If you’re like many folks who have been diagnosed with hypertension, you have “been there, done that” when it comes to controlling your high blood pressure.
You’ve tried everything from pills to diet to exercise. But your numbers are still too high. Nothing you do seems to make much of a difference.
It’s frustrating. Maybe you even blame yourself. But it’s time to stop. Because it’s not your fault.
In fact, new research has spotted the REAL problem in countless cases of high blood pressure just like yours. And it’s not what we’ve been told.
Your age likely isn’t too blame even if BP does tend to rise as we grow older. And in most cases, it’s not the salt in your food either.
No, the problem is much more sinister. Because there’s a chance, you’re being quietly undermined in a way you’d never expect.
Something you do every day in the name of good health – something that’s supposed to protect you – could instead cause your blood pressure to climb.
A hidden cause of high blood pressure revealed
It’s the ultimate catch 22. It would almost be funny if it didn’t have such serious consequences.
Your doctor starts nagging you about your blood pressure. He asks you to cut so much salt from your diet that you can barely taste your food.
He urges you to lose a few pounds. Plus, he has you popping a daily hypertension pill that makes you feel downright dizzy.
But that same doc also prescribes something else. And that is meds that INCREASE your blood pressure.
In other words, he could be causing the very issue that he’s on your case about.
Don’t be too hard on him. I’m sure he means well. He simply may not be aware of all the drugs that can cause your blood pressure to go up.
After all, there are a LOT of them. There are so many, in fact, that new research finds one in five Americans battling high blood pressure is also on a med known to increase it.
Not only that, but these folks have a much higher risk of “uncontrolled” hypertension or blood pressure that won’t drop no matter what you do. (Sound familiar?)
Since your doc may not be aware of all the drugs that fall into the danger zone, I’ve got something you can bring with you on your next doctor’s visit. It’s a cheat sheet of the meds named in the new study that cause BP to rise.
And I’ve got something else to share with you today too. A drug-free way to reduce your blood pressure naturally.
The drugs that can drive hypertension
There are so many individual meds that can raise your blood pressure it might be easier to list the drugs that won’t.
But the new study names the most common categories based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2018.
And they include some you’ve almost certainly taken before and might even be on right now:
- antidepressants
- prescription NSAID painkillers
- hormone drugs
- cold medications, especially decongestants
- weight-loss drugs
Just about all of the meds named in the study have better and safer options, with the possible exceptions of antibiotics for some infections and specific hormone treatments.
A doctor who practices integrative or natural medicine can help you make the switch to those alternatives. And when you do, you could see your blood pressure finally drop as a result.
Of course, the new study still urges lowering your blood pressure with drugs and a low-salt diet. But there are some effective non-drug options you can discuss with your doctor.
I like L-carnitine. This natural compound is known to protect cardiovascular health on multiple levels. But it’s particularly impressive when it comes to blood pressure.
One study found L-carnitine supplements cut systolic (“top number”) blood pressure by 7.41 mmHg. That’s BETTER than what you’ll get from many meds, but without the side effects.
See my earlier report Slash your blood pressure 7 points WITHOUT drugs for all the details.
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