Pricey Dr. Roach: I’m a 74-year-old wholesome feminine. Lately, my physician observed I had hypertension (140/90) and recommended I take treatment. I did some analysis on the unwanted effects of them and am hesitant to take any. I’m involved that any of those meds might trigger me different well being issues. I seemed up Norvasc, propranolol and metoprolol. I additionally know that I really want to take one thing for my blood strain. Proper now, I’m taking recent garlic each morning on an empty abdomen, my sodium consumption is minimal, and I additionally drink a lot of beet juice. Please advise me of any blood strain treatment with the least unwanted effects. – S.S.
Reply: Earlier than prescribing treatment, it’s acceptable to think about nonmedication remedy, comparable to salt discount and stress administration instruments. Garlic and beet juice, sadly, have solely a really small impact on blood strain.
When selecting a blood strain medication, a physician considers effectiveness, potential unwanted effects, usefulness for different circumstances an individual might have and prices. There are lots of efficient drugs, and most of them are unlikely to have dangerous unwanted effects, though actually all drugs have the potential for inflicting different well being issues.
Beta blockers like metoprolol and propranolol usually are not very efficient in individuals over 65, and are often used solely when there are different good causes to make use of them, like in an individual with coronary heart illness or migraine. Calcium blockers like amlodipine are likely to have few unwanted effects, however may cause leg swelling. Diuretics trigger only a few unwanted effects, particularly at low dose, and are notably good for stopping stroke in individuals over 65. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are also unlikely to have unwanted effects, however may cause cough and barely facial swelling.
Pricey Dr. Roach: I exploit a magnificence bar for hand-washing. Am I simply giving the virus a spa day and I have to additionally use a hand sanitizer? – M.C.
Reply: People like scented magnificence bars, however viruses and micro organism don’t. Any sort of cleaning soap is efficient. An important think about how clear your fingers get is the period of time you’re taking doing it and the method (most individuals don’t do such an excellent job on the backs of the fingers, wrists, thebetween fingers and beneath the fingernails).
Hand sanitizers are straightforward, however they don’t do away with grime, so there’s nonetheless a spot for laundry fingers.