I was diagnosed with severe hypertension two years ago. I am a fairly young white female, and my doctor says that I do not fit the profile for this kind of hypertension. I have wondered and wondered if something I did could have caused this although he says no. I have been taking Norvasc, atenolol and lotensin hct for two years now. I hate taking all of this medicine, and worrying about it all the time. my blood pressure at my initial doctor visit was 260/120...dr got it under control immediately with some kind of sedation. ?? I think it was colonopin..or something like that. I desperately would like to control my blood pressure in some other way. I know this is dangerous...and I know that I cant stop taking these meds unless I could successfully lower it. I recently read in a natural remedy book written by a doctor and dietician, that calcium and magnesium deficiency may be cause high blood pressure. I would like to talk to others who have severe hypertension..and see what we could have in common. Im new here...hope to get some good feedback.
Jennifer

Thanks for the advice. Here is what I have done in the past two years. I have a BP tester, and at first when I got on the meds, my doctor had me test it 10 times a day or so. for about a month, he monitored my condition and added more and more meds. He did the cardiological workup...saying that it couldnt be just high blood pressure, something HAD to be causing it. I was tested for adrenal gland problems and renal artery problems, and anything that doctors know can cause these problems. I was examined by two doctors in the office, which made me feel like an oddity..and scared too. Strangely, I felt ok...they kept asking me if I felt bad. However after I took the meds, I noticed I did feel much better. With the meds, my BP stabilizes around 120/68
sometimes a little higher..and sometimes a little lower.

Here are my concerns. I wonder if it is an allergy of some kind? I have other allergies. I wonder if it is a deficiency? I KNOW that lifesyle choices make a difference, but my doctor told me that I could not have done anything to raise my BP that drastically. I do not drink alchohol. I excersize, and eat very well. Rarely junk food, no sugar, not much fat, mostly vegetarian diet, sometimes chicken or fish. Lots of veggies and fruits and grains. I do eat salt. I do drink coffee, about 3-6 cups a day. I smoke. I have tried to stop smoking over and over and still continue to try and stop. Smoking I think is the worst problem, but my doctor says that even if I quit smoking, I will never be able to stop taking all this medicine. that is very discouraging.

Not only am I taking all these medicines, its high doses of them too...10mg of Norvasc, 2 50 mg atenolol..and 20/25 lotensin HCT. I noticed that most people dont take such high doses...in reading posts. The side effects were much worse in the beginning, I guess I just dont notice them much now. My hair is thinning some..and I never thought it might be my meds..but I read here it may be. I just want to get off the meds!! I know my doctor will probably not encourage me to try other things, and I also know that I cannot quit taking the meds until I have found something that will control it. WHEW...a lot said....but maybe there are others out there like me????? I hope.