Tips for blood pressure before shipping ?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 22:17:55 -0500

I passed the medical at MEPS earlier this year in March. Only thing was my bp was borderline failing at 140/90. I was told that any higher and they would send me home from basic. A couple months later after really watching sodium, ect. It was good, like 128/84. I checked it again this week, again 140/90. Could be from day before, ate out twice(high sodium) with a buffet at dinner. I started taking garlic pills to help, cant see a doctor because I've been without insurance for years. Any more suggestions? I have already done my share of googling

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 20 at 2019 10:29 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 22:29:08 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member You are now on record as intending to enlist as a Soldier with a medical problem that does/will require medical supervision/attention.

Does anything in that statement strike you as WRONG?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2019 11:13 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 23:13:05 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Buy a blood pressure monitor and check it every day and record BP readings, along with exercise for the day, and what you have eaten. Stay away from buffets and salt.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318716.php#fifteen-remedies

15 natural ways to lower your blood pressure

High blood pressure can damage the heart. It is common, affecting one in three people in the U.S. and 1 billion people worldwide. We describe why stress, sodium, and sugar can raise blood pressure and why berries, dark chocolate, and certain supplements may help to lower it. Learn about these factors and more here.

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Dec 21 at 2019 12:50 AM

SPC Stewart Smith — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 00:50:11 -0500

If you go full vegetarian for a few months you'll have unbelievably good health. The trick is from the protein you get from a vegan diet vs a meat based diet(even fish, milk, and eggs).
The protein from a meat based diet "clouds" the blood plasma and restricts blood flow and constricts blood vessels. The protein from beans or peanut butter has an unrealistically clear blood plasma. This causes blood vessels to widen and give better blood flow. This also gives you more stamina and faster recoveries for a better workout and better PT test.
Without doing all the research, you can watch "Game Changers". It's a documentary on athletes going vegetarian. I encourage you to watch it and look up every single thing they say on it. It's actually true.
I'm not a vegetarian, but I went "vegan" a couple years back and never felt so good. I had the most unrealistic work outs you could imagine. These days I do "vegan" 4-5 days a week.
Legit: Try vegetarian. Your blood will thank you for it.
Also, if you eat ANY meat protein, like fish, eggs, or milk, you cloudy the blood and hurt your entire diet. You must go entirely vegetarian. Try it for a few months and your doctor will be pleased.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2019 12:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 12:32:48 -0500

Blood pressure is fairly easy to regulate in a healthy adult. Diet and exercise and the first line of defense. Eliminate contributors known to increase hypertension such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. Salt in itself isn't bad, in fact it's necessary. More on that later.
Next, diet and exercise. The DASH diet is and regular exercise can reduce you BP by almost 10 points.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/15107009/
In addition, the synergistic effects of increasing cardiovascular endurance, reducing fat, increasing lean muscle mass, increasing testosterone, and reducing insulin resistance will further lower your BP.
Third is interventions. Your interventions are worthless, or even counter productive, if you don't know the actual cause of your hypertension. The best way to find out is looking at your family history and seeing what they were successfully treated with. For instance, if you are a black male in the US, the primary treatment is usually the reduction of sodium intake and a diuretic like hydrochlorothiazide. The issue is that there is too much fluid in the pipes. If that's not your issue then reducing sodium won't make a lasting impact. Others may need to thin the blood because of excessive clotting and they would use a thinner like cumin or the drug cumarin, or a calcium channel blocker.
But, since your BP is only at 140, diet and exercise should be sufficient to bring your BP down to 128 consistently.

Effects of exercise, diet and weight loss on high blood pressure. - PubMed - NCBI

Sports Med. 2004;34(5):307-16. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Review