True story. A 60-something guy walks into his doctor’s office for a routine checkup. The doc measures his BP. “Wow, it’s really high,” she says. “I’m going to prescribe you a pill that will stabilize your blood pressure.”
Fast forward to a few months later, the man goes back to his doctor for another checkup. She measures his blood pressure and it’s perfect. “Very good. Those pills are doing the trick,” she says, feeling satisfied with her successful treatment. “Yes, but doc,” the patient replies, “I didn’t actually take the blood pressure pills.”
Yes, this really is a true story. I shudder to think that this person would be on BP meds for life on the basis of one erratic reading. He didn’t have a history of high blood pressure.
Patients that start taking blood pressure pill (and many other medications) usually never come off them. He could have spent the rest of his life suffering from one or more of the following side effects of the BP meds (this is a partial list):
Weakness
Leg Cramps
Erection Problems
Fatigue
Depression
Insomnia
Constipation
Dizziness
Headache
Rash
Source: (Note: different meds produce different side – effects. Not every drug has every side effect.)
What saved him? Ironically, being a bad patient.This post was shared with The Prairie Homestead, Butter Believer, The Nourishing Gourmet, Real Food Forager, Hartke is Online, Kelly the Kitchen Kop, Gnowfglins and The Nourishing Gourmet, and The Healthy Home Economist.
10 comments:
It is sad our medical system now prescribes medicine for everything, before even talking about diet, or other easy changes that can be made. Not that changing your diet is easy, but after reading the list of side effects, you would think anyone would rather try food before medicine. Great post!
This is so true. My 27 year old son went to Dr. for unrelated illness and was told the same thing.He came by and told his Dad and me. Needless to say we were shocked. His Dad took his pressure it was normal. How reckless and unprofessional. Needless to say he will never go back to this doctor for anything.
Putting a 27 year old on BP meds after one reading? That's horrible.
A version of this actually happened to me, I went in for a check up, my pressure was high, the doctor prescribed medication (which I didn't take). I changed my diet. A year later, I go back, #'s are beautiful, I inform the doctor that I did not take the medication, I changed my diet, the doctor tells me "Ok, but you still need to take the medication to make sure it doesn't go high again". What the...? I'm 31...
Unfotunately our generation wants fast answers for everything. Patience, checking into things in depth, effort...are contrary to the fast speed of internet and everything easily accessible. An unexpected challenge: who thought comfort and comvenience could turn into a challenge? Those who understand this might succeed in helping themselves and others overcome the side effects of these two "c"s.
Darlene
@ sjayne1
I have no words. Do you still go to this doctor?
Darlene, you're so right. I've long realised that comfort and convenience and a few other positive things come with a price. For instance, when you can do things quickly, you learn to become impatient.
That is sad that a doc jumps to prescribe a pill first. But just to play devil's advocate I wonder how many patients he sees where they do not want to do the work. They would rather be prescribed a pill. I am sure he sees a lot of them as well.
I'm sure there are lots of patients that aren't willing to make lifestyle changes, and meds can do them good. But I don't think it's reasonable to prescribe pills on the basis of one reading. BP varies. You don't need an MD degree to know that.
There's a well known blood pressure syndrome called "white coat effect" that is: the blood pressure rises when you are in the doctor's office. It also tends to rise after sitting (in the waiting room) for long periods of time, or when you are in pain. In other words, if you're in a doctor's office, you are almost certainly going to have higher blood pressure than your normal rate. Some nurses use the wrong size cuff or are frankly, unskilled (not all.)
If you have HBP at a doctor's visit, learn how to take your own BP at home and track it for a while. Look into homeopathics and herbals. Gosh, do just about ANYTHING to stay off the pharm treadmill!
My blood pressure was measured to be in the 400s once-I was almost denied life insurance because of it. The next reading a few months later? 185. No pills for me!
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