AboutWilliam B. Jeffries, Ph.D. Expertise Questions on the mechanism of action and side effects of antihypertensive drugs, the epidemiology of hypertension and the cardiovascular complications of untreated or undertreated high blood pressure
Experience I have been an investigator in the field of hypertension research for over 20 years.
Organizations Council for High Blood Pressure Research
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
American Heart Association
Publications Hypertension, Journal of Hypertension, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Molecular Pharmacology, American Journal of Physiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Dentistry
Question Hello Dr. Jeffries,
I hope you can clarify a few things for me. My son has been seeing a cardiologist for three years mainly because of family history and the fact that his blood pressure has been borderline (mid 130's over mid to high 80's). His father (CABG age 51), grandfather (CABG age 55) and great-grandfather (deceased of MI age mid-50's) all have CAD and we had our son screened due to that bad history. His initial echo in 2006 was relatively negative and he has been in the MD's office every 6 months since then for follow-up,: no change in the blood pressure readings. He had a new echo today, BP the same, with the echo showing some "thickening" so the MD is starting him on Lisinopril once per day. He is a very active fit college student, trains for sprint marathons (swimming, biking, running), works out with weights, eats a well-rounded heart-healthy diet for the most part (mixed with some fast food) is 5'9" and weighs about 168. He drinks like a college student, heavy at times on weekends. My questions: (1):Can the echo tell the difference between thickening due to aerobic exercise and thickening due to increased blood pressure? (2):I am always concerned about alcohol use and I know he won't change his behavior on this medicine: is there any specific info I should give him about using alcohol while on BP meds?
Thank you for your help.
Susan
Answer The answer to your first question is that aerobic exercise does not produce the type of thickening that has been referred to - ventricular hypertrophy usually results from hypertension. Hypertrophy is a potentially serious sign in hypertension, and ACE inhibitors like lisinopril can prevent its development. The main danger with alcohol abuse and lisinopril is that acute alcohol intoxication can lead to a magnification of the effects of lisinopril. Thus, blood pressure may fall to a level where the patient becomes dizzy of even faints. Long term heavy alcohol use raises blood pressure, which worsens hypertension and makes it harder to control. My advice is to use alcohol in moderation. Binge drinking should be avoided.
