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To: Lane3 who wrote (7970)	12/29/2009 7:12:52 PM
From: Frank Walker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 39297

You're fortunate to be able to stop the BP pills. I periodically go off my hypertension pills (common ACE inhibitor Ramipril + a diuretic) to see if I'm "cured" but no luck. The uncorrected systolic rises over a few days from 120/80 to 160/90. I've reduced my weight so it's optimal, a brisk 1 hour walk daily, decent food - all help me look and feel OK but no way I can drop the pills. I had a look at the Wikipedia page on pulse pressure, mine is a little high even after BP correction, it says there that folic acid might help. Will check out folic acid. en.wikipedia.org A 2005 study found that 5 mg of folate daily over a three-week period reduced pulse pressure by 4.7 mm of Hg compared with a placebo, and concluded that Folic acid is an effective supplement that targets large artery stiffness and may prevent isolated systolic hypertension re: pulse pressure is a generally accepted proxy for arterial stiffness. Thanks for the reminder. (I knew that once upon a time. <g>) Anecdote. Last spring I noticed my pulse pressure had gone up. I researched it and fretted a bit about it but didn't do anything and eventually the issue dropped off onto the back burner. A few months ago I eased off and finally stopped my BP meds altogether because my BP had gotten too low (probably due to weight loss). It is now normal without meds. 109/69 this morning. Reading your comment today reminded me of the pulse pressure question and a light bulb suddenly came on. I realized that my pulse pressure had gone back down since I stopped my meds. So now I can turn off the back burner.