Reasons Patients May Take Too Much Synthroid
There are several hypothetical reasons as why a patient may end up taking too much synthroid. While taking too much is certainly not the norm, it could be a result of: misinterpreted dosing instructions, improper dosage , or intentionally taking more than usual . Most individuals that take too much synthroid do so unintentionally and/or unknowingly.
Taking Too Much Synthroid: Interindivdiual Variation In Dosing
Individuals undergoing treatment for hypothyroidism with synthroid are prescribed dosages aimed to optimize TSH levels. Excessively high TSH levels signifies that an individual is likely not getting enough synthroid. Since the severity of hypothyroidism is subject to individual variation and synthroid dosages necessitate patient-specific optimization, too much synthroid for one user may be a normal dose for another.
A person with severe hypothyroidism who weighs 200 lbs may take around 1.7 mcg/kg/day for a daily total dosage of ~154.22 mcg. Should the individual end up taking 175 mcg per day, he/she may exhibit subtle symptoms associated with too much synthroid. On the other hand, someone who weighs 140 lbs and is taking 1 mcg/kg/day for subclinical hypothyroidism, a total daily dosage may be just 63.5 mcg.
If the individual instructed to take 63.5 mcg of synthroid ends up taking 175 mcg per day, more severe symptoms are likely to emerge because the recommended dosage will have been surpassed by a significant amount. The lesser the extent to which an optimally calibrated dosage is surpassed, the less severe and/or numerous the symptoms of too much synthroid are likely to be. The greater the dosage over the optimal amount of synthroid needed for optimal function, the greater the symptomatic severity associated with the overdose.
Try Lifestyle Changes First
There are a number of measuresincluding losing weight, exercising more, cutting back on sodium, and drinking less alcoholthat can sometimes reduce or even eliminate your need for drugs. If your systolic level is moderately elevated , consider drugs only if after six months of serious attempts at diet and lifestyle changes your blood pressure hasnt dropped enough.
If youre 60 or older or you have diabetes or kidney disease and already take blood pressure medications that arent causing side effects, theres no need to change your prescription. But if the effects are bothersome and your levels are under control, ask your doctor about switching your prescription, lowering your dose, or cutting back to one drug.
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Treatment For High Pulse
Treatment for high pulse will vary according to a range of factors.
It is helpful to try to identify when the pulse first began to rise. Some episodes of a high pulse may be temporary. For example, if a person develops a high pulse after moving from a prone to a standing position too quickly, the heart might beat more quickly to compensate for gravitys effects.
People who experience bouts of low blood pressure or high pulse while moving from a prone to standing position could try to slow down these movements to help avoid the issue.
Exercising may also lead to a high heart rate, especially if a person is not very fit. This is because the heart may start beating faster even after a person attempts minor exercise.
If a person notices that their heart is beating faster, finding ways to calm the body and brain may help. A person can try slowing down their breathing rate or practicing guided meditations to help them relax and reduce heart rate.
If the heart rate does not go back to normal or if a person is worried, contact a doctor for a full diagnosis.
Upmc Central Pa Portal
UPMC Central Pa. Portal provides patients across the central Pennsylvania region with secure access to their health information. It is the fastest way to send a message to your doctor, refill prescriptions, get test results, and schedule and manage appointments, including video visits.
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Most People With Hypertension Feel Okay
Hypertension usually does not produce any symptoms, because the organs of the body can resist high blood pressure for a long time. Thats why its important to have regular medical examinations to make sure your blood pressure isnt creeping up as you grow older.High blood pressure over a period of time can contribute to many illnesses, including:
- heart attack
The effects of high blood pressure on the arteries are worsened by:
- cigarette smoking
- high levels of saturated fat in the diet
- high blood cholesterol
- diabetes.
Responses to some types of stress may affect both blood pressure and changes in the arteries, but this remains scientifically uncertain.
High Blood Pressure Facts
What every adult should know about high blood pressure, or hypertension
There’s a good reason why every doctor’s appointment starts with a blood pressure check. While one in three American adults has high blood pressure, about 20% of people are unaware that they have it because it is largely symptomless.
In fact, most people find out they have high blood pressure during a routine office visit.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries as the heart pumps blood. High blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension, is when that force is too high and begins harming the body. If left untreated, it willl eventually cause damage to the heart and blood vessels.
Your blood pressure is measured in two numbers: The top systolic blood pressure measures the force pushing against artery walls when the heart is contracting. The bottom diastolic blood pressure measures pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting between beats.
Normal blood pressure levels are 120 mmHg/80 mmHg or lower. At risk levels are 120-139 mmHg/80-89 mmHg. Readings of 140 mmHg/90 mmHg or higher are defined as high blood pressure.
Here are six other things you should know about high blood pressure.
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Why Does My Blood Pressure Drop When I Exercise
I noticed that after I exercise for about 60 minutes my blood pressure drops. What causes the drop in blood pressure?
Blood pressure normally rises during exercise. However, after exercise stops, blood pressure quickly returns to normal.
An individual who can exercise for 60 minutes is likely quite fit. The blood pressure rise during exercise in such a person would likely be minimal and the decrease afterwards would be rapid. This too is normal.
However, there are conditions that can alter the normal exercise induced rise and fall in blood pressure. For example, if one were to stop exercising suddenly without a cool down, the normal post-exercise drop in blood pressure could be dramatic. This phenomenon, called a vagal response, can cause one to feel dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous, or to pass out.
Cool down for at least five minutes at a slow pace before fully stopping. This problem can be exacerbated by dehydration and overall poor fitness with exercise beyond ones capabilities. Stay well hydrated and slowly increase your exercise level.
Other causes of exercise induced blood pressure lowering include problems with coronary arteries, heart muscle, and valves. Discuss this issue with your doctor who may refer you to a cardiologist for heart tests such as ECG, echocardiogram, and stress test.
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What Medications Are Used To Treat High Blood Pressure
Four classes of high blood pressure medications are considered first line when starting treatment. Sometimes other medications are coupled with these first-line drugs to better control your high blood pressure. First-line drug pressure lowering medications are:
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors block the production the angiotensin II hormone, which the body naturally uses to control blood pressure. When angiotensin II is blocked, your blood vessels dont narrow. Examples: lisinopril , enalapril , captopril .
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers block this same hormone from binding with receptors in the blood vessels. ARBs work the same way as ACE inhibitors to keep blood vessels from narrowing. Examples: metoprolol , valsartan , losartan .
- Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels, allowing these vessels to relax. Examples: amlodipine , nifedipine , diltiazem .
- Diuretics flush excess sodium from your body, reducing the amount of fluid in your blood. Diuretics are often used with other high blood pressure medicines, sometimes in one combined pill. Examples: indapamide, hydrochlorothiazide, chlorothiazide.
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How Is High Blood Pressure Treated
If high blood pressure is due to a condition like kidney disease or lung disease, treating it might be enough to get the blood pressure back to normal.
Doctors also might recommend lifestyle changes. If you have hypertension, your doctor might want you to:
Eat a healthy diet:
- Eat more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy.
- Limit salt.
- Avoid alcohol.
Get regular exercise:
- Try to exercise for 3060 minutes at least 3 times a week. But teens with severe hypertension should not do any weightlifting or power-lifting, bodybuilding, or strength training until their blood pressure is under control and a doctor says it’s OK.
Not smoke. Or if you do smoke, quit:
- People with high blood pressure should not smoke, and their home and car should be smoke-free.
If diet and exercise changes do not improve the blood pressure, doctors may prescribe medicine.
What Can Happen If I Have Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure And What Can I Do To Lower It
According to the guidelines of the Hypertension: 2007 public recommendations from the Canadian Hypertension Society, if your blood pressure is measured at 140/90 millimeters of mercury or more, and stays at that level, you have high blood pressure. If you have diabetes or kidney disease, high blood pressure is defined as 130/80 mmHg. For more information about high blood pressure, see I’ve been told I have high blood pressure – what does that mean?
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can be harmful to your body and can:
- damage the walls of your arteries, possibly causing tears or bulges in the arteries of the brain, heart, kidneys, abdomen, legs and eyes
- speed up hardening of your arteries
- lead to an enlarged heart and heart failure.
Artery damage and hardening of the arteries can cause:
- heart disease and heart attacks
- strokes
- reduced blood supply to the brain
- aneurysms.
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How Can You Manage Your High Blood Pressure
Treatment of high blood pressure often starts with lifestyle changes, including decreasing salt in your diet, losing weight if necessary, stopping smoking, cutting down on alcohol use, and regular exercise.
In addition to lifestyle changes, medications are often used to lower blood pressure. There are several types of medications that treat high blood pressure with each type of medication having benefits and risks that should be carefully weighed by you and your health care provider. Most people take more than one medication in order to bring their blood pressure down to their treatment goal.
Your blood pressure medication should begin to work within days. However, because high blood pressure is a long-lasting medical condition that often has little or no symptoms, remembering to take your medications can be a challenge. Combination medicines, long-acting or once-a-day medications, may be used to decrease the burden of taking numerous medications and help ensure medications regularly. Once started, the medication should be used until your doctor tells you to stop.
Controlling your blood pressure should be part of a healthy living plan and lifelong task. The damage that high blood pressure causes your internal organs does not cause any symptoms until serious damage has been done.
How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed
To figure out your blood pressure rate, your health care provider takes blood pressure readings at different times. You need more than 1 reading because blood pressure changes depending on what you are doing and varies during the day. For example, your blood pressure can increase when you are nervous or in a hurry.
If your blood pressure is high while with your health care provider but normal otherwise, you may just be nervous. This effect is common. Even people already being treated for high blood pressure go through this.
What matters is what happens to your blood pressure outside your health care providers office. If you have high blood pressure, you should use a home blood pressure monitor. Ask your health care provider how to use the monitor correctly.
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Regular Blood Pressure Checks
All adults should have their blood pressure checked regularly.footnote 2
Your doctor can let you know how often you should get your blood pressure checked. It may depend on what your blood pressure is and your risk for heart disease. You can get your blood pressure checked during any routine medical visit.
The automated devices you find in grocery stores or drugstores may not be accurate. Having your blood pressure checked at the doctor’s office is best.
A home blood pressure monitor makes it easy to keep track of your blood pressure. It’s a good idea to bring your home monitor to the doctor’s office to check its accuracy.
What Are The Complications Of Uncontrolled Hypertension
- Chest pain, also called angina.
- Heart attack, which occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked and heart muscle cells die from lack of oxygen. The longer the blood flow is blocked, the greater the damage to the heart.
- Heart failure, which occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to other vital body organs.
- Irregular heart beat which can lead to a sudden death.
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How To Measure Blood Pressure
Usually a nurse checks your blood pressure to make sure its not too low or too high before your doctors appointment. But you can also check your readings manually at home. You can use an inflatable cuff similar to those used at your doctors office. Or you can use a digital blood pressure monitor with automatic cuff inflation.
Read the directions carefully when measuring your blood pressure. Certain factors can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure. These factors include:
How Is Blood Pressure Measured
Health care providers measure blood pressure with a cuff that wraps around the upper arm. When the cuff inflates, it squeezes a large artery, stopping the blood flow for a moment. Blood pressure is measured as air is slowly let out of the cuff, which lets blood flow through the artery again.
Blood pressure is measured in two numbers:
You hear blood pressure reported as the first number “over” the second number, like 120 over 80 or 120/80.
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What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure
Most people who have high blood pressure do not have symptoms. This is why its sometimes called the silent killer. It is very important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
Some people experience headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath with high blood pressure. However, those symptoms can mimic many other things . Usually, these symptoms occur once blood pressure has reached a dangerously high level over a period of time.
Research And Statistics: How Many People Have High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is a very common condition, in both developing countries and industrialized nations.
According to the AHA, more than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure. That equates to nearly half of all adults in the United States.
High blood pressure is more common in men than in women, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. About 47 percent of men in the United States have high blood pressure, compared with 43 percent of women.
Only one in four Americans with hypertension have the condition under control.
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Natural High Blood Pressure Remedies
There are also natural remedies to interject into your daily lifestyle to regulate blood pressure and prevent cases of sudden high blood pressure. Be sure to discuss the use of the following products with your doctor in addition to your health regimen.
1. Celery
To prevent a blockage of blood vessels, consume celery daily. It contains phytochemicals that relax the muscles, allowing a smoother blood flow.
2. Fenugreek Seeds
This spice has fiber to help maintain blood pressure levels. Boil one to two spoonsful of seeds in water to create a paste. Consume one tablespoon per day.
3. Lemons
4. Coconut Water
Drink daily as a source of vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium to lower blood pressure.
5. Garlic
One of natures best immune system boosters, garlic is a blood thinner. Use at least four grams per day.
A person with high blood pressure is at risk for various health conditions including heart disease. If your high blood pressure numbers rise suddenly, it could indicate an underlying condition that requires immediate medical attention. There are certain medications and hormonal changes that can stimulate an increase in pressure without causing alarm.
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes and natural remedies in addition to your prescribed health regimen.
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