Are Seniors at Risk with Blood Pressure Medications?
The risk of falls related to blood pressure meds is actually more concerning than you may realize. Sometimes these meds can make you dizzy and that is what may lead to a fall. Depending on the age of the senior, statistically, blood pressure meds may not prolong life. The odds of suffering a stroke or getting a heart attack without the meds may actually be less than suffering a serious fall while taking them.
And what do the research studies say?
One study spells it out pretty clearly. An article published online February 24, 2014, in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that if you are a senior, taking blood pressure drugs significantly increases your risk for serious falls. Serious falls are those that include hip fracture, broken bones, major head injuries, and joint dislocations. About one in ten seniors taking blood pressure drugs experience one or more of these falls. And if you have already fallen once, and your physician still insists you stay on blood pressure drugs, your odds of another fall are doubled.
These statistics don’t even take into account lightheadedness, dizziness, impotence, weakness, chronic fatigue, heart failure, and “not so serious falls” which could lead to hospitalization. The study experts were quoted as saying, “although non-injurious falls and minor fall injuries are associated with morbidity, we limited our study to serious fall injuries.” Is it possible they did this because these drug-induced falls were equivalent to or worse than the strokes and heart attacks the drugs were prescribed to prevent!
How many drugs are seniors on?
More startling information came out of this study. The more drugs you are on along with your blood pressure drugs, the worse your odds. And it turns out that “most patients are on 10-plus medications by the time they are 70.” Once your reach this level of medication, you don’t have much of a chance.
The article stated that the potential harm and death associated with serious falls and injuries from blood pressure drugs are about the same or worse than stroke and heart attack combined. If you take blood pressure meds and experience dizziness, weakness, or get light-headed, let your doctor know.
These supplements may help…
Finally, if you are concerned about your blood pressure or your blood pressure drugs, practice the following. Combined, these simple techniques will do more to help you safely maintain proper blood pressure, make you stronger and more confident, and make your golden years much more golden and enjoyable….
- Get daily exercise. But don’t overdo.
- Practice Deep Breathing.
- Support yourself with Cardio-Plus (6-9 daily) and Min-Tran (6-9 daily) from Standard Process, and Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil (3-6 daily). These can be ordered through our office. Just complete this free health assessment to order.
- And prepare yourself for better balance by using one of these balance bracelets. These bracelets are effective in harmonizing and balancing the body, including relief from stress when exposed to EMFs. Seniors close to me swear by them! They feel more confident and stronger!
Now even medical research is sharing a warning. Weigh the risks carefully and proceed with caution. Consider all options and stay operating in your world with proper nutrition as long as possible.