Weight loss may help hypertension

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 57-year-old male with hypertension, for which I take Levatol. Nine years ago, when I weighed 338 pounds, I was treated for the hypertension for the first time. I managed to lose 138 pounds by mid-2002, and the problem went away. Since then, I have gained back half the lost weight and am once again hypertensive. Will losing that weight again result in the loss of the hypertension?
A second concern I have is with the prostate. As you are aware, we are bombarded with advertisements hawking drugs to resolve BPH. In the ads, symptoms are listed. Based upon the symptoms, when should I seek a doctor’s advice? I have some of the symptoms but not nearly to the extent spoken of or written about in the commercials. For instance, I don’t fully empty my bladder and may have to urinate twice at night, but that often depends upon how tired I am and what I have consumed. I have my PSA checked each year, and it’s always found to be within normal limits. Physical exams have also proved negative.
DEAR READER: Let’s consider your issues one at a time. I assume you have been placed on Levatol, a prescription medication designed for combating high blood pressure and other conditions. The drug slows down the heart, thus allowing it to pump more efficiently. It should not be prescribed for people who already have a slow heartbeat or other specific cardiac conditions or asthma.
Being overweight or obese raises the risk of hypertension. The more body mass a person has, the more blood is required to supply oxygen and nutrients to the body’s tissues. And, as you have discovered, weight reduction can often bring blood pressure levels within a normal range, allowing for a reduction or complete elimination of medication in some cases.
An attempt at weight loss will likely be coupled with making more healthful food choices, eating smaller portions, reducing salt, and decreasing or eliminating fast foods. Not only will you get around more easily and feel better; your entire body will run more smoothly. It is far healthier to lower your body weight and control your hypertension without the use of drugs than to stress your entire system and expose it to possible side effects of medication. Lifestyle changes are not always easy, but, as a general rule, they are well worth the effort.
If you have periodic blood testing to evaluate your prostate and have an annual exam, you can likely forget all the ads you see on television and in newspapers. A digital exam will reveal any prostate growth that might require follow-up. If you are aware you don’t empty your bladder completely, try to do so. Nighttime urination is common if fluids are consumed too late in the evening. Consider a trial of no fluids for four hours prior to retiring for the evening. If you sleep through the night without having to urinate, you have your answer. Then speak with your primary-care physician to determine whether your fears are valid. If you remain concerned following the visit, request a referral to an urologist.
To provide related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Hypertension” and “The Prostate Gland.” Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order for each report to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).