DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m a 54-year-old black female in good health. My only med is Cozaar 100 mg for hypertension. I walk 3 or 4 times a week for at least 40 minutes or more, eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and maintain a healthy weight. My height is 5’5”, my weight 149 pounds.
What can I do to safely wean myself off this medication? What are some natural supplements I can use instead of medication?
DEAR READER: Cozaar is in a group of drugs known as angiotension II receptor antagonists. This drug prevents helps keep blood vessels from contracting which, in turn, lowers blood pressure and improves the flow of blood throughout the body. The drug is considered safe but side effects, should they present, include fatigue, diarrhea and dizziness.
In the majority of cases of hypertension, a specific cause will remain unknown. While we can improve some situations, there are risk factors that are out of our control, to include gender, race, age and family history. African Americans are almost twice as likely to develop hypertension than are Caucasians; blood pressure tends to increase as we age. This is because arteries harden and become less elastic and unable to adjust to the pressure of blood passing through the vessel. High blood pressure is more common in men than in women between the ages of 35 to 50. For about the following 10 years, the rates equal out. Then a woman’s risk increases to more than that of a man. Finally, there’s that dreaded family history we can’t do anything about.
You have essentially taken appropriate steps to bring your hypertension under control. You exercise and make appropriate dietary choices as far as consuming fresh fruit goes, so let’s determine if there may be other methods for control.
For example, have you removed the salt shaker from your kitchen table and stopped adding salt to foods you prepare for dinner? If your diet consists of canned soups, some can be extremely high in sodium and should be discontinued. Some drinks can be very high in sodium. Foods low in sodium and high in potassium that can be added to your diet include potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, citrus fruits, avocados, apples and more. Alcohol can increase blood pressure if it is consumed regularly and excessively. If you have a tendency to over-indulge, a reduction might be one consideration. Further, research indicates that over time, excess alcohol can have an effect on the heart muscle and the brain. While temporary, stress in high levels can lead to an increase in blood pressure levels. Therefore, while not always an easy thing to do, you should avoid stressful situations. My guess is you are a non-smoker. Should I be incorrect, you should be aware that tobacco constricts arteries and damages the heart. Here I go, taking away another possible enjoyable past-time; but without doubt and for countless reasons, the habit should be discontinued.
While unproven remedies, I recommend you speak with your physician regarding supplemental calcium, cod liver oil, Co-enzyme Q10 and even garlic as methods of lowering your numbers. You may be potassium or vitamin D deficient. An insufficient intake of potassium may force your body to accumulate too much sodium in your blood, while too little D can affect an enzyme produced by the kidneys that will elevate your readings. If you haven’t had recent lab testing to determine any abnormalities, that should be done.
There is always the consideration you may have what is referred to as secondary hypertension because of cold remedies or OTC pain relievers you take, a tumor on your adrenal gland, or kidney issues. Again, discuss this with your physician so he or she can rule out some possibilities and zero in on others.
Readers who would like related information can order my Health Report “Hypertension” by sending a check to Dr. Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title when writing or print out an order form from my website www.AskDrGottMD.com.
