newmommie asked:
My dad has high blood pressure and was prescribed some medication to lower it. He has to keep taking it for as long as his doctor tells him it’s ok to stop but his medication (Tarka) is pretty expensive and sometimes he can’t afford it so he just stops taking it. I worry that something might happen to him when he does this. Does anyone know where I can find Tarka for less (he currently pays $72 for a 30 day supply of Tarka 2/240mg) or do you know of a natural way to lower blood pressure?
My dad has high blood pressure and was prescribed some medication to lower it. He has to keep taking it for as long as his doctor tells him it’s ok to stop but his medication (Tarka) is pretty expensive and sometimes he can’t afford it so he just stops taking it. I worry that something might happen to him when he does this. Does anyone know where I can find Tarka for less (he currently pays $72 for a 30 day supply of Tarka 2/240mg) or do you know of a natural way to lower blood pressure?
meditation, oatmeal, and exercise
lemon juice in water
If he is heavy, he can help lower his pressure by losing weight. He can also cut out salt (or seriously lower the salt) in the food he eats.
Cut salt intake, lose weight, exercise.
Ask the DR for a less expensive drug; there are lots out there.
Healthy diet (minimize sodium intake as much as possible), no smoking, no alcohol, regular exercise (even just a half hour walk twice a day will help).
I lowered mine by about 50 points (upper number) by reducing my weight by a third of my body weight. The doctor saw me, and I am off it for good.
Weight reduction is a MAJOR tool in reducing blood pressure.
There are natural herbal things that you can take that will help with blood pressure. Try checking with GNC or your local herbal store.
he should cut down on sugar
Holy buckets, he should not start and stop. Exercise will lower blood pressure, but not all are able to exercise effectively. Write this number down. 1-877-321-6755 or go to freedrugcard.us. Get a free prescription card. It doesn’t pay the whole bill, but it sure will help.
eliminate salt from the diet, avoid any foods that have sodium listed in the first three ingredients. exercise will also help. no smoking or alcohol. all contributors to high blood pressure. also his doctor might be able to change the meds to another type that is less expensive. he shouldn’t just quit taking them tho. that has its own effects.
Eat foods high in potassium, like bananas. Get a dog; research says that dog owners have lower blood pressure than those with out dogs. The dog will need to be walked which leads to exercise, another great way to lower blood pressure. Learn bio-feedback techniques to control breathing and help reduce stress levels.
God bless!
get him to eat garlic in everything and take garlic pills. It works for a guy I know that is 98. Also try going to your healthfood store, they probably have some natural herb remedies. He might have to change his diet as well.
Cinnamon! You can put it in coffee, on toast, anything. My dad also has HBP and has stopped having to take most of his medications because of it.
low salt diet, plenty of gentle excise, low fat diet and relaxation
Well, there are natural ways such as diet and excercise that will lower blood pressure. I do not know where you would get Targa at a lower price. However, know that $72 is not EXTREMELY high for today’s medicinal costs. My grandmother monthly pays much more than that just to survive. Try leading a helthier diet and doing excersise–no matter how insignificant or little the exercise is. Get outside and take walks, play golf, eat more fruits and vegetables. Hopefully soon you won’t even need Targa.
eat healthy food and exercise
remaining cool and calm without worrying for any thing
Some of these tips are for women, but this is a 4 page article I only copied 2, so you can go the the source for more imformation. Good Luck =)
It’s an emerging epidemic in North America: One out of every three people has pre-hypertension, a condition thal leads to high blood pressure. And most of them don’t know it.
Don’t assume that your blood pressure is normal lust because it used to be. Get it checked often. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. Sure, you can lower it with treatment. But stop treating it, and it goes up again. It’s easier and wiser to prevent high blood pressure in the first place.
So fight this key risk for heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease now. Read on to learn about assessing your risk–and about 68 natural options for preventing high blood pressure. And be assured that even the 50 million Americans currently afflicted with high blood pressure can lower their readings by following our prevention plan.
1. Watch Your Weight: In over weight people, a 10 percent reduction in total body weight will sometimes normalize blood pressure.
2. Get Physical: Go for a brisk 30-minute walk 6 days a week.
3. Meditate: A new study shows it works for teens too.
4. Try Yoga: It reduces stress and strengthens the mind and body.
5. **** Out: All forms of tobacco dramatically raise blood pressure.
6. Shake Off Salt: And sodium-rich foods such as soy sauce and canned soups.
7. Leave the Bar: 1-2 drinks a day is OK–even stress-relieving–but more can cause health problems.
8. Check Your Blood: Have cholesterol and triglycerides checked regularly.
9. Reject Refined Foods: Shun the sally, sugary, pre-made, preserved, fried and fatty.
10. Swear Off Sodas: Soft drinks can deplete potassium (see No. 20).
11. Find Fiber: Think veggies and whole grains.
12. Forgo Fat: Choose white fish and skinless chicken and turkey. Skip cheese, bacon, red meat, gravy and desserts.
13. Toss the Trans Fats: These are a greater risk than even saturated fats.
14. Howl for Whole Oats: Eaten daily, oats lower hypertension.
15. Try L-Carnitine: Another amino acid, also found in protein.
16. DASH Your Diet: DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is high in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy, and it’s low in fat.
17. Defeat Diabetes: Diabetics who control their condition reduce hypertension risk.
18. Compute Your Body Mass Index: Multiply your weight in pounds by 703; then divide by your height in inches; then again divide by your height in inches. Try to stay between 18.5 and 24.9.
19. Mull Over a Multi: A daily multivitamin ensures that you’re getting the basics.
20. Prefer Potassium: This crucial mineral is found in many fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, fish and supplements.
21. Make It Magnesium: It’s in leafy greens, legumes, whole grains and supplements.
22. Value Vitamin C: The less vitamin C in the blood, the higher the blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
23. Boost Bioflavonoids: Available in fruits, vegetables and supplements, bioflavonoids enhance vitamin C’s effect.
24. Embrace Vitamin E: Evidence suggests that vitamin E also magnifies vitamin C’s blood pressure-lowering effect.
25. Get Milk: Hypertensive patients seldom drink enough milk–and they are usually low on calcium. Broccoli, spinach, tofu, goat milk and calcium supplements are alternatives.
26. Pick Pycnogenol: French maritime pine bark extract lowered blood pressure in a Chinese study, which was reported in the January 2, 2004 issue of Life Sciences.
27. Fish for Omega-3s: Stress essential fatty acid-containing foods or supplements of fish oil, flaxseed oil and primrose oil.
28. Queue Up for Coenzyme Q10: Hypertensive patients are often deficient in ubiquinone. Aside from supplements, organ meats are the richest sources.
29. Seize the Soy: Studies suggest that the isoflavones in soy, tofu, tempeh and miso make arterial walls more elastic.
30. Think Zinc: Zinc may reverse hypertension that has been caused by too much cadmium.
31. Have Some Hawthorn: An enzyme that can cause arteries to constrict is blocked by this berry.
32. Look for Linden: This blossom is often combined with hawthorn for blood pressure.
33. Target Taurine: This amino acid–available in protein and as a supplement–balances sodium and potassium in the blood, lowering blood pressure.
34. Crave Carrot Juice: Studies show it cleans arteries.
35. Cook with Cayenne: The capsicum in cayenne slows arteriosclerosis, which can cause hypertension.
36. Don’t Pass on Parsley: It’s a natural diuretic, which cuts blood pressure.
37. Go for Ginger: Ginger offers hypertensive benefits to some.
38. Seal the Deal: Goldenseal root may reduce blood pressure, especially when taken in conjunction with ginger.
39. Defy Dracula: Evidence shows that garlic lowers hypertension 2-7 percent. Onions help too.
40. Single Out Psyllium: Take this soluble fiber with plenty of water. Other sources of fiber include peas, beans, apples, pears and citrus fruit.
41. Consider Black Cohosh: Commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, this herb may also help with hypertension
42. Cultivate Celery Seeds: They also contain calcium, which might add to their effect.
43. Dig Dandelions: Available in tinctures, tea, capsules and edible fresh leaves or roots.
44. Yell for Yarrow: Herbalists also call it milfoil.
45. Mind Your Melatonin: This hormone decreases nighttime blood pressure, concluded a study published in the January 2004 issue of Hypertension.
46. Stork Up on Perinatal EFAs: The fatty acids DHA, EPA and ALA–taken by pregnant women 5 months before and 1 month after giving birth–help prevent hypertension in adulthood.
47. Bring on Biofeedback: Using a special biofeedback machine, individuals learn to control their own physiological responses–including blood pressure.
48. Omit Oral Contraceptives: Birth control pills can increase blood pressure.
49. Don’t Knock Noni: This Polynesian fruit is also known as morinda citrifolia and Indian mulberry.
50. Spice It Up: Try basil, black pepper, cinnamon, chili powder, cloves, curry, dillweed, dillseed, fennel, horseradish, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon and thyme. Their antioxidants may help–some directly lower blood pressure, and all substitute for salt.
51. Grasp Grape Seed Extract: Research at the University of Alabama suggests grape seed extract can lower blood pressure significantly.
52. Fall in Love with Lutein: Eat your spinach–or your kale or collards or mustard greens–or lake lutein supplements.
53. Don’t Give Up on Ginkgo Biloba: It relaxes arterial walls, easing pressure.
54. Remember These Three Bs: Alter angioplasty surgery, three different B vitamins–folate, [B.sub.6] and [B.sub.12]–cut in half the risk that arteries will re-close.
55. Air Out Antioxidants: Zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin and alpha-carotene may help.
56. Go Mad About Saffron: This herb contains a blood pressure-lowering chemical called crocetin.
57. Reach for Reishi Mushroom Extract: Taking 55 mg of concentrated reishi mushroom extract three times a clay was found to reduce moderately high blood pressure after 1 month.
58. ‘Tai’ One On: Tat chi proponents say their rituals lower blood pressure.
59. Call Your Motherwort: This herb is also known as Leonurus cardiaca.
60. Highlight Herbs: Chamomile flowers, fennel seed and rosemary may cut hypertension risk.
61. Go Cuckoo for Coleus Forskohlii: This mint-family herb lowers blood pressure naturally.
62. Buy into Bilberry: This European blueberry contains anthocyanosides, which are powerful flavonoids.
63. Let in the Cat’s Claw: Contains the alkaloid rhynchophylline, which has anti-hypertensive effects.
64. Keep Kelp: A 1997 study suggested kelp may help.
65. Go to Gotu Kola: For insomnia and lowering blood pressure.
66. Indulge in Aromatherapy: Aromatic bath or massage oils temporarily lower hypertension. Try 5 drops each of lemon balm and lavender essential oils in warm bath water.
67. Jilt the Java: Too much daily coffee-and even tea-can raise blood pressure.
68. Now, Go to Bed: High blood pressure patients deprived of sleep experience significant increases in blood pressure, especially during the evening.
You can take steps to prevent high blood or lower your pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle. These steps include maintaining a healthy weight; being physically active; following a healthy eating plan, that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy foods; choosing and preparing foods with less salt and sodium; and, if you drink alcoholic beverages, drinking in moderation. In this section you will learn more about healthy lifestyle habits for preventing and controlling high blood pressure.
Following are some points which helps to reduce your blood pressure:
*Healthy Eating : For an overall eating plan, consider the DASH eating plan. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension,. elevated blood pressures were reduced by an eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and lowfat dairy foods and is low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol. The DASH eating plan includes whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts and has reduced amounts of fats, red meats, sweets, and sugared beverages.
(for more on dash plan you can contact me on. I have a PDF document which I can forward it to you).
* Reduce Salt and Sodium in Your Diet : A key to healthy eating is choosing foods lower in salt and sodium. The current recommendation is to consume less than 2.4 grams (2,400 milligrams[mg] ) of sodium a day. That equals 6 grams (about 1 teaspoon) of table salt a day. The 6 grams include ALL salt and sodium consumed, including that used in cooking and at the table. lower-sodium diets also can keep blood pressure from rising and help blood pressure medicines work better. (contact to get a PDF file on Spice up your food)
Tips for Reducing Sodium in Your Diet
- Buy fresh, plain frozen, or canned with no salt added vegetables.
- Use fresh poultry, fish, and lean meat, rather than canned or processed types.
- Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasoning blends in cooking and at the
- Cook rice, pasta, and hot cereals without salt. Cut back on instant or flavoured rice, pasta, and cereal mixes, which usually have added
- Choose convenience foods that are lower in sodium. Cut back on frozen dinners, pizza, packaged mixes, canned soups or broths, and salad dressings — these often have a lot of sodium
- Rinse canned foods, such as tuna, to remove some
- When available, buy low- or reduced-sodium, or no-salt-added versions of
- Choose ready-to-eat breakfast cereals that are lower in sodium.
* Maintaining a Healthy Weight : Being overweight increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. In fact, blood pressure rises as body weight increases. Losing even 10 pounds can lower blood pressure — and it has the greatest effect for those who are overweight and already have hypertension.
* Physical Activity : Being physically active is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent or control high blood pressure. It also helps reduce your risk of heart disease. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to become physically active.
* Limit Alcohol Intake : Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure. It also can harm the liver, brain, and heart. Alcoholic drinks also contain calories, which matter if you are trying to lose weight. If you drink alcoholic beverages, have only a moderate amount — one drink a day for women; two drinks a day for men.
What counts as a drink?
12 ounces of beer (regular or light, 150 calories), or
5 ounces of wine (100 calories), or
1 one-half ounces of 80-proof whiskey (100 calories).
* Quitting Smoking : Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. This applies even to filtered cigarettes. So even though it does not cause high blood pressure, smoking is bad for anyone, especially those with high blood pressure. If you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Once you quit, your risk of having a heart attack is reduced after the first year. So you have a lot to gain by quitting.
Besides the usual, diet, meditation, anything that is relaxing, and relief of stress, there are vitamins that may help as well.
Go to swansonvitamins.com you will find many vitamins for different health concerns for low/affordable cost, much less than what your father is paying. One that looked up for you is is called swanson ultra C12 peption cardiovascular health.
Simply go to the website, it is self-explanatory of how to find the information. You don’t have to choose that one, there are others. Just read which is best for your father.
As for the doctor, some doctors are into natural ways to heal, but others are not. A person depending on their situation may not always need medication prescribed by the doctor, there are natural ways just as you asked for.
To give you hope on that, and blood pressure is quite simple to lower most of the time unless there’s other complications that cause it. Let me give you an example, my friend was diagnosed with cancer of all things. He took a combination of vitamins, and to this day has cleared his remission date and can now be considered cured, all due to vitamins, so blood pressure is simple to help, but even all natural simple vitamins can help something as big as cancer.
First of all, it’s not right in general to cut on his medicine suddenly. He should cut the pill half and take it until he has the money to buy a new pack.
A natural way for lowering blood pressure is good psychology, he mustn’t be worry, angry, anxious for something and as it seems with your care he is alright. (my dad and grandmother always have high blood pressure when they are upset and sad for sth)
Also about food. He can drink lemon juice in water as mentioned above, and cut on salt and coffees. coffee is responsible for high pressure.
Moderate exercise mostly taking a walk daily is really helpful.
As for finding cheaper Tarka you should tell us where are you from. Be careful for cheap drugs online it isn’t always safe. check this article:
Also check this page about books with advice for high blood pressure and living with it . It’s about books from 6$-15$
Also you can ask your doctor if there is any cheaper medicine for your dad to subscribe. U never know. Or go to another doctor and ask.
Sometimes doctors prescribe specific meds from specific companies coz they have a deal with them. (My uncle is a salesman in the meds industry)
Good luck!
green tea, garlic pills,The herb hawthorn ,of course less salt .
Have you checked into if there is a genetic for Tarka..It may be alot cheaper.
he needs to talk to his doctor about alternatives, sometimes (my mom had the same problem) they will give you free samples to cover those times he can’t get it or prescribe him another kind, many of the bpmeds are similar and work just as well as the expensive kinds.
I have been taking bp meds but it wasn’t enough to just take one, but that is all I wanted to take, so I take hawthrone ginko biloba one pill a day plus the dash diet (google dash diet). so far my pressures are okay sometimes and really bad other times. the dash diet has other benefits I noticed and i am sure they have something to do with my numbers flutating alot considering the diet works but somehow it fisses out a then reactavates or something not sure.
today the numbers were very high, I have a home moniter. other days they seem really good, when I get it at the doctors it is usually pretty high, but sometimes it is normal, not sure why that is.
RRRRR
Diet and exercise will help reduce blood pressure w/o drugs. If he smokes cigarettes, he needs to quit. Too much caffeine raises BP as well as too much sodium, because sodium makes the body retain fluids. Most soft drinks, reg. or diet, also have caffeine in them.
Brisk walking for 15-25 min/day would also help reduce it.
Garlic supplements will also help.