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From:	EV (71.191.160.216)
Subject:	Re: High Blood Pressure
Date:	September 19, 2008 at 7:19 am PST

In Reply to: Re: High Blood Pressure posted by Dr. Neal Pinckney on September 18, 2008 at 1:44 am:

Dr. Pinckney,

I've been on the Esselstyn diet for over a year and a half, and while
I've had great success lowering cholesterol well below 150, and I've
lost and kept off 50lbs, the effect on my BP has been less than I
had hoped for. While I've been able to reduce meds, I haven't been
able to get rid of them completely. Two years ago my BP would go
to 170/100 without meds. BenicarHCT knocked it down to below
140. Now my BP goes to 145/90 after several weeks without
meds, but goes to 120/80 with a low dose of Diovan/HCT. I've
tried to get off meds a few times, and my BP stays in the 130-140
range for several weeks before inching back up over 140. I also
get PVC's when it gets close to 140, and they go away when it goes
back down below 130 on the Diovan. I am able to exercise heavily
without shortness of breath, and ekg and echo are normal.

My doctor believes my diet has made a big difference, but she
doesn't think diet will cure my problem. She believes I have
essential hypertension with genetic or other causes that are just
not understood.

Do you have any other suggestions on possible causes?

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