what happens if you quit taking blood pressure medicine

About 1 in 3 American adults has hypertension or high blood pressure. Many people are treated with medication but wonder, “Is this my only option? Learn about alternatives to taking blood pressure medication.  What has been shown to work? What not? 

 Beware of herbal remedies. 

 On the Internet and elsewhere, you're sure to find glowing "reports" of herbs like snake root, hawthorn, and ginseng for treating high blood pressure. Don't let yourself wobble. Herbal remedies have not been well studied. Worse yet, some have potential health risks, especially if you use them along with  blood pressure medications. 

 If you are considering herbal therapy, talk to your doctor first. 

 Above all, remember that the word “herbal” is not synonymous with “natural”. Due to their high potency and potential side effects, many herbs actually have  more in common with drugs than with nature.

If you begin a healthy lifestyle like the Pritikin Program, be prepared for results to happen quickly.

Stay in very close contact with your doctor to closely monitor your blood pressure and medication needs. 
 “We have so many people with hypertension  come to the Pritikin Longevity Center,” commented Associate Medical Director Danine Fruge, MD, “and within three days, many had blood pressure so low that we had to cut back on medication or drinking. they completely stopped taking the drug. Yes, only three days. This is how  our bodies respond quickly and strongly to healthy eating, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. 
 “I used to think of these amazing drops in blood pressure as something  only a  few people get. But I've been here at Pritikin for 14 years and I see results like this weekly. It is not a miracle. It's just what happens when we start taking good care of ourselves. 
 Several studies, as previously reported, show that in about three weeks,  the majority of people who go to the Pritikin Center experience a significant reduction in blood pressure. 
 A key takeaway for many of Pritikin's clients is the education they receive. Juan O, an alumnus of Pritikin, Stonington, Connecticut, said: “I knew I needed to reduce my sodium intake, but before I came to Pritikin, I  really didn't know how. 
 “For example, I thought that just removing the salt shaker from my kitchen would solve the problem. Little did I know that 80% of the sodium Americans eat comes from outside the kitchen - from restaurant meals and commercially prepared foods like sandwiches, soups, and salad dressings.