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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Will High Blood Pressure Be Controlled In About A Week?

Im 43 years old, 5'10" and 212lbs. I went for a root canal a few weeks ago and after taking my BP several times (180/120), was told that I need to get my BP under control before they could do anything. I don't currently have insurance but took it seriously and have been seeing a doctor. I'm currently on 100MG of Atenolol in the evening and a diuretic in the morning and bought a good upper arm BP machine. I'm checking the BP 3 times in the morning, once at lunch and 3 times in the evening and recording the readings. It just doesn't seem to be coming down quick enough. The first week was 50mg of Atenolol (no diuretic) and the second week was upped to 100mg and the diuretic added. It's been a full week and I'm not scheduled to go back for another week. I'm getting readings in the morning around 150/110, and lunch around 170 /110 and then an hour after the medication in the evening it gets down to around 129/96, but pops right back up in the morning. When I first visited the doctor I was at 220/120, and prior to that I had a reading of 195/154 at a pharmacy machine. Should I give it another week or try to see the doctor sooner?
Mon, 30 May 2016
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Dietitian & Nutritionist,  's  Response
Sir, if you were my patient I would have you see the doctor as soon as possible. Even restricting sodium will only work if you are sodium sensitive. And, although you have some weight to lose that will help lower your blood pressure, I doubt if even losing the weight would help enough and certainly not on a timely basis. You should not let this high blood pressure go on or you are taking undue health risks that you may regret later. Please see your doctor for a medication adjustment. Then I suggest you try lowering your sodium to 1500 mg per day and losing weight to a realistic and achievable level. And, one more thing that will help down the line after you see the doctor is to start an exercise program. Even walking 30 minutes daily will help.
Healthy Regards, Kathryn Shattler, MS,RDN
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Will High Blood Pressure Be Controlled In About A Week?

Sir, if you were my patient I would have you see the doctor as soon as possible. Even restricting sodium will only work if you are sodium sensitive. And, although you have some weight to lose that will help lower your blood pressure, I doubt if even losing the weight would help enough and certainly not on a timely basis. You should not let this high blood pressure go on or you are taking undue health risks that you may regret later. Please see your doctor for a medication adjustment. Then I suggest you try lowering your sodium to 1500 mg per day and losing weight to a realistic and achievable level. And, one more thing that will help down the line after you see the doctor is to start an exercise program. Even walking 30 minutes daily will help. Healthy Regards, Kathryn Shattler, MS,RDN