18Apr 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

5 Tips To Get Better Blood Pressure Control In 6 Weeks!

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Everyone wants better blood pressure control. However, when you are just getting started with taking control of your blood pressure, it can be a challenge to know what to do. The key, is to remember that you do not have to do this by yourself. It is okay to reach out for help. Your health care provider, family, and friends can help you. Uncontrolled Blood Pressure No matter if you have hypertension, resistant hypertension, or refractory hypertension, you need your blood pressure controlled. If your blood pressure is uncontrolled on your current blood pressure medications, call your health care provider's office during business hours and talk with their nurse for guidance. The best kept secret is that you can call your health care provider's office after hours. There is usually…
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16Apr 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire
Apparent Resistant Hypertension: What You Need to Know

Apparent Resistant Hypertension: What You Need to Know

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So, your hypertension is being treated with several blood pressure medications, BUT your blood pressure is STILL not controlled. Why? You might have apparent resistant hypertension. What is this all about? Apparent resistant hypertension should be ruled out in order to treat resistant hypertension aggressively as soon as possible for the best possible result. Here, I will define hypertension, resistant hypertension, refractory hypertension, and apparent resistant hypertension. Then, I will give two brief scenarios that might sound confusing. But, I will try to emphasize that it is VERY important for you to reveal three things to your health care provider: 1) Your true blood pressure measurement because high blood pressure may be due to inaccurate blood pressure measurements FROM poor technique 2) The EXACT medication you are taking, especially if…
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11Apr 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

Resistant Hypertension & ANA Testing

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Resistant Hypertension: Why Test For Lupus? I do not know much about lupus, but I do know about resistant hypertension. Nevertheless, recently I have learned that there is an association between resistant hypertension and lupus. Research findings have indicated that people with lupus are more likely to have resistant hypertension. It is important to be tested for lupus if you have resistant hypertension because treatment for lupus MIGHT BE NEEDED. What is Resistant Hypertension? Resistant Hypertension is hypertension that is resistant to treatment. In 2008, resistant hypertension was defined in the American Hypertension Association Scientific Statement. This statement was deemed the first to define resistant hypertension as difficult to treat controlled or uncontrolled hypertension. Further,  three to four medications of different classes including a water pill (diuretic) is the definition…
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09Apr 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

Resistant Hypertension, Kidney Disease, & Vitamin D

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In my recent post about vitamin D deficiency, I briefly mentioned the role of vitamin D deficiency in resistant hypertension and chronic kidney disease. I will tell you everything you need to know including why you should consider it and the recommended dose. Vitamin D deficiency INFLUENCES the progression of hypertension to resistant hypertension and the progression of chronic kidney disease. This is because vitamin D affects the renin angiotensin aldosterome system and can decrease the production of renin. Therefore, vitamin D decreases blood pressure. Renin is an enzyme that is released by your kidneys to regulate your blood pressure. It controls your blood volume, and therefore, it controls your level of blood pressure. More on this in up coming posts. Vitamin D also decreased protein in your urine. This…
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25Mar 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire
What Vitamins To Consider To Reduce Resistant Hypertension?

What Vitamins To Consider To Reduce Resistant Hypertension?

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While I am not giving you medical advice, there are vitamins I want you to consider TO HELP REDUCE YOUR RESISTANT BLOOD PRESSURE. Ask your doctor if you need supplementation with vitamins that have been shown to help control blood pressure. They are vitamin D3, K2, AND MAGNESIUM. I will give you further details about these vitamins and how they help decrease blood pressure below. Resistant Hypertension and Vitamin D3 According to research, people with the lowest level of vitamin D have the highest blood pressure. Vitamin D is usually very low in African Americans and in others who do not get enough sunshine. Patients with chronic kidney disease most times have vitamin D3 deficiency. In fact, according to research found in the Archives Internal Medicine in 2009, 70%-80% of…
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25Mar 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire
How to Know if You Really Have Hypertension

How to Know if You Really Have Hypertension

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You must accurately measure your blood pressure to prevent a hypertension crisis. Accurately measuring your blood pressure is the most important thing to do to prevent and treat hypertension. As you know, office blood pressure measurement is the gold standard for monitoring resistant hypertension. Surprisingly, office measurements by your health care provide are not your true blood pressure. [caption id="attachment_896" align="alignnone" width="200"] Checking blood pressure[/caption] In fact,  research has shown that home blood pressure monitoring is the most accurate representation of your true blood pressure. If you use a home monitor, you can partner with your health care provider to control your blood pressure.  Do you know how to accurately measure your blood pressure? Hence, you will know your true blood pressure numbers if you do. In this post, I will…
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06Mar 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire
5 Tips and Tricks For Better Blood Pressure Control

5 Tips and Tricks For Better Blood Pressure Control

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Are you fed up with having elevated blood pressure and have tried lifestyle modifications to get your blood pressure down without success? Did you know that almost half of Americans have trouble controlling their blood pressure despite cheap and even free well-tolerated medications available to treat elevated blood pressure? We know that hypertension must be controlled to prevent  morbidity and mortality, but before the hypertension landmark trials done at Veterans Affairs Hospitals in the late 60's and early 70's, we thought that uncontrolled blood pressure was not a problem. As the story goes, due to our lack of knowledge about hypertension, many died from uncontrolled blood pressure, which is also called the "silent killer." For example, our president Franklin D.  Roosevelt loss his life to a stroke after suffering from uncontrolled…
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27Feb 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

Can You Prevent Kidney Failure If You Have Resistant Hypertension?

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Can you prevent kidney failure if you have resistant hypertension? Resistant hypertension is high blood pressure that is difficult to control on two medication requiring 3 different classes of blood pressure medication (usually including a water pill called a diuretic). Most times resistant hypertension can be controlled with the 3 classes of antihypertensive medication. The simple answer is that it depends. Certainly you can prevent kidney failure that occurs due to uncontrolled resistant hypertension by keeping your blood pressure controlled. You see the problem with most kidney failure is the damage that is done to the kidneys' filter also know as the glomerulus. If you want to prevent kidney failure or further damage to your kidneys, you have to protect the filter. Your kidneys filter your blood to get waste…
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14Feb 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire
The Best Tool You Will Need for Blood Pressure Control!

The Best Tool You Will Need for Blood Pressure Control!

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The Best Tool You Will Need for Blood Pressure Control! Blood Pressure Monitoring is essential for everybody but especially for people who are resistant to take blood pressure medication or people who's blood pressure is difficult to control. Blood pressure is dynamic and it varies. However, blood pressure should vary within the normal target goal blood pressure. Researches developed new hypertension guidelines that have set new controlled target goals blood pressure. In addition to monitoring in the medical clinic,  the new guidelines says that blood pressure less than 120/80 mm Hg is the target goal for the average person 55 years old or older. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skwzoadqYTM In 2015, researchers compared blood pressure taken by medical office staff with blood pressures taken by hypertension clinic experts. Poor blood pressure technique was found,…
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13Feb 2019 by Tonya Breaux-Shropshire

Potassium: Do You Have Enough?

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Are you feeling tired, having chest palpitation, or muscle cramps in your legs? Why am I asking you these questions, and what would bananas have to do with these symptoms? I am glad you asked. Potassium deficiency might be an indication for primary aldosteronism. People with resistant hypertension commonly have low potassium. Primary Aldosteronism is a particular type of resistant hypertension that may require Spironaldactone, which could correct the low potassium level. See video below for the definition, and details about this diagnosis.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM-9hhKRAzc The hormone aldosterone is released from the adrenal glands, WHICH are on top of each kidney. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system regulates blood pressure by regulating renin, angiotensin, aldosterone hormones. High levels of aldosterone cause an increase in sodium and decrease potassium levels. This change in the…
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