Blood pressure

This topic contains 6 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by plaicemat 9 years, 9 months ago.

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plaicemat

11:20 am
11 Jul 14
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My wife and I started the diet on the 9th April and I have lost 1st 8lbs which brings me down to a more acceptable 13st. The biggest surprise has been a reduction in my blood pressure. I have always been fit having to keep myself that way for chasing groups in the mountains, do not smoke and drink VERY moderately. I was therefore surprised, as was my doctor, to learn that I had raised blood pressure at age 55. I take two pills a day and this keeps me at about 138/140:75/78’ish. Since being on the diet, my blood pressure has come down to these sort of figures in the morning (without pills) and down to as little as 110:65 during the day, but normally around 118:68. I sometimes feel dizzy when bending down so should I be considering reducing my dosage, obviously after seeing my G.P.?

TracyJ

12:22 pm
11 Jul 14
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Hi plaicemat, Yes, go and see your GP and discuss it first but you’re probably normalising your BP with the diet. I don’t necessarily think it works ‘like magic’ like this for everyone but it certainly did for me. I have ALWAYS (since childhood) been the high end of average and of course as I got older and bigger (fatter) I used to have to put up with the nagging from doctors etc. despite the fact that I was actually always pretty fit and although I was overweight I’d always put my high BP down to genetics, as my whole (female side) of the family are just the same (fat or skinny).

I went to have a check up prior to a scuba diving holiday 2 months after I started on 5:2 and was so overjoyed when the doctor pronounced my BP as ‘perfect’ I could have kissed him. I’ve had it checked twice since then (pretty recently) and it’s still totally ‘perfect’ over a year and a half later.

Your cholesterol and blood sugar levels may also have improved, if they were an issue and your resting heart beat should improve too (indicating you are fitter). The cholesterol level doesn’t always improve for everyone though (and sometimes people say it’s worse – though that might be down to their food choices – too many eggs etc.), so you do still need to be aware of what you’re eating if that is a problem area for you.

plaicemat

2:35 pm
11 Jul 14
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Don’t wish to sound complacent but at the age of 67, my cholesterol is fine although I am hoping it will improve more. My resting heart rate is around 60 and when going for it, around 125. A friend who is a heath professional advised I should only cut down pills a bit at a time. Both of them are very tiny so halving them is not an option. I have now seen the Doc and he says I can drop the beta blocker (I know they’re old hat but I can’t take the newer ones) when I feel ready to see the effect. I will post further if I survive!

TracyJ

2:41 pm
11 Jul 14
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Haha! I hope you do then – don’t forget will you or we’ll worry about you now! 😉

My mum used to take beta-blockers for a while but doesn’t need them anymore thankfully. Good luck with finding the right level of pills and good for you on not needing to reduce cholesterol. It’s a big reason for some people to start 5:2, so it’s nice that it’s not really an issue for you.

plaicemat

5:04 pm
11 Jul 14
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All very reassuring, many thanks for your helpful comments, Tracy. I will post the results of my decision as they say in Scotland, ‘if I’m spared!’

Pandas

9:24 am
21 Jul 14
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I also have found dramatic effects upon my blood pressure. At 79 I have had raised blood pressure all my adult life. Using this diet for over a year has brought reduction in weight of around 17 kg (the only successful method I have ever found). On my hospital’s advice I stopped the diet for a period before and after two knee operations. Weight went up – but also BP. Immediately after restarting – and before much effect was shown on weight – it fell again by about 20 – 30 points for one or two days after a fast. I suspect my medication effectiveness is being enhanced. Getting the right balance is going to be interesting

plaicemat

12:13 pm
21 Jul 14
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Interesting you say it is reduced immediately after a fast as this is my finding. I was taking two pills for BP and after a fast my BP was going down to 108:60, quite worrying as I was also getting dizziness if I bent down. I have now ditched the beta blocker and after a fast I’m getting around 116/120:65/70 and the day before a fast around 135:70 which I’m hoping is acceptable. I should find out next week when I check back with my GP. The only other thing that has changed since I dropped the beta blocker is that my resting pulse rate has gone up from around 60 to around 75.

I am starting to think that the reduced BP is due to the fasting and not the weight loss as I am still heavier than when I discovered I had high BP. Interesting times ahead!