Hypertension? Who’s on meds for it?

Hey guys, been feeling like crap lately, headaches and just tired. Last few times at my annual work physical my pressure was up a bit but we attributed it to just being a bit of nerves being at the doctor. Last couple weeks I have just been getting frequent headaches and just not feeling 100%. I’m 29 years old, turning 30 on March 3rd. I am 185lbs at 8% body fat and I weight lift (body building) 5 days a week in the gym and do 6 days a week of some sort of cardio. My diet is very very good and I don’t drink or smoke. I’m a firefighter paramedic and yesterday at work I was feeling pretty shitty, checked my pressure and it was 155/80. Checked it again this morning at it was 146/78. Hypertension runs in my family, both my parents have it and are on meds and all 4 of my grandparents had it. Despite my excellent physical condition, work out routine and diet I think I’m fighting genetics at this point. I am setting up a primary care doctor appointment this week and I am anticipating that I will be put on some kind of meds for it.

My question is, what are you guys taking and how are the side effects? From what I have read there is a wide range of sides, some worse than other and also less frequent. Really hoping it doesn’t cause issues between my wife and I (intimacy) and also my overall physical conditioning.

Thanks, Ryan


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I've had high blood pressure my entire life. Diet, weight, stress, etc never changes it. My average BP is 140/70.

My Dr decided a while back to put me on a BP med to try and get it down a few points. The only thing that really works for me is a low dose (10mg) of Licinopril. The med works by relaxing the arteries.

No side effects. However, I know when my BP drops around 120/70 or slightly less. I feel instantly drained.

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Revvv said:

I've had high blood pressure my entire life. Diet, weight, stress, etc never changes it. My average BP is 140/70.

My Dr decided a while back to put me on a BP med to try and get it down a few points. The only thing that really works for me is a low dose (10mg) of Licinopril. The med works by relaxing the arteries.

No side effects. However, I know when my BP drops around 120/70 or slightly less. I feel instantly drained.

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Part of me is hoping it’s just stress related, but with my career there really isn’t a shift that isn’t stressful along with having an 18 month old at home and everything that goes along with that.

I have been a firefighter paramedic for 8 years now and I feel like running calls at all hours of the night is starting to catch up with me. Just tired lately


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I was 150's / 95. Then went on Lisinopril 10mg and now usually 116/ 76. No side effects or problems.

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For years my pressure was 155/160 over 102/98..walking time bomb but I had no issues day to day with feeling healthy and doing day to day activity little did I know.
same here active no smoking full court pickup basketball about 7hours a week weight 205lbs... finally at 40 yrs old my dr prescribed meds and the first one did nothing for me. So they changed it to losartan hctz
and it has brought it down to a healthy level .
Now prior to be diagnosed I also had an active on my feet all day job. In and out of car all day. Moving around
Now most of my day is sitting behind a desk and being a keyboard warrior.

As for side effects there has been none. My wife is a nurse so she also is helping keep control of it and healthy eating.

CobraVenom01 said:

Part of me is hoping it’s just stress related, but with my career there really isn’t a shift that isn’t stressful along with having an 18 month old at home and everything that goes along with that.

I have been a firefighter paramedic for 8 years now and I feel like running calls at all hours of the night is starting to catch up with me. Just tired lately


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Doctor told me drop 20lbs and we will revisit weather pills are needed or change careers. Because work stress is very likely the cause. Did the same for years working doubles burning the candle at both ends and it finally caught up with me. Now I do my 40 and get out of dodge.

I had been on Lisinopril for 10+ years without side effects until my throat started to swell up. No pain but it was weird, my vocal cords started losing range. Lost so much range that I couldn't sing any more. Saw the Dr. about it and he immediately took me off Lisinopril and slowly (maybe 8 weeks) my vocal range returned.
Dr. put me on Bystolic instead. Now I sing like a finely tuned machine!

Only advice I can give, switching to IDGAF worked for me. I have worked out and done lots of cardio for most of my life, maintained healthy weight and had pre hypertension for much of it. I used to let shit stress me out, whether it was personal, job related etc.. I had similar vitals 140-150 over 80-90ish. Simply put I stopped letting this shit eat away at me, especially the things I had very little control over. I am rarely over 125/70ish these days.

I have very high BP when not on meds. I’ll only give you this advice. Remember, you are now the experiment. Just because they prescribe it to you doesn’t mean you won’t have side affects. I went through several before I found the right combination.

Feeling lathargic and/or confusion are typical side affects. HCTZ was the worst for me. I’d be driving down the road, I’d know where I was, but I didn’t know why I was there. Doctor told me that is not a side affect. After doing my own research I found the doctor was wrong. Fired the ****er the same day.

Your top number is high. My bp fluctuates depending on how much I'm drinking. I recently found out that more than moderate drinking elevates your bp.

Woke up this morning and took my pressure at 0700. Was 124/76. Had a cup of coffee and 30 minutes later I checked my pressure again 161/81. I know caffeine can raise your pressure but that’s quite the jump. I do take in a large amount of caffeine through out the day. I’m going to cut caffeine and see what results I have. Will keep you guys posted


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Mine has been all over the map......never good in a Medical Facility but with Meds 112/76 pulse 52 at rest.....AT HOME.......I can live with that at 72!!

Lisinopril worked great for me but caused a ridiculous COUGH......they say about 30% experience coughing......had to quit that one!!

Mine topped out at 190/120 in 2015. I drastically cut caffeine and crap fast food lunches and it came back down to a normal level except for days when I was abnormally stressed.

Let me tell you though - if it is stress related, you need to cut that stress out fast. A few years ago, I thought I was invincible. Stress can ruin you. Get it in check ASAP!!

CV355 said:

Mine topped out at 190/120 in 2015. I drastically cut caffeine and crap fast food lunches and it came back down to a normal level except for days when I was abnormally stressed.

Let me tell you though - if it is stress related, you need to cut that stress out fast. A few years ago, I thought I was invincible. Stress can ruin you. Get it in check ASAP!!

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stress is no joke and it can manifest its self in many ways, symptoms etc...

03Sssnake said:

stress is no joke and it can manifest its self in many ways, symptoms etc...

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If I knew then what I know now... Geez, I'd go back in time to 4 years ago and take it easy. Entire quality of life would be different, and honestly my bank account wouldn't have suffered at all by doing less.

Papaw said:

I had been on Lisinopril for 10+ years without side effects until my throat started to swell up. No pain but it was weird, my vocal cords started losing range. Lost so much range that I couldn't sing any more. Saw the Dr. about it and he immediately took me off Lisinopril and slowly (maybe 8 weeks) my vocal range returned.
Dr. put me on Bystolic instead. Now I sing like a finely tuned machine!

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I have been experiencing some similar symptoms lately. Maybe it's the lisinopril.

Lisinopril is what we call an ACE inhibitor (ACEi), it prevents the activation of the RAAS system which is responsible for constricting your blood vessels. What a couple members described as a cough is definitely a side effect of the med, if its bothersome we usually advise a switch to an another class called an ARB (Angiotensin Receptor Blocker) that does a similar job as the ACEi. As for the throat closure, that's a rare but dangerous side effect called angioedema. As soon as you see/feel any swelling of the lips, throat, face stop the med immediately and see a doctor or go to the ER, it can be very dangerous. Make sure that everything else is good with your lab work since it can also raise potassium levels. If you're worried about the potential issues with intimacy, it is very rare at less than or equal to 1%.

For many, the ACEi's are well tolerated and can be very beneficial. They are shown to be protective of the kidney and prevent the heart from undergoing remodeling (i.e. thickened to where it can't pump as efficiently) that can occur with uncontrolled high blood pressure. Keep on lifting and watching your diet, it'll help even still.

I take Benecar HCT and generic Lopressor....works perfectly. The headaches you have, need attention as HBP can lead to stroke

Thanks for all the responses. Makes me feel much better if I do actually have to get on something. Like i said I have been a paramedic for 8 years so I definitely know all the issues hypertension can cause. Which is why I’m going to get it under control
One way or another ASAP. I have a doctor appointment March 22nd, soonest they can get me in. I’ll keep this updated


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Have anyone here tried intermediate fasting. This will do wonders to your body naturally

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