Last time I went to the doc my BP was around 168/105; he gave me Hyzaar. It gave me a number of side-effects, including hives, plus it didn’t work very well. Next he gave me Norvasec, which made me feel sick, plus I felt like the top of my head was coming off. The doc said my body would adjust to the drug and I would feel okay. I just wondered why, if the drug wasn’t harming me, my body reacted so adversely? I looked up these drugs and reading about what they can do to you is terrifying. Then I read that even though these meds may lower your pressure there is no reduction in heart attacks, strokes, diabetes. So was I supposed to spend the rest of my life feeling like crap and risking damage to other organs for nothing? I already exercised (45 laps a week and weight training, bicycle, treadmill); so I found a natural medication recommended by Dr. Mirkin, a doctor in DC who had a radio program for 25 years and prefers natural (although not exclusively) natural supplements rather than drugs. I also started the DASH diet, a diet developed at Harvard specifically for hypertension. My pressure now (three months later) averages 128/78; sometimes a little higher, sometimes lower. If I lost some weight I’m sure it would be lower, but I’ve lost and gained hundreds of lbs so I’ve pretty much run out of motivation. I happen to like the food on DASH so that helps immensely. Don’t panic, but realize that most doctors aren’t going to say anything to you but “take this drug”. I wish you health. www.drmirkin.com