Weight & BP...Newbie Here!
 

Can anyone tell me if they had high blood pressure before losing weight, and if you did....does your blood pressure lower or get normal after losing a certain amount of weight? I'm down 20 lbs. but still take my high blood pressure medicine, but I checked my pressure today because I was feeling weird (light headed, dizzy, jaw hurting, headache...) and my bp was only 101/60...that is very low considering what it was running 170/99. I would go to the Dr. but the company I work for dropped our health insurance the end of Feb. to cut cost!! So, I'm trying to find out if this may be because I am still losing weight and may be I don't need the high bp med. or may be I only need half the dosage (since I'm on a double dose). Any ideas?:?:

Robin, I have high blood pressure too and am hoping to get off my blood pressure meds as one of my goals for losing weight. I'm a doctor so I'm going to tell you that you should try to find what we call a "doc in a box" which is one of those walk in clinics where you can go without an appointment and get someone to check your blood pressure and give you some on hands advice about what to do with your meds if you can't afford to go see your own doctor. Those docs usually charge a flat rate which is reasonable like $60 for a visit. Depending where you live, there may even be a free clinic in your area. But you should definately get professional advice about what to do with your meds.

I do believe we have a couple of clinics that are based on your income, I'm gonna try one on Monday (since, not only did we lose our health insurance, my hours have been cut too : ( But thank you for answering my questions so promptly!!

Robin,
Just went back to my doctor and she cut my medication in half as I was getting readings of 105/55. She said you go by the top number and once that gets around 100 it is time to lower your meds. I take Atenenol which can be cut in half. Any med that is time released cannot be cut in half for some reason. I know every doctor is different.

I'm really hoping to get off BP meds too as I lose weight. Good luck to you Robn

Helen-time released meds can't be cut because there is a coating on them that makes them time released and if you destroy the coating, it changes the absorption of the medication. Robin should still get advice from a doctor about what to do for herself.

Welcome, Robin! Congratulations on your 20 pound loss!! Definitely go get your blood pressure checked out and back on track... It sounds like you are doing great!