Blood pressure medications
A recent Johns Hopkins report surrounding Blood Pressure Medication which was published in the journal of Neurology confirmed some research work earlier conducted and produced by Johns Hopkins researchers. What they found is wonderful news for Blood Pressure Medication users! The use of potassium-sparing diuretics reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s in people by nearly 75 percent. Those people who took any type of antihypertensive medication lowered their risk by only a third. 
Johns Hopkins researchers showed that specific blood pressure medications can decrease dementia risk in healthy elderly people. A medical expert, like a doctor, is best able to help you find the information and care you need. This information does not constitute medical advice or diagnosis. According to the Mayo Clinic Potassium-sparing diuretics prevent your body from absorbing too much salt and keep your potassium levels from getting too low. They are also used to treat or prevent hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood).
While taking a potassium-sparing diuretic, your doctor may want you to:
- Avoid potassium-rich foods
- Avoid salt substitutes
- Avoid low-sodium milk
- Avoid other sources of potassium
Well what are Blood Pressure Medication risks to watch for? 
All potassium-sparing diuretics can cause hyperkalemia. Several groups of patients are at particularly high risk of developing hyperkalemia if they take potassium-sparing diuretics. If symptoms do appear, they are usually non-specific or seem mild. You may feel a little muscle weakness, tingling as if your arm is asleep and waking up, numbness as if you cannot feel a body part, nausea, or other unusual feelings. It usually develops slowly over many weeks or months and is often mild. Your doctor can advise you what to do next which may include avoiding certain foods that are high in potassium or discontinuing the current medication you are on and switching to a different one. As always make sure to drink plenty of water. How much water? For healthy individuals, our friends at Harvard Health indicate that the average daily water for men is about 15.5 cups and for women about 11.5 cups.
Examples of potassium-sparing diuretics include:
- Amiloride (Midamor).
- Eplerenone (Inspra).
- Spironolactone (Aldactone, Carospir).
- Triamterene (Dyrenium).
Johns Hopkins-led an analysis based on data from more than 3,000 elderly Americans. What they found is that taking certain blood pressure medications can decrease the risk of dementia in healthy elderly people.
The research shows that high blood pressure in mid-life can increase the risk of developing dementia in later life, especially vascular dementia. Which is the decrease of blood to the brain. All this blood decrease results from conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain. This is known to make changes in our memory, our thinking, and our behavior. Cognition and brain function can be significantly affected by the size of decreased blood flow, the specific location of the loss, and number of vascular changes. Obviously we like the current brain and would prefer to have a great memory. Treating high blood pressure in older adults can reduce their risk of dementia.
The good news is that some antihypertensive medications (AHMs) can lower high blood pressure. As more research is currently being done there will be new information. We will update this post as these institutions continue investigating the brain benefits of blood pressure medications.
As we all know a lifelong approach to good health is the best way to lower your risk of debilitating diseases including dementia. With these researchers’ hard work compiling data and those that have gone before us, they give us yet further tools to gain the edge to living a HEALTHY long life.
Your Lifelong Approach to HEALTH should include Good Self-Care and it is not ever too late to start.
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Low sodium diet – Eating a heart healthful diet with reduced salt
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Physical exercise – Proactive Exercise consistently to whatever level you are at then work push yourself gently
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Medication – Taking medications prescribed by your doctor which can help lower blood pressure.
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Stress management – Do things which bring you joy consistently. Ask yourself how do I feel? What do I want?
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Quitting smoking – Yeah, you know.
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Home blood pressure monitors – There are these new devices on the market. Smart Watches. Yeah they work BUT can you work them. That is deserving of another post.
Our friends a NHS help us understand the lifestyle code – Treatment – – – High blood pressure (hypertension)
WebMD shows us what medicines can help – High Blood Pressure Drugs and How They Work
American Heart Association gives us the scoop on Blood Pressure Medication – Types of Blood Pressure Medications
Our friends at ALZ answer our important questions – What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Symptoms & Causes | alz.org
Mayo Clinic gives us more insight on Alzheimer’s disease – Symptoms and causes
We all know about water and that it is good for you but Harvard Health answers How much water should I drink a day? – Harvard Health
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Tomberlin brings a high level of education and experience to you as your Senior Placement Specialist at GPS. She loves writing about improving the lives of Elderly working in private care and in-home care for over 36 years. Geriatrics, Memory Care. Plus, she holds Master of Psychology Behavioral Health with the goal of advocating for those who needed a voice. Basically, LaVona believes helping the families to make good decisions and to relieve their stress in uncertain times makes life worthwhile!
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