What can be done for Chronic Hypertension?

I am a 56 year old woman with no major health problems, I was diagnosed with Hep C in 1994 and I believe I got it from a blood tranfusion in 1991. I am symptom free and have normal numbers with my annual liver panels. About 1998 I became hypertensive, averages of 180/110 were standard, I have been on various medications, now I take 40mg Lisinipril twice a day, ..01 mg of clonadine twice a day, 10 mg Bystolic once a day, 20 mg Lazik once a day I take 20 mg Prozac for pms, I take 1000mg Garlic twice a day, 10,000 of vitamin D, Black cohosh and Evening primrose oil for hot flashes. My average BP is still around 150/100 and I don't have any symptoms from it, never did. My husbands heart doctor told me that for people like me who don't respond to medications, that there is a surgery where they destroy some nerve in the kidneys that regulates BP and it seems to help....do you know the surgery I am talking about and is it safe and does it have good results? What are the adverse effects of it? Also I am about 25 pounds overweight. What else can be done?

Answer

Before I look at extreme measures like that in my patients, I add : 1- potassium 20 meq/day (8 oz V8 or tomato juice a day or 8 oz coconut water, plus a banana or 1/2 avocado a day) 2- CoEnzyme Q10 at 400 mg a day 3- Magnesium 200-400 mg a day 4- I test to rule out sleep apnea 5- I have readings done at a place that feels safe (eg- the machines at your local pharmacy) to make sure it is not just anxiety at the doctor's office (called "white coat hypertension)". 6- Consider food allergies.

L&B
Dr T