with exercise and critically warming up to open them valves so your ready to roll.

Yes, I've noticed in the past that alcohol can cause a temporary lowering of blood pressure but then it's often higher the next morning. I was careful for the first few days but had some beers on Friday and Saturday and didn't notice any difference.

Already have a Fitbit to count steps but never paid much attention to the heartrate monitor.
 
3months later: How's everyone getting on?

I was on ramipril (first 5mg then 10mg) and my BP came down by a bit but not enough. GP added 5mg amlodipine to my prescription last week and it dropped like a stone.
 
Anyone got any tips on best way to get it down? Been to the docs and they want to put me on tablets but I want to try and get it down naturally before I do that.
I'm 46 and probably drink about 40 to 50 units of alcohol a week which obviously doesn't help but I do get quite a lot of exercise. My diet isn't too bad. Never add.salt and I'm vegatarian. Thanks for all replies.


I've had three lots of open heart surgery mate. I've been on blood pressure/heart strengthening medication since 2015 and probably be on some form of them for the rest of my life.

I'd say take moderate medication with a view to potentially not needing it at some point. Then the obvious answers - watch your caffeine intake (careful with tea, coffee, coke, energy drinks etc) keep your exercise levels up, try and get in a regular routine of when you eat, sleep, exercise etc, try and improve your diet (sounds like you've already got that covered) a big one for me is trying to do control breathing, sounds daft but a few deep breathes and and trying to stay relaxed helps me no-end. Particularly if Im in bed and I notice my heartrate is up.

I'd also say 40-50 units of alcohol is slightly too much. You'd be better cutting back slightly.

Think you'll do okay personally, you sound pretty switched on to it. Half the battle is actually thinking you need to get it sorted and being in the right frame of mind, a lot of men will just brush it off and think they're immune to everything.

Hope this helps somewhat.
3months later: How's everyone getting on?

I was on ramipril (first 5mg then 10mg) and my BP came down by a bit but not enough. GP added 5mg amlodipine to my prescription last week and it dropped like a stone.


Ramipril eh? The old blue and white and orange and white combination.

Just realised I've replied to the OP and it was from ages ago. Haha what a nob.
 
Three things that will massively impact BP -

Diet
Alcohol consumption
Exercise.

Alcohol consumption seems to be the only concern here, understand its hard to cut down as life is stressful but try and cut down your consumption by half over the coming weeks and see if that makes a difference.
 
3months later: How's everyone getting on?

I was on ramipril (first 5mg then 10mg) and my BP came down by a bit but not enough. GP added 5mg amlodipine to my prescription last week and it dropped like a stone.

Been on amlodipine, lisinopril and nebivolol for a good while now. The latter may not be needed but isn't doing any harm. With hindsight, I probably had high blood pressure from my teens (only diagnosed late 40s or maybe when I was 50).
 
Still on 5mg of Amlodipine. It reduces mine loads (it was sky high) but I’m still on the high side, in the orange part of the graph. Non of the medical folk seem overly concerned with it, they think it’s fine.
 
Been on amlodipine, lisinopril and nebivolol for a good while now. The latter may not be needed but isn't doing any harm. With hindsight, I probably had high blood pressure from my teens (only diagnosed late 40s or maybe when I was 50).

I probably had it for a few years without symptoms but was only diagnosed 3 months ago when I went to see my GP for an unrelated matter. She said that they didn't have a BP measure on record for me in the last 6 years - cos I hadn't been there in that time - so did a routine one and it was over 170. She advised me to buy a home BP monitor and send her a weeks worth of readings, none of which were below 160.

I've also almost totally cut out caffeine. To be honest I haven't missed it. Grabbing a coffee between meetings had just become a habit.
 

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