My mother has extremely high blood pressure.Last night she went to the hospital with 233/100.They got it down using Cardizem, and prescribed that to her.She is been on a bunch of different pills over the past few years.

She lives in rural West Virginia, and the doctors there have not really been, shall we say, the cream of the crop, so I am not sure how up to date they are with the available medicines.

She is 68 years old and she is a heavy smoker, but otherwise has great mobility, still drives, etc.(And she is a very good cook!)

Thanks,
John

Your mother needs to Quit Smoking! Smoking increases blood pressure. If your mother is overweight that too will increase blood pressure. Is she watching her sodium/salt intake? Only her Dr. can prescribe the best blood pressure medication that suits her medical condition. Your mother is very lucky she did not suffer a stroke or a heart attack.

You likely know this, but trying to find drugs to lower blood pressure for someone who is a heavy smoker just does not make sense. If she is concerned about her heart health & her blood pressure, she needs to quit smoking http://smart-heart-living.com/quit_smoking.html .

l am not a doctor so cannot recommend any type of medication, but certainly the smoking is a major contributor to her high BP. See also http://smart-heart-living.com/high-blood-pressure.html

Good luck to ur mom.

Here is what she should do.

1. Stop smoking

2. Eat green vegetables and bananas

3. Reduce salt in her diet
4. Walk 45 minutes a day, no exceptions

your mother may want to ask the doctor to consider adding a beta blocker ie.Metoprolol,and/or ace inhibitor ie.lisinopril to her medication regimen. She already on a calcium channel blocker which is good. she also needs to quit smoking. She is severly increasing her rick for having a heart attack, coronary artery disease, and more. l see it on a daily basis. If you need any more info, please feel free to contact me.

Only her doctor can decide which medication is best suited for ur mother.

A large factor in ur mothers blood pressure, as many have stated before me, is her smoking. She should really attempt to quit. There r several medications that r able to help with that if she is having problems.

She should also limit her sodium intake. Processed foods contain a high amount of sodium, so limiting the intake of these will be a big help. She should also strive to not add salt to any foods. There r many other spices & things that can help with adding flavor to foods without the added sodium.

If she does not already, she should begin exercising. Be for doing so, she should probably consult her doctor.

Last thing. If you/she does not like her doctor, simply find a new one. There r plenty of them out there that would be more than willing to add her to their case load.

Do not worry John, she will pull out of the situation as smokers suffer from COPD and give a tough fight at low oxygen saturation too.The doctor will give her diuretics as she might have retained water in the body and some BP lowering pill (except beta blocker, if she has lung problem).
You will be enjoying her hand made cookies very soon.