I saw my doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) and given a stern and somewhat scary lecture. If I was waiting for the “a-ha” moment before making a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, yesterday was it.
My blood pressure yesterday was 145/90, and it had been that high six months ago too, and at the visit before that. So, I have to start taking blood pressure medication every morning, with the hope that it will lower my blood pressure back to safe levels. Instead of the “four to eight times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke” level that I’m at right now.
You’d better believe that the words “four to eight times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke” put fear in my heart.
She gave me a stapled-together printout of how to follow the DASH diet – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension – which includes drastically reducing sodium, eating more fruits, veggies and whole foods in general, and adding more foods high in potassium. Turns out that a potassium deficiency can lead to hypertension, as well as – wait a minute, this sounds familiar – depression and fatigue.
It’s possible that these last few years when my depression has become harder to manage and I’ve been feeling tired pretty much all the time could be because I rarely eat enough of the food that has potassium.
This is the wake-up call I needed, people. Quitting smoking, exercising 30-60 minutes a day, eating healthy, whole food, reducing stress (which also aggravates blood pressure), these aren’t just suggestions anymore. These are my guideposts to staying alive.
Please share your experiences with the DASH diet, taking blood pressure meds, or anything high blood pressure related in a comment. I know I’m not alone in this, and I’d like to feel less alone 
I'm Elizabeth, a 40-something Michigan wife and mother of three. I created Table for Five in 2005 as a way to connect with other Moms, and I've been blogging ever since. Please click the About tab at the top of the page to read more about me and my family! email: table4five@gmail.com
Twitter: dkmommy
Hi Elizabeth. I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis! But I’m impressed with your determination to do something about it. I think most of us hear things from the doctor we don’t want to hear and we find it easier to ignore it.
I do have an interesting idea for you, and it’s stemming from my own recent experience with a major dietary change. I write Kindle books for a living, and I recently decided I was going to compile my green smoothie recipes together and make a book out of it. In case you don’t already know about green smoothies, they’re basically fruit, greens, and water thrown in a high-powered blender. You can’t even taste the greens – just sweet fruit. I started whipping this stuff up by the quart to test recipes and found my health has improved immensely! It has changed all my eating habits – I just don’t want to eat the same stuff I did before.
I’ve done a lot of research, and although in my case the biggest change has been elimination of a lifetime of asthma, for many who have started on green smoothies, they have indeed lowered their blood pressure.
I don’t have a book written yet, but the one woman who is by far the most knowledgeable is Victoria Boutenko. She invented the idea of the green smoothie and has written many books on the subject. And you can find info on YouTube, along with some of her videos and several other reputable people.
I’ve been drinking about 2 quarts of green smoothie a day for the past 2 months, and it’s been an amazing transformation. I just followed my food cravings and started cutting things out as I no longer wanted them. At this point, I’d call myself a raw food vegan, something that would have scared the pants off me 2 months ago. But now I love it. LOVE it! So much energy. And too many changes to tell you here.
It’s something to look into, anyway, and I’d highly recommend trying green smoothies. A banana, a mango, 2 packed cups of spinach, and 2 1/2 cups of water make an excellent starter smoothie. If it’s not sweet enough for you in the beginning, you can add a couple drops of liquid stevia to a glass of it. But it won’t take long before your tastebuds change and the natural sweetness is plenty.
I wish you luck! Found your tweet about your blog post and just had to share with you.
Diane
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Twitter: AccidentalMommy
Sometimes it takes something like this to force us to commit.
We recently made some drastic changes to our diets (I never even would have touched a zucchini but now I’ve had it twice in one week), and we all feel better.
Good luck Elizabeth!
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I’m sorry you had such an abrupt wake up call, but if it sticks, rock on!
A gal who’s blog I read had this as a post recently: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2012/05/25/the-kimball-family-loses-weight/
Please be careful with the medication though… My MIL’s on it, and honestly, it hasn’t really brought down her blood pressure much, if at all, in the last few years. My family is all a fan of good fats (think real meats [steak/ground beef from a cow down the way called Mr. Brown or Matilda], butter, bacon, coconut oil, palm oil, etc. – not I Can’t Believe it’s not Butter or canola or pink slime or whatnot). Last time we checked everything (about a year or so ago?) it all was in the correct ranges for us – cholesterol, blood pressure, everybody but me was good on weight (PPD and four kids and 9 years of nursing does a number on a girl), all that jazz.
Although while pregnant my midwives discovered a fun parlor trick… every time we started talking about my MIL, my blood pressure went up a good 15-20 points, no joke. Once I had a chance to calm down (15-20 minutes usually), things were back to normal.
Another thing that may be worth looking into is the GAPS diet, or a little less hardcore is the Weston A. Price kind of nutrition profile/diet. I aim for less/no processed food and end up doing a lot of from-scratch stuff and spending a lot of time canning, but then we know exactly what’s going into our bodies.
Oh! My last thing. Not long ago I took the plunge with fermented cod liver oil. Yes, I know it sounds weird and a little gross, bear with me. I’ve actually been pleased so far. http://www.greenpasture.org/public/Products/ButterCodLiverBlend/index.cfm
Yes, it’s pricey, but a hospital stay and repeated dental visits/fillings/crowns cost a lot more. It has totally helped with my moods (especially when I do manage to get more than 5 hours of sleep), and has even helped with other random things like my skin (my elbows haven’t been rough at all since I started taking it, no lotion, nothing!). Jury’s still out as to whether it’s helping to heal our teeth – mine have major issues, the older kids each have a tiny little issue . I’ve already managed to halt a few of their cavities, now I’m trying to reverse it so they all heal up as good as new.
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I am so sorry to hear about your situation Elizabeth. Hope you get better soon. Reading this post is like a wake call to me for I have neglected exercise for like a year now. I need to get back to working out, and also taking foods that are rich in potassium. Diane, thanks a lot for the food suggestions. I will benefit a lot from them too. Good luck Elizabeth!
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Valuable information ..I am delighted to read this article..thank you for giving us this useful information. Great walk-through. I value this post.
Twitter: dashdiet
Hi Elizabeth,
If you are looking for an easy-to-follow, family-friendly book on the DASH diet, my book, The DASH Diet Action Plan has been a helpful guide for almost 200,000 people.
Good luck!
Marla Heller, MS, RD
Sometimes it takes something like this to force us to commit.
We recently made some drastic changes to our diets (I never even would have touched a zucchini but now I’ve had it twice in one week), and we all feel better.
Good luck
Lewis
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Elizabeth you are not the only one, trust me. I have been through this phase, I am so happy to tell you that when a person is determined and is on the health track half his battle is won. Taking hold of your life and having a plan of action is a life changing experience. Take it slow yet steady steps and you will have control on your body. Wishing you the best of luck in keeping hypertension at bay.
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Hi Elizabeth. thank you for reminding me about heart health. I am also less concerned about my own health. I often eat and drink recklessly and rarely follow a healthy diet. But like your suggestions, now is the right time to change. I hope you get well soon.
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High blood pressure isn’t the end of the world, but does mean a few life style changes are usually required. It can often be a good thing as you can use it as a reason to do stuff you may have put off
I started to meet a lot of new people once I changed my diet and exercise routine!
That’s a great way to look at it, Simon.
Elizabeth, I’m sorry to hear that you’ve gotten that bad news but I’m certain that you’re happier to hear about it now while changes can still be easily made, instead of later on down the track before it was too late.
Best of luck with your life changes and stay positive! You’ve got a league of visitors and fans who adore you and your words!
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Your article has proven useful to me. It’s very informative and you are obviously very knowledgeable in this area. You have opened my eyes to varying views on this topic with interesting and solid content.
Thank you for sharing with us what is clearly a very personal issue. I’m glad to hear that your ‘uh huh’ moment – the one that was to be the catalyst for a life change – came at a time when you’re still very capable of altering your ways to improve your health. Some people don’t find out until it’s too late so best of luck to you, I say.
Twitter: lorettelavine
It is so important for women to take care of themselves…diet and exercise could help to eliminate your need for medication…it will help lower your blood pressure which puts stress on all your major organs, kidneys, heart, liver, I think you will find that you have more natural energy as well.
Good luck in your efforts…it is not always easy but worth it in the end…if one day is not so good begin again the next day.
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Best of luck with your life changes, Elizabeth. I’m sure it won’t be a walk in the park but you appear to be the type of strong-willed woman who would be most likely to succeed!
Altering habits – especially dietary ones – can be so much more difficult when you’re an adult. Your health dictates that changes must be made so that’s a good motivator. God bless and good luck because you’re in for a challenge early on. I hope you come out on top.
Great delivery. Solid arguments. Keep up the
amazing spirit.
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