HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN EXERCISERS
Report #7247
The two first-line drugs used to treat people with high blood pressure, beta blockers and diuretics, are the ones most likely to interfere with a person's ability to exercise.
Beta blockers, such as Inderal, make you tired early in exercise by blocking your body's ability to respond to your own natural stimulants. Diuretics make you tired by causing you to start each exercise session dehydrated.
The vast majority of people with high blood pressure can achieve normal blood pressure by going on a low-fat diet and losing weight, but there are some who cannot control their high blood pressures without taking drugs. The drugs least likely to affect a person's ability to exercise or compete in high level sports are (1):
ACE INHIBITORS (Accupril, Altace, Capoten, Lotensin, Mavik, Monopril, Prinivil, Univasc, Vassotec, Zestril.
ANGIOTENSIN-II-RECEPTOR BLOCKERS, (Cozar)
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS (Adalat, Calan, Cardene, Cardizem, Covera, Dilacor, Dynacirc, Ispotin, Nimotop, Norvasc, Plendil, Procardia, Silar, Tiazac, Vascor, Verelan.
ALPHA-1 BLOCKERS. Cardura, Dibenzelene, Esimil, Hylorel, Hytrin, Minipres)
Many men die from, strokes and heart atacks because they won't take high blood pressure medications that make them impotent.
Antihypertensives that may interfere with sexual function:
Methyldopa
Guanethidine
Thiazide-type diuretics
Clonidine
Beta blockers
Captopril
Guanethidine
Guanabenz acetate
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News
1) Swain, R.; Kaplan, B. Treating hypertension in active patients - Which agents work
best with exercise? Physician and Sportsmedicine. SEP 1997;25(9):47. R Swain/1201
Washington St E/Suite 108/Charleston, WV 25301 USA. The high blood pressure medication,
Doxazosin, can be used to treat high blood pressure and impotence. Acebutolol, amlodipine
and enalapril do not cause impotence. Chlorthalidone does. 2) RH Grimm, GA Grandits, RJ Prineas, RH Mcdonald, CE Lewis, JM Flack, C Yunis, K
Svendsen, PR Liebson, PJ Elmer, J Stamler. Long-term effects on sexual function of five
antihypertensive drugs and nutritional hygienic treatment in hypertensive men and women:
Treatment of Mild Hypertension Study (TOMHS). Hypertension 29: 1 Part 1 (JAN 1997):page(s)
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Reported 10/6/97; Checked 9/5/05