High Blood Pressure & Medication

[P-W]

  I have a two part question, and would appreciate any insight you can give.
  1.  I am a 26 year old white male, with no family history of hypertension.  Nevertheless, I am been running a b/p of 150-160/80.  I am trim, stay in shape (run competitavely, train 4-5x/week), handle stress well, and don't smoke.  I have 5-6 drinks per week, and eat a diet which is neither extra fatty nor vegetarian (somewhere in between).  My MD has me on medication, but I was wondering what other lifestyle factors I could alter before going on b/p meds for the rest of my life.  I am willing to alter my lifestyle, and would rather do that than have the side-effects of the meds.
  2.  I was on a thiazide (25mg) for a month.  During that time, I developed some tingling and twitching in my muscles.  My MD has switched me to a losortan (sp?) but I have not started taking it yet.  It has been a week since I stopped taking the thiazide, but I still have the tingling and twitching.  Could this be a delayed effect, or should I start to be concerned about neuro disorders?
  He ran a test for potassium levels, and it came back OK.
  I am in the chicago area and would appreciate your suggestions!

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

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Dear PW,
Stop all alcohol and lower your salt intake to 2grams(2000milligrams) perday and
see if the blood pressure is better.  Ask your doctor if s/he has considered, if not ruled
out all reversible causes of hypertension (s/he probably has and these are rare to begin with, especially rare when the
blood pressure is so borderline low- I assume that the 150-160 you report is off medications.)
Otherwise there honestly is no other lifestyle change you could make being as you already have a great exercise program.
But keep in mind that there are  so very many blood pressure medications available that I find it hard to believe the doctor
will not be able to find one that keeps your bp normal and gives you minimal side effects if any.
The thiazide is most likely completely out of you system and the cause of your tingling sensation warrants further investigation.
Although it is something to be decided by your physician and you together, consider having an evaluation of the muscle twitches (by a neurologist at best)
PRIOR to starting a new BP medication. Good Luck. I hope that this information has been helpful, please write back if you have any further questions.
Information prvided in the heart forum is intended for general medical informational purpsoes only, actual diagnosis and treatment can
only be made by your physician(s).