Amazing results with hypertension experiment

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

During my last two pregnancies I've been troubled by borderline high blood pressure in the third trimester. This time it seemed to strike early--about a month ago. I own a bp monitor because hypertension runs rampant in my family and I like to keep an eye on mine even when I'm not pregnant. So this past month I began testing my bp nightly. Each night my first reading would be in the 130's over the 100's, but after 5-10 minutes of rest I could relax it into normal range, maybe 89/115. Not really worrisome yet, but still it's awfully early. Since I was already taking Calcium/magnesium supplements and EFA's I wasn't sure what else I could be doing.

After some research, I decided to almost double the amount of calcium I was taking by doing another dose in the evening before bed. So in the morning I'm taking 1000mg calcium with 500mg magnesium and in the evening I'm taking 833mg calcium with 167mg magnesium. I also added two extra glasses of water a day. In only 24 hours my first blood pressure reading dropped to 108/70. I was stunned. I was hoping the extra water and minerals would help, but I had no idea how quickly I would see results. I took it again tonight with similar readings the first try.

I'm posting in case someone else is struggling with this. I'm thrilled to have found such an easy solution and would love to hear whether someone else is able to replicate the results.

Barb

[dalynnrmc]

WOW. Thanks for posting! I may try this.... I have chronic hypertension, discovered in my first pregnancy. I've now had three kiddos, all boys, and dh and I have recently begun talking about getting pregnant sometime between this October and next. The bp is always an issue; I've lost 30lbs in the past 5 months, so that should help!

But these drastic differences may make enough of a difference to get me off of medication, and reduce the need for interference with any possible future pregnancy.

I assume you've cut out as much sodium as possible.

Anyway. Thanks for sharing! If I try this (which I probably will), I'll post my results!

PS - how much cal/mag did you start with, and what's EFA? Got any sites for ME to do some reading? Thanks!

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

I assume you've cut out as much sodium as possible.

:blush: Actually, no. I'm not a heavy salter and I do cook everything from scratch, but I do enjoy salt with my seasoning. I was actually trying not to have to cut further. So I still salt to taste, but I do taste before I salt.

Anyway. Thanks for sharing! If I try this (which I probably will), I'll post my results!

Please PM me if you do, so I'm sure not to miss it.

PS - how much cal/mag did you start with, and what's EFA? Got any sites for ME to do some reading? Thanks!

I was originally taking:
1 absorbable calcium 500mg w/50IU D
1 calcium/magnesium citrate 250mg/125mg
1 calcium cal/mag/zinc 333mg/167mg/133mg

...for a total of 1083mg calcium and 258mg magnesium

I just added an extra Calcium with D and a cal/mag for a total of 1833mg/383mg. I split the dose into morning and evening to be sure the maximum amount is absorbed.

EFA = essential fatty acids. I'm taking the enteric coated concentrated Omega 3 fish oil from Sam's Club. It has 1200mg Omega 3 per softgel (410mg EPA and 274mg DHA). They have a nice, mild vanilla smell. I take 3 a day.

I don't have any specific articles...I just sort of googled away. My main resource has been this book: http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Nutritional-Healing-Phyllis-Balch/dp/1583332367/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206682854&sr=8-1 I think if I wasn't pregnant, I'd have used a higher magnesium to calcium ratio, but the soft calcium gels are easier to choke down :)

Disclaimer...I am within normal weight range for my height. I'm also not a big water drinker. I drink other liquids to thirst (milk, smoothies, decaf coffee), but I've made a point of adding two extra glasses a day. I don't know how much that has helped, but it isn't hurting. Other than diet, I really didn't have anything else I could do to lower my blood pressure naturally. I'm sure a combination of supplements and weight loss would work better than just one or the other. Tweak it and see what works for you. Even if you can't completely come off the medication, every little bit counts, right? I know I'm headed there...it's just a matter of time. I'm trying to stave it off as long as possible.

[dalynnrmc]

Thank you! I've marked this thread and yes, I'll PM you!

FWIW, I'm plenty overweight and not a big water drinker myself. (As in: I drink a swallow in the morning with my bp pill, and that's about it. LOL) So that's certainly something I could do... but it's not enough to be motivation in itself.

I lost the weight I've lost by simply reducing the amount of coke/soda I drink to almost nothing. (I was drinking about 3 liters every day. Now a 3 liter lasts a week, and I don't have one every week. I'm drinking plenty of tea instead, but with 30lbs gone I think I'm okay! LOL)

Other than reducing sodium and increasing garlic (and water LOL), I didn't even realize there were supplements that may help bp. It's not something I've read up on much, except to know how it affects pregnancy, and to know that YES, I CAN take bp meds and not have to be on bedrest the entire time. ;) Funny. With everything else in my life, I'm one that has to have ALL the information about things, but my own bp health hasn't been one that I've researched much.

Thank you for the motivation!!