blood pressure meds

davecooper

Regardless of the summer cycling and the winter running, my blood pressure has remained a bit high for the past couple of years (average about 140/90). My doctor has been keen to keep a watching brief so far but I am due to see him again tomorrow as it is still high. I think the issue of medication will rear its head this time, but if he does suggest medication as a precaution, I am concerned that anything he prescribes will affect my riding. As a keen cyclist, are there any meds that I should try to avoid?

jimmcdonnell

I've had high BP for 15 years, am currently on 4 different meds every day (I rattle going over bumps); a beta-blocker, a calcium channel inhibitor, a diuretic and an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (that one's my favourite).

Back when I was first prescribed them (beta blocker first), I felt a bit spacy for a while but now I honestly can't feel any adverse effects when riding no matter how far, fast, slow, up or down hill etc.

That doesn't mean you won't have any odd effects of course, but i wouldn't worry. 140/90 isn't monster anyway - when I was diagnosed I was averaging 190/110!

davecooper

Thanks Jim. I feel a bit more confident about the issue of BP meds. Like you say, my BP isn't monster but many doctors seem to be advising meds for BP's that were once deemed as high/normal as a precaution.

carrock

taking doxasozin and feel fine- although bit faint if standing up quickly or when coughing

Cycling and losing weight should help normalise bp anyway

beatsystem

Dont let him put you on beta blockers, ace inhibitors are better for cyclists as they wont affect ur cycling.Beta blockers are all but banned anyway.Good luck getting fit should get u of f medication anyway although they often tell u differently i know ihad same levels as you but take nothing now.