I am 73 years old. Some 30 years ago, my BP started going up, and I was advised to reduce salt. I did it and monitored my BP every day, and watched it go down gradually but steadily. and it stayed down for a few years. Then it started climbing again, and I started taking anti-hypertensive medications. I now take two different such medications to keep my BP within normal range, and I watch my diet. Eliminating salt from your diet is very difficult because so many things contain salt. It's not just avoiding the salt shaker and avoiding salt in the food you cook. Most people do not know it, but milk, bread and most cold cuts and cheeses contain salt. Meats and fishes also contain some salt. The only things that contain no salt are potatoes, fruit and veggies, rice, grains, beans and unsalted nuts. You can accustom your taste buds to "like" unsalted food and, after a few weeks, you will find even lightly salted things too salty and wonder how you ever ate them. Depending on your personal situation, you might make life very complicated for the people you live with. If you decide to embark on this low sodium effort, make sure your BP elevation is not so high as to pose a serious risk, because you could do yourself harm if you do not get your BP under control promptly. Another thing to consider is that some people with high BP have a form of the disease that is particularly salt-sensitive. They respond especially well to reduced sodium intake. If your illness is not of that type, then you will probably eventually find that sodium restriction does not afford you the degree of BP control that you need, and you will have to start taking medication. Of you can try calcium supplements, but they can be constipating. The cheapest and for most people safest starting antihypertensive medication is hydochlorthiazide (HCZT), which is available as a generic and costs less than $20 per month. It's a very safe drug, and you will probably not experience any unpleasant side effects. Blood pressure control is one of the few areas where the drug industry has succeeded very well. The available treatments are highly effective and extremely safe. You will hardly know you are taking any medication, and the "silent killer" can be kept safely at bay.

You know, you'd do better if you could get more balance from your food. I'm sure I'm not telling you anything new, but I don't quite understand why no produce and why it wouldn't be in your control. But please, I'm not trying to get too personal. I have to disagree about doctors not knowing nutrition, my own is near genius - but I don't think you need a doctor to tell you your diet isn't adequate right now. There is so much in the product you name I couldn't begin to guess at what you might be sensitive to Whole Food Energizer Vitamin & Mineral Fruits, Veggies, Green Foods, Antioxidants, Ensymes, Mushrooms, Amino Acids, Herbs, Lutein & More! #1 Mega Nutrient Optimized for Women The most potent & complete multi-vitamin for women #1 Energy Multi with more energizing nutrients from more natural sources than other supplements 25 Vitamins & Minerals 24 Fruits & Vegetables 18 Amino Acids 12 Digestive Enzymes 14 Green Foods 12 Mushrooms (Organic) 40+ Antioxidant Sources Whole Body Nourishment for Bones, Skin, Muscles, Joints, Digestion, Immunity, Heart, Vision, Nerves, Cellular Energy and Metabolism Extra Nutrients for Womens Health Bones: extra Vitamin D (1,000 IU) and Vitamin K, plus plant-based Calcium and Magnesium Breast Health: extra Vitamin D plus Flax Lignans Hair/Skin/Nails: extra Biotin plus Horsetail Grass, MSM and Tru-OPCs⢠Reproductive: extra Folic Acid and Vitamin B6 Urinary Tract: CranRx⢠anti-adherence Cranberry Superior Absorption Rapid Disintegration Tablets Natural, Vegetarian Formula No Yeast, Milk, Lactose or Sugar I'll just end with I can tolerate Vit C from foods, tablet form is hard on my stomach too and I don't take it in supplement form.

I have HoMedics from Walgreens and can not recommend it. I bought my unit about 3 yrs ago, so changes could have been made in the intrim. It is easy enough to use and has a good display. My gripe: Suspected accuracy. I have to take more than one reading to get a repeat reading. The first reading is always higher than the next try, and its is high by a significant amount. The pressure sensor seems to have hysteresis.

The dentist that I had when I was young worked without an assistant most of the time. One did not have a hygienist. In both practices if he needed assistance the person at the front desk would come in and do it. But that was a simpler time and neither one of them dealt with insurance or had huge incomes or overhead. When I was in school, there was one main switchboard, and several of the departments had direct numbers. A student took over main switch board when she ate her lunch. She also passed out paychecks and pay stubs. There was one secretary receptionist in each department. There was two people in clinic management. There were three or four people who worked in the insurance office, with one interacting with the students. There is now a call center. There are three to four front desk peoplewho also answer phones as well as a coordinator in each clinic. There are layers and layers and layers of administrative staff that never existed when I was in school. There are probably 200 people doing the job of two dozen. The class size has not increased. The patient pool has not increased. Tuition of course has gone through the roof. Everything is much more complex than it used to be. When I first worked at the practice I have been at for 20 years the owner had an assistant and a front desk person and a part time hygienist. The current owner has two and a half assistants, almost two hygienists, a front desk person and there should be two, and there is a technology person who is not an employee but is probably there for several hours every month. Again, I am not sure that the patient population has increased dramatically.