About Hypertension

nicky asked:


Subject is male, 49 years old, low to moderate physical activity, healthy BMI, moderate stress.

Martin

Nick Johnson asked:


In a recent study, it was determined that antidepressant drugs taken by pregnant women in their 20th week or later caused the frequency of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension in babies to rise.

These studies have raised an alarming dialogue among PPH specialists and other experts in which anti-depressants used by pregnant women can increase the chances of their babies being born with lung problems, specifically Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.

The drugs in question are well known. They include: Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft.

Consequently, babies born with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension require immediate assistance in order to breathe. Unfortunately, it is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of these babies will die soon after birth.

Moreover, those born with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension will undoubtedly develop hearing loss, brain abnormalities, and dysfunction in development and seek assistance from a PPH specialist.

Although experts claim the risk of having a child born with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is very low, women who do take any of these anti-depressants are taking a chance with their unborn. It was also found that women who are still viable to have children, but have depression issues, are more likely to take anti-depressants.

In response to these underlying facts, the FDA concluded that more safety studies were needed, but at the same time, women who do take anti-depressants should not stop due to this report.

But the fact remains that newborns do develop symptoms such as poor eating, seizures, and anxiety. Therefore, one must seek the guidance and assistance of a PPH specialist. One such study reported that 30 per cent of infants exposed to anti-depressants in the womb developed a sugar imbalance, sleep disturbances, and symptoms akin to drug withdrawal.

Consequently, the FDA warned that the use of Paxil during the first trimester is associated with increased risk of birth abnormalities such as cardiac defects. However, it did not end there. According to the Johnson Law Group who practices pharmaceutical litigation in general, and cases relating to Paxil in particular, they discuss the problems of Paxil as a prescribed drug in this way: More than 20 million Americans take antidepressants.

Last year doctors dispensed 150 million prescriptions in the United States, according to IMS Health, a Connecticut-based health care information company. As much as 70 percent of the drugs are prescribed not by psychiatrists but by general practitioners with no special training in complex mental disorders. The overall market for antidepressants in the United States is more than $12.5 billion annually.

Moreover, they proclaim that the FDA alerted health care professionasl and patients about new studies suggesting that Paxil increased the risk of birth defects, particularly heart defects, when women took the drug during the first three months of pregnancy. Early results of two studies showed that women who took Paxil during the first three months of pregnancy were about two times more likely to have a baby with a heart defect than women who received other antidepressants or women in the general population.

Most of the heart defects reported in these studies were atrial and ventricular septal defects (holes in the walls of the chambers of the heart). In general, the FDA said, these defects range in severity from those that are minor and may resolve without treatment to those that cause serious problems and may need to be repaired surgically.

That warning was followed with another alert from the FDA in July 2006 that reported that the use of antidepressants by pregnant mothers resulted in babies born with a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). Babies born with PPHN have abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs and do not get enough oxygen to their bodies. Babies with PPHN can become very sick and possibly even die.

The results of this study, reported by The New England Journal of Medicine, showed that babies born to mothers who took SSRIs, the family of drugs that Paxil belongs to, were six times more likely to have PPHN than babies born to mothers who did not take antidepressants during pregnancy.

In another study, the higher incidence of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension did not occur in women who took non-SSRI antidepressants. These include tricyclics such as Elavil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, and Desyrel. The bottom line is that there is a need for more information about the safety and uses of drugs during pregnancy. Seeking advice from a PPH specialist in consultation with a pediatric doctor may be recommended.

If you have been taking Paxil during pregnancy, and your newborn showed signs of either Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, birth defects or serious illness, it is incumbent upon you to contact a PPH attorney to commence litigation on your behalf. While the loss of a child can never be fully measured in monetary value, you may need to seek compensation for additional medical treatment as a result of this devastating loss.



Tim

mimmo asked:


I find my feet are cold and sometimes my fingers. Has anyone experienced any other problems?

Francisco

Francisco R asked:


So yeah is it possible to have high cholesterol without suffering from hypertension? I ask it because hypothetically speaking your heart would have to work harder if you have veins clogged by cholesterol. If this is true if you have high cholesterol you will suffer from hypertension. Again this is just an hypothesis, im not sure and would like to know how this works. Any info is greatly appreciated! =[) THX!

Terri

Sharon Bell asked:


 

When your blood pressure is over 140/90 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury), lifestyle changes might not be able to bring it back to normal levels. If after three or six months there is no improvement, you need medicines to control the condition.

“Hypertension treatment clearly prevents death and illness. Data recently compiled from many studies show that for mild and severe hypertension, combined antihypertensive drugs reduce the incidence of strokes 42 percent and heart disease 14 percent,” according to Larry Katzenstein, senior editor of American Health magazine.

In the past, taking drugs for hypertension meant choosing between the lesser of two evils. It was a difficult choice since hypertension often has no symptoms but could eventually lead to a stroke or heart attack.

While drug therapy prevented these dangers, it made patients suffer from impotence, headaches, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, frequent urination, and other unpleasant side effects.

Although some of these drugs remain in use today, reduced doses given by doctors nowadays have greatly lessened side effects and can effectively treat hypertension at the same time. What’s more, other new medications have been developed which can control high blood pressure without making things difficult for the patient.

“In the past decade, literally hundreds of new medications that are much easier to take have become available for the management of high blood pressure. There’s no longer any reason for you to fear their consequences. If you can’t tolerate a particular one, there are several others on which to fall back,” said Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital - Memorial Sloan -Kettering Cancer Center in “The Best Treatment.”

“Patients with side effects for one drug can usually be shifted to another that won’t cause problems. Most of the drugs can be taken just once a day, which adds to their convenience. The goal is a drug regimen that lowers blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg while causing minimal side effects,” Katzenstein added.

In treating hypertension with drugs, how low should you go? Doctors once thought that the lower the blood pressure, the better for the patient. They even kept readings below 120/80 - the classic “normal” blood pressure. Such low levels, however, can be just as bad as hypertension, especially in the elderly.

“A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that patients faced an increased risk of heart attack when their diastolic pressures fell below 85 mm Hg. The authors speculate that hypertensives with preexisting heart disease may need the heart’s blood flow maintained above that level,” warned Katzenstein. (Next: Drugs for hypertension.)

Since obesity is a factor in hypertension, it pays to lose weight. To help you shed those unwanted pounds, take Zyroxin, a safe and natural supplement that will maximize your weight loss through its unique fat-burning ingredients. For details, visit http://www.zyroxin.com.



Floyd

Nick Johnson asked:


While there may be one or more causes of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, recent studies have found certain anti-depressant medications and weight loss suppressants are the known culprits. Most people who are diagnosed with this disease are sensitive to certain internal or external factors which constrict the blood vessels when exposed to these factors.

Case in point: Raynaud’s disease is a condition in which the fingers and toes turn blue when cold because the blood vessels in the fingers and toes are particularly sensitive to cold. Individuals with Raynaud’s disease are more likely to develop Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.

Moreover, diet suppressants such as Fen-Phen, has been the leading agent which has ultimately caused PPH and for which PPH lawsuits are on-going. Other factors contributing to Primary Pulmonary Hypertension include pregnant women who take anti-depressants, specifically Paxil or any of the other more common prescribed anti-depressant medications. Further, this has caused increased litigation among those women whose babies have been born with serious defects or, in some cases, died.

It is important to point out how PPH begins. It starts with injury to the layer of cells that line the small blood vessels of the lungs. As a result, the smooth muscle contracts more than normal and thereby narrows the vessel. The process eventually results in the development of extra amounts of tissue in the walls of the pulmonary arteries.

The amount of muscle increases in some arteries, and muscle appears in the walls of arteries that normally have no muscle. With time, scarring, or fibrosis, of the arteries takes place, and they become stiff as well as thickened. Some vessels may become completely blocked. There is also a tendency for blood clots to form within the smaller arteries.

Due to the demands placed on it by PPH, the heart muscle gets bigger, and the right ventricle expands in size. Becoming overworked and enlarged, the right ventricle gradually becomes weak and loses its ability to pump enough blood to the lungs. Eventually, the right side of the heart may fail completely, resulting in death.

This brings us to the treatment of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and the drug Fen-Phen. Studies have revealed that treatment with this weight loss supplement increased the risk of PPH by 28 times. Therefore, individuals with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension developed this disease as a direct result of the drug Fen-Phen. Law firms who specialize in pharmaceutical litigation have been deeply involved in PPH lawsuits, and those who have been diagnosed with this disease by a PPH specialist, have sought a PPH attorney to handle such litigation.

Fen-Phen is a combination drug that was introduced for weight loss treatment in the 1990’s. It was recalled from the market by the FDA in 1997 because of data showing that this drug caused heart valve damage and PPH. Studies showed that patients who took these appetite suppressants, particularly those whose treatment lasted for more than three months, were much more likely to develop Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.

As mentioned earlier, the anti-depressant Paxil is just one of the known causes of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension in babies. This, too, has resulted in women retaining the services of a PPH attorney for the express purpose of filing PPH lawsuits on the newborn mom’s behalf.

Pregnant women and those who plan to become pregnant should avoid taking the anti-depressant Paxil if possible because of the risk of birth defects. Two studies of pregnant women who were taking Paxil during their first trimester have shown that their babies have heart defects at a rate that is as much as twice the norm.

However, a conundrum exists. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said the decision whether to treat pregnant women with SSRIs, a class of anti-depressants that includes Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro as well as Paxil, should be considered on an individual basis.

However, it is clear that exposure to SSRIs late in pregnancy has been associated with short-term complications in newborns. A caveat, however, was also mentioned in that reproductive-age women have the highest prevalence of major depressive disorders. The benefit to the mother of treatment with any of the drugs may outweigh the risk to the fetus.

It is worth reiterating that Paxil, taken when pregnant, does pose a risk to the unborn.

In addition, if you or anyone you know has ever taken Fen-Phen, and are experiencing symptoms, it is vital that you seek a PPH attorney so that he or she can litigate this matter via a PPH lawsuit on your behalf. Moreover, it is important that you consult a PPH specialist immediately. PPH treatments, while they may be unable to stop the progression of the disease, can help to improve your quality of life.



Gertrude

Sharon Bell asked:


 

If you have hypertension, what factors are within your control? First, make sure that you’re not taking any drug that can increase your blood pressure.

The usual culprits, as I mentioned earlier, are phenylpropanolamine and cortisone which can elevate blood pressure when taken in excess or for a long period of time. Mixing these drugs with coffee can wreak havoc on your readings.

If this area is clear, the Department of Health in Manila recommends seven steps to a healthy heart. Let’s examine them one by one.

STOP SMOKING. While smoking raises blood pressure only temporarily, the real danger is that it accelerates the formation of fatty deposits in the arteries. These fatty deposits eventually reduce blood circulation and increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

“If the blood vessel changes result in a decreased blood flow to the kidneys, the kidneys will respond by releasing renin, a hormone that causes an increase in blood pressure. This further exaggerates the high blood pressure and this contributes to further blood vessel damage,” said Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in-chief of the “Mayo Clinic Family Health Book.” Therefore, it’s better to quit smoking now before things get worse.

DRINK LESS ALCOHOL. Heavy drinkers (those who consume six to seven drinks a day) are more likely to have hyperten­sion than teetotalers. If you want to drink, limit your daily alcohol intake. Take only 24 ounces of beer, eight ounces of wine, or two ounces of 100-proof liquor.

TAKE IT EASY. While stress and tension do not cause hypertension, they may aggravate the condition. Know your limits and learn to relax when the going gets tough. For me, that means watching TV, reading a good book, or listen­ing to music. You may have your own ideas of beating stress. Stick to one that you enjoy doing most. That way, you’ll always look forward to it at the end of the day.

“Persons with hypertension are urged to avoid high-pressure situations and to learn to deal with stress. Biofeedback, self-hypnosis and meditation have proved useful for relieving stress and may help someone with hypertension,” said the editors of Consumer Guide’s “Family Health & Medical Guide.”

MAINTAIN A NORMAL WEIGHT. Half of hypertensive individuals are overweight. For these people, losing weight can dramatically bring their blood pressure down to normal levels. A 20-pound loss translates in a decline of 6.3 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) in systolic and 3.1 mm Hg in diastolic pressure.

“Shedding a few pounds - even without reaching ideal weight - is still worthwhile, since dropping blood pressure just a few points can lower the risk of heart attack and stroke and may also reduce the amount of antihypertensive medications needed,” according to Larry Katzenstein, senior editor of American Health magazine.

Dieting does not mean starving. You can still enjoy your favorite foods, but in lesser amounts than before. Consult a trained nutritionist or dietitian regarding this matter. Don’t fall for so-called “miracle” diets offered by some slimming salons and questionable clinics. You’re likely to lose money - not weight - in those places. (Next: More drugless ways to control hypertension.)

Since obesity is a factor in hypertension, it pays to lose weight. To help you shed those unwanted pounds, take Zyroxin, a safe and natural supplement that will maximize your weight loss through its unique fat-burning ingredients. For details, visit http://www.zyroxin.com.



Christine

Peanutbuttergirl101 asked:


My husband is on medication for Hypertension (Miocardis) Can this affect our chances of getting pregnant?
Yes - oops - it is Micardis, thanks!

Ruby

princessRV asked:


Detailed websites that give information on High blood pressure medications, treatment, and diagnosis. Also, what causes high-blood pressure and what to look for since “high blood pressure is a silent killer” amoungest Americans today.One more thing; information on medical breakthrough for thedisease and amybe a doctor’s forum where patients and doctor’s alike can give responses to medically asked questions.

Catherine

mylice asked:


How can anyone vote for a sick person? He may be honest and have lots of integerity. But his health and mind is not fully their.
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Btw. Iam a registered Republican but will be voting for Obama mainly because of Mccain’s bad health.

Roger