What could be the cause of uncontrolled hypertension?

Question

My primary care physician and cardiologist are scratching their heads over my condition. My pressure is ALWAYS around 160/90. They have tried almost every prescription to treat my high blood pressure. Right now I'm on Hyzaar in conjunction with Norvasc, both at the maximum dose and my pressure hasn't budged a millibar. I tried looking for info on uncontrolled hypertension on the Web but I only found vague answers. Maybe someone knows someone that had this. What did they do about it?

Answer 1

Hyzaar and Norvasc are great medications for treatment of blood pressure, but I agree, a renal sonogram to rule out renal stenosis (or cysts), would be a good start. You may also want to have them do blood work to rule out a Pheochromocytoma by checking for Plasma Free Metanephrine levels; Perform a 24-hour urine collection for creatinine, total catecholamines, vanillylmandelic acid, and metanephrines.

Additionally, you might want to see if the doctors will add an Alpha 2 (like Clonidine) to your regimen, taken 3 times daily. That can usually do the trick.

Hypertension like this is very difficult and trying. I'm certain you've been through a lot dealing with it. I've got a few patients just like you, and it took putting them on Clonidine, and sometimes Alpha 1 meds (like Cardura and Hytrin) before I could get them to goal.

Best of luck to you!!

p.s.: There's a lot of reasons for elevated blood pressure, but eating celery supplements ARE NOT GOING TO SAVE YOU! Anyone here trying to sell Dr. Mercola and his quackery are just fools. He is LESS than received by the general medical population. He makes his money on selling "supplements" rather than sound medical advice.

Answer 2

A. Your kidneys have the smallest capillaries and take the biggest hit when your HTN is uncontrolled for a long time. And the rest is true also.

Answer 3

whoa whoa whoa whoa...
I may not have experienced that considering I'm a child, but I would strongly advise you to get off those medications! No magic drug will solve your problem. In fact, the medicine is most likely making it worse. somewhere I remember reading that celery is a magic blood pressure food, so i advise you to eat that. Try reading this:
http://www.mercola.com/article/hypertension/index.htm
Just read this and follow his links and your problem will be solved!

Answer 4

Your problem might be psychological if the medical part is not helping seek out a counselor to help you with that, or it could be that you have so much energy that you need to ether burn it off or take in less sugar products and caffeine products!

Answer 5

Have they checked for renal stenosis? (I am a healthcare provider....although I would be surprized if they have not checked this.....it needs to be done) It has to do with the blood vessels into the kidneys.