The Health, Diet and Exercise Thread

[galenkia]

Seeing as all the posts on these subjects seem to get spread around various threads, I thought I’d start one where we can keep them all together in one thread.

Anyway, picked up my medication this morning. This is what I’m on, 5mg a day to start with.

BP was 158/109 this morning and will take it again this evening. Need to do this twice a day for the doctor to see.

Also did 8415 steps or 4.15 miles while out earlier.

[forcebwithu]

I'm on the same, but the pill also has valsartan. Each pill is a double dose, so use a pill splitter to cut them in half.

What time do you and others on BP meds take them? I take mine in the evening even though my Thai Dr. said I should be taking them in the morning. Reason I'm not following his advice is recent studies point to a bed time dose as more beneficial.

Does the time you take your medicine matter?

"We know that taking blood pressure tablets in the morning is beneficial in controlling high blood pressure, but more recent findings (enabled by the use of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring) suggest that night-time dosing may have an even better effect. Patients with hypertension whose blood pressure dips during the night tend to experience fewer cardiovascular events compared with those whose blood pressure barely decreases. Essentially, those with constant high blood pressure day and night don’t do so well."

[fygjam]

2 minutes ago, forcebwithu said:

I'm on the same, but the pill also has valsartan. Each pill is a double dose, so use a pill splitter to cut them in half.

What time do you and others on BP meds take them? I take mine in the evening even though my Thai Dr. said I should be taking them in the morning. Reason I'm not following his advice is recent studies point to a bed time dose as more beneficial.

Does the time you take your medicine matter?

"We know that taking blood pressure tablets in the morning is beneficial in controlling high blood pressure, but more recent findings (enabled by the use of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring) suggest that night-time dosing may have an even better effect. Patients with hypertension whose blood pressure dips during the night tend to experience fewer cardiovascular events compared with those whose blood pressure barely decreases. Essentially, those with constant high blood pressure day and night don’t do so well."

When I was on the amlodipine/valsartan (5/320) I used to take in the evening for the same reason.

 

[galenkia]

I was just told to take one in the morning.

Something to look into though.

[Krapow]

Good topic, as we have to get used to getting older and assorted health issues.

I'm just coming out of the worst gout attack i've ever had, been over 3 weeks now, and if you rubbed broken glass into your big toe and where it joins your foot, then hit it with a hammer for half an hour, you'd be half way there to the level of pain i was in. I had it raised on a cushion the other day, lying on the sofa, suffering away. My daughter accidently knocked the TV remote and it fell on my foot, Jayus fucking Christ, felt like running and banging my head of the walls, the pain was so bad. 

It's kinda not too bad now, even the swelling and colour is coming back to normal, out walking about. Had to call the Dr a few days ago, got Colchicine. 

I've had gout attacks before, posted about them on here,  found Pox, the Thai Piroxicam was good, but this was pain off the scale, and so debilitating, couldn't even walk, let alone go to the gym (which killed me). Luckily i have a cool Manager who has also had gout. So have now decided to go on allopurinol, have a blood test on Monday to confirm what i already know, then ask Dr to prescribe them. I didn't want to go them, as i'm already on 3 medications for life, and didn't want to take more. f**k sake, i'll be taking more drugs than when i was out partying! But f**k going through that again, the pain was intense, and i should be at the gym now, it helps me so much mentally, never mind physically. 

My Manager's about 10 years older than me, i had Supervision with him on Wed past, he told me he was on 4 different medications for life, it's just part of getting older. So helped decide for me. 

[Krapow]

My 3 medications, and 3 BP readings of the morning. I always find the first one is the highest, then the next 2 are lower, I wait 2 or 3 minutes between each one. 

[galenkia]

I’m the same mate, suffered from it before. Absolutely agony, like someone holding a blowtorch on my foot. If I’d had an axe I’d of chopped it off.
 

Since I stopped drinking, touch wood, it hasn’t flared up again. Diet is the key, red meat, shellfish, offal meat, booze etc, all bad for you.

 I take Montmorency cherry capsules from Holland and Barrett, they contain something that reduces the amount of Purine that causes the build up of Utica acid that causes inflammation.

Read a report they can reduce chances of a  flare up by 35%, or 75% if taken with medication.

[galenkia]

1 minute ago, Krapow said:

My 3 medications, and 3 BP readings of the morning. I always find the first one is the highest, then the next 2 are lower, I wait 2 or 3 minutes between each one. 

Had Lisiniprol years ago.

Not sure if you saw my recent posts about being sent to A&E on Thursday after my doctor took my blood pressure?.

Was showing from three tests 210/122 - 193/112 - 212/123.

Had blood tests and ECG which were fine. Looks like I caught it in time.

[Krapow]

22 minutes ago, galenkia said:

I’m the same mate, suffered from it before. Absolutely agony, like someone holding a blowtorch on my foot. If I’d had an axe I’d of chopped it off.
 

Since I stopped drinking, touch wood, it hasn’t flared up again. Diet is the key, red meat, shellfish, offal meat, booze etc, all bad for you.

 I take Montmorency cherry capsules from Holland and Barrett, they contain something that reduces the amount of Purine that causes the build up of Utica acid that causes inflammation.

Read a report they can reduce chances of a  flare up by 35%, or 75% if taken with medication.

My missus, who's an absolute star, went straight out and got these. Expensive enough at this time of year, but with the current cost ot living, f**k knows how much.

Yea, I have been looking at those very capsules on Amazon. 

Edited February 25, 2023 by Krapow

[Krapow]

6 minutes ago, galenkia said:

Had Lisiniprol years ago.

Not sure if you saw my recent posts about being sent to A&E on Thursday after my doctor took my blood pressure?.

Was showing from three tests 210/122 - 193/112 - 212/123.

Had blood tests and ECG which were fine. Looks like I caught it in time.

I haven't no, not yet. It's just back searching the forum to see if the price of a Baht bus has increased before I arrive in month or so.  Priorities mate, Priorities 😂 

Yea, high BP impacts so much, liver, kidneys, heart, every fecking thing, you need it in check. Stay off those 'Specialist' Japanese dwarf porn sites, helped lower my BP considerably #justsaying ...

[Krapow]

31 minutes ago, galenkia said:

I’m the same mate, suffered from it before. Absolutely agony, like someone holding a blowtorch on my foot. If I’d had an axe I’d of chopped it off.
 

Since I stopped drinking, touch wood, it hasn’t flared up again. Diet is the key, red meat, shellfish, offal meat, booze etc, all bad for you.

 I take Montmorency cherry capsules from Holland and Barrett, they contain something that reduces the amount of Purine that causes the build up of Utica acid that causes inflammation.

Read a report they can reduce chances of a  flare up by 35%, or 75% if taken with medication.

These the ones you have, thinking of getting these ...

[galenkia]

9 minutes ago, Krapow said:

These the ones you have, thinking of getting these ...

I buy these, buy one get one half price at Holland and Barrett.

Two capsules contain 870mg of 100% pure Montmorency cherry powder.

Edited February 25, 2023 by galenkia

[Krapow]

2 minutes ago, galenkia said:

I buy these, buy one get one half price at Holland and Barrett.

Two capsules contain 870mg of 100% pure Montmorency cherry powder.

This is what it says for these ones, and £16.50 for the pack of 2

Cherry Max+ (Pack of 2) 2100mg Montmorency Cherry Added with Black Cherry I 90 Vegan Capsules High Strength I Made in The UK by Prowise Healthcare

[Horizondave]

5 minutes ago, Krapow said:

This is what it says for these ones, and £16.50 for the pack of 2

Cherry Max+ (Pack of 2) 2100mg Montmorency Cherry Added with Black Cherry I 90 Vegan Capsules High Strength I Made in The UK by Prowise Healthcare

Christ mate, no activity for months and then umpteen posts. Good to see you back, thought you might have been inside lol

[Painter]

Funny, I was thinking of starting a BP thread....!

In the distant past when the alarm went off at 6am and I had to spend the day working with people, many of whom didn't want to be there, my BP was through the roof. Regularly 180/110 ish. GP prescribed amlodopine, which sort of worked,  but it was still 150/98. Another drug did better, but I can't remember it's name. This was one of the causes for me getting out ASAP.

These days, I take nothing for BP. It averages 135/ 88, which my GP is happy about, as long as I monitor it. 

Spending the winters in Thailand causes my BP to drop.... for the past few weeks it's averaging 130/85  presumably due to more exercise .... regularly 15000 steps a day.... and less rubbish to eat.... I can't buy a packet of biscuits in the UK, as I can't find them the next morning.... It also means my weight has dropped, despite the afternoon coffees, which has to be a good thing.

My problem is keeping up the good work when I come back to the UK!

And @Krapow.... yes, its still 10b.... don't panic!!

[Krapow]

14 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

Christ mate, no activity for months and then umpteen posts. Good to see you back, thought you might have been inside lol

Getting excited!

Only a month to go to Thailand, then this morning seen multiple pics from Phi Phi of a Whale Shark, black tipped sharks etc, where i'll be diving very soon. And feeling much better than last week when i wanted to chop my foot off due to gout. 

Edit - And thanks 🙂

Edited February 25, 2023 by Krapow

[Horizondave]

My BP has always been around 115/70. Only a couple of times has it gone above 180/100, and both were due to panic attacks while in hospital.

I take Bisoprolol and Atorvastatin now, since my heart op, and helps maintain my decent blood pressure.

[Krapow]

11 minutes ago, Painter said:

 

And @Krapow.... yes, its still 10b.... don't panic!!

And the Avenue food cart?

[Painter]

2 minutes ago, Krapow said:

And the Avenue food cart?

No idea!

[CalEden]

5 hours ago, Krapow said:

Good topic, as we have to get used to getting older and assorted health issues.

I'm just coming out of the worst gout attack i've ever had, been over 3 weeks now, and if you rubbed broken glass into your big toe and where it joins your foot, then hit it with a hammer for half an hour, you'd be half way there to the level of pain i was in. I had it raised on a cushion the other day, lying on the sofa, suffering away. My daughter accidently knocked the TV remote and it fell on my foot, Jayus fucking Christ, felt like running and banging my head of the walls, the pain was so bad. 

It's kinda not too bad now, even the swelling and colour is coming back to normal, out walking about. Had to call the Dr a few days ago, got Colchicine. 

I've had gout attacks before, posted about them on here,  found Pox, the Thai Piroxicam was good, but this was pain off the scale, and so debilitating, couldn't even walk, let alone go to the gym (which killed me). Luckily i have a cool Manager who has also had gout. So have now decided to go on allopurinol, have a blood test on Monday to confirm what i already know, then ask Dr to prescribe them. I didn't want to go them, as i'm already on 3 medications for life, and didn't want to take more. f**k sake, i'll be taking more drugs than when i was out partying! But f**k going through that again, the pain was intense, and i should be at the gym now, it helps me so much mentally, never mind physically. 

My Manager's about 10 years older than me, i had Supervision with him on Wed past, he told me he was on 4 different medications for life, it's just part of getting older. So helped decide for me. 

Sorry about your gout attack. This will not help now and don't take during active gout; it will make it worse. When you're back to normal, take one 300 MG of Allopurinol tablet daily and you will never suffer from gout as long as you continue taking the Allopurinol. It's available in LOS.

 

[Golfingboy]

I don’t really post here anymore, what’s the point???? From walking walking 5 miles a day to an invalid depending on his 76 year old Mom for everything, seemingly overnight. 
 

Take care of your health guys, at the same time it’s a crapshoot. Don’t know if God was punishing me for how I lived my life the past 15 years, but to develop anxiety, POTS, LONG COVID……whatever, basically when I was my lowest weight in 15 years & my financial stuff was getting in order. Lifetime non smoker too….it’s hard to accept, and cannot go on much longer TBH

Only doctor who helped at all never answers, and her 3rd year resident put me on a Beta Blocker-Metoprolol- which even at lowest dose, has started working TOO WELL IMO. Chest/lungs hurt all the time, insomnia every night, sluggish all day, bored……it’s pure hell! But when I spent 3 days in psych ward all my tests were deemed “normal”, same as my ECHO and all ECGs

Don’t get it twisted….the wealthy are healthier, if I had unlimited resources & saw all specialists ASAP, proper expensive scans done, etc…..I’d be in better shape, no doubt. But when it’s winter, you can’t get moving, and nobody answers, voicemail, 15 hour emergency wait times……they’re killing the average man

Would love to know if it’s a vitamin deficiency but I can’t even move out of the house for a test, and some of those don’t even capture correct blood levels. So frustrating to be seemingly healthy and then so messed up right after. Not blaming the vaccine as it’s been 17 months since my last dose

But what else could it be besides LONG COVID? Strange that it struck 5 months after my initial infection. Anyway good luck guys, enjoy your lives, get some sunshine and some pretty ladies……I wish you all well! 
Last BP test at mall before I cut down on my walks for winter….I miss those days of freedom 

And who would have thought the fatter guy was in better shape ? 100 pounds lost but I’m not “healthy”, no way

 

 

 

Edited February 25, 2023 by Golfingboy

[lazarus]

For many people reducing one's salt intake will help lower BP.

Prepared foods -- packaged or otherwise -- are usually very high in salt.

Probably the greatest risk of high BP is stroke.

Lately I've been giving a good buddy of mine rides to his office as he cannot drive due to a major stroke he had about 4 months back.

. . .

Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/risk-factors-for-high-blood-pressure-hypertension

The top 10 risk factors for high blood pressure include:

Being overweight or obese

The more you weigh the more blood flow you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. As the volume of blood circulated through your blood vessels increases, so does the pressure inside your arteries.

Too much salt (sodium) in your diet

Too much sodium in your diet can cause your body to retain fluid, and also causes the arteries in your body to constrict. Both factors increase blood pressure.

Too little potassium in your diet

Potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in your cells. Potassium causes the smooth muscle cells in your arteries to relax, which lowers blood pressure.

Not being physically active

Exercise increases blood flow through all arteries of the body, which leads to release of natural hormones and cytokines that relax blood vessels, which in turn lowers blood pressure. Lack of physical activity also increases the risk of being overweight.

Drinking too much alcohol

Having more than two drinks per day can cause hypertension, probably by activating your adrenergic nervous system, causing constriction of blood vessels and simultaneous increase in blood flow and heart rate.

Stress

High levels of stress can lead to a temporary, but dramatic, increase in blood pressure. If you try to relax by eating more, using tobacco or drinking alcohol, you may only exacerbate problems with high blood pressure. Relaxation and meditation techniques effectively lower blood pressure.

Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen) can cause marked worsening of existing hypertension or development of new high blood pressure. It can also cause damage to the kidneys, worsening of heart failure, and even heart attack or stroke. Ibuprofen is a member of the class of drugs called NSAIDs, which includes naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn and Anaprox), sulindac (Clinoril), diclofenac (Voltaren), piroxicam (Feldene), indomethacin (Indocin), Mobic, Lodine and celecoxib (Celebrex).

Cough and Cold Medications (Sudafed and other brands that contain pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine)

Cough and cold medicines frequently contain decongestants such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine. These medications cause your blood pressure and heart rate to rise, by constricting all your arteries, not just those in your nose.

Certain chronic conditions

Certain chronic conditions, including diabetes, kidney disease and sleep apnea, also may increase your risk of high blood pressure.

A diet low in vitamin D

It's uncertain if having too little vitamin D in your diet can lead to high blood pressure. Researchers think that vitamin D may affect an enzyme produced by your kidneys that affects your blood pressure. More studies are necessary to determine vitamin D's exact role in high blood pressure. However, talk to your doctor about whether you may benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement.

[Zeb]

8 hours ago, galenkia said:

158/109 this morning and will take it again this evening. Need to do this twice a day for the doctor to see.

This is a good app for keeping track of your BP -

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.szyk.myheart&hl=en

But there are plenty of others as well.

[Krapow]

6 hours ago, CalEden said:

Sorry about your gout attack. This will not help now and don't take during active gout; it will make it worse. When you're back to normal, take one 300 MG of Allopurinol tablet daily and you will never suffer from gout as long as you continue taking the Allopurinol. It's available in LOS.

Yea, doing a blood test on Monday, that's what it's for, to confirm it was gout, the uric level. I know it is, but they need to confirm.

They did it before, 3 or so years ago, said it was i could go on Allopurinol, but i refused, i was already on 2 tablets for life, the attack wasn't so bad or frequent. But this one was murder, and i can't take NSAID's now due to on apixaban. Also, i'vew read the allopurinol will over time break down the crystals already formed in my joints, which i know are there, and which made it worse this time i think. 

So, yea, gonna ask for Allopurinol after the blood test result comes back. I know i can buy them in Thailand, but i'd rather get them prescribed under Doctor's advice, knows any potential reaction with other medication etc.  Don't see why they wouldn't offer them, they did before.

[fforest]

This is good to have one thread for health stuff......

People sometimes have good ideas to help each other with health problems.....

With some health problems (for example psoriasis, tinnitus ) doctors don't have a good solution and you are pretty much bloody on your own to figure it out......