Hi all,

About three years ago I developed high blood pressure out of no where. I was 18. Now I'm 21, and I'm on 300 mg of Avapro. My blood pressure seems stable, at 140/80, etc. (I used to go into the hospitral with 180/120, etc. etc.

They've done tons of tests and recently came back with my sodium levels VERY HIGH. I want to know if high sodium levels can cause high pulse (100+) and always high blood pressure. My doctor just added a low dose of toporal, and the pharmacist was shocked when she saw my prescription, which makes me nervous. A google search showed all these side effects for toporal. I already had sexual side effects on the Avalide, which is why I got off the diuretic. I don't like medicine very much and it just upsets me when I think I have to take more.

I have the toporal sitting here but haven't started it yet. The doctor wants to do tests on my thyroid. I am taking the avapro which seems to keep my blood pressure down to 140/80 ... my systolic is always very high though, 150/80 sometimes.

Any suggestions? I'm running out of ideas.

I am a little heavy ........ 250 pounds, 5' 11" ..... I am biking every day, could this naturally lower my pulse by working out intensely for 4 days/week? I'm just trying to not go on the toporal if I don't have to ......

Regards,

Matt

Quote from mjuszczak:

They've done tons of tests and recently came back with my sodium levels VERY HIGH. I want to know if high sodium levels can cause high pulse (100+) and always high blood pressure.

I am not a health professional, but the very high sodium level means that your kidneys are not properly balancing the sodium content of your blood. This is probably not related directly to your diet at all. This is related more to how your kidneys are functioning.

The heart has several channels that help to control the heartbeat. There is the potassium channel, the calcium channel and the sodium channel, among others I think. If the body's sodium is out of whack, it would seem to me that it could have a big impact on how well the heart beats.

[QUOTE]My doctor just added a low dose of toporal, and the pharmacist was shocked when she saw my prescription, which makes me nervous. A google search showed all these side effects for toporal. I already had sexual side effects on the Avalide, which is why I got off the diuretic. I don't like medicine very much and it just upsets me when I think I have to take more.

The toporal's purpose is to attempt to regulate your heartbeat and lower your blood pressure, by blocking some of the hormones in your system. To me, the most important "clue" of your problem is the very high sodium. What did your doctor say might be causing that? Did you get ALL of your blood test results? Any other high or low readings?

My reasons for suggesting insulin resistance is because it can cause problems such as high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, and extra weight is a symptom. The medical community estimates that about 25% of the population has insulin resistance in one form or another. Insulin resistance can wreck havoc with the body. But...... it might not be your problem. Your doctor wants to test your thyroid. He probably thinks that your problem could be glandular. If your thyroid checks out he will probably want to check out another gland.