blood pressure question...

[T.M.]

Re: blood pressure question...

Your posts are not unwelcome by any means. But if you post we will give our opinions

Good! Now, how about some more?

Can excess water consumption raise blood pressure?

Because of the Atkins diet's apparent tendency to be a diuretic, there are warnings everywhere to drink a lot of water. Consequently, I have been drinking a large quantity of water (roughly 4 litres per day) even at times I'm not thirsty. (For example, before I jog for an hour, I take a big drink even though I am not thirsty at all. Before breakfast I take a big drink even though I'm not thirsty.)

I'm a great believer in letting nature take its course when it comes to many things, but on the subject of how much water to drink, I'm not at all sure. Should thirst be the ultimate guide as to how much to drink, or should Atkins' recommendation for a minimum of 8, 8-oz glasses (about 2 litres) be the starting point for how much water to drink? (After all, if thirst were an aedquate guide, why would Atkins have thought it necessary to prescribe a minimum amount ..... are people on the Atkins diet not drinking when they're thirsty, or does the diet somehow inhibit normal thirst?)

Thanks.

Edit: Just stumbled onto this:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7342/is_3_31/ai_71632701/

Quoting from the above,

"To examine how a glass of water affected blood pressure, he and his associates studied 11 patients with orthostatic hypotension. Their average systolic blood pressure was 120 mm Hg while seated and 80 mm Hg while standing. Each patient drank 480 cc (16 ounces) of tap water; 30 minutes later, their average systolic pressure was 145 mm Hg while seated and 110 mm Hg while standing."

Although I don't have hypotension, I can't help but notice two things. First, bp readings are different in some people (maybe everyone) while standing, versus seated. Second, at least for the hypotensive, water can raise blood pressure.

Tomorrow I'll be doing the obvious.

[ognum]

Re: blood pressure question...

Just a thought regarding change in blood pressure, have you been drinking a lot more prior to your doctors visit?
The reason I ask this is that an increase in your circulating blood volume can cause an increase in blood pressure just as if you have previously have been dehydrated your blood pressure could be lower.
While increasing your water intake is of course recommended, for some people with poor kidney function this can not be a good thing. Just a thought dont shoot the messenger!

[Suzanne_H]

Re: blood pressure question...

I believe you when you say your blood pressure is up. If at your weight you're jogging an hour a day as well as lifting weights... and you're only eating 1000 cals. per day, keeping carbs under 10... I'm not a physician, but this sounds extremely dangerous.

Can I assume you are also drinking at least 64 oz of water per day? Pretty sure at your BMI and activity level it needs to be much more, at least 100 oz...

Last time I was successful on Atkins I burned out. I didn't take the time to discover new, healthy foods that I could share with my family. I didn't bother mapping out menus in restaurants so I could stick to my diet while eating out. I overdid it at the gym and didn't vary my routine. In short, I got bored. I had the same eggs and bacon every morning with no veggies... the same spinach and tuna caesar salad for lunch every noon... the same high sodium processed meat and cheese snacks in the evening without so much as a nod toward healthy veggies and working up the rungs. My blood pressure went up as I stressed my body to the max, and when I fell off the wagon I fell hard. I had lost 38 lbs... since then I have gained 52.

Today I'm doing Atkins by the book and by the advice of the moderators here on ADBB. I'm eating my veggies and drinking water and being good to myself. So far I haven't suffered from cravings or huge temptations to cheat. I'm not "on the wagon", rather I'm making permanent lifestyle changes. And I'm losing a few pounds a month rather than the drastic ten a month. Yes, I get impatient, but it's not worth losing my life.