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Some people, especially the elderly, often feel that drinking a glass of milk is a good choice after taking blood pressure medication at night. They believe that milk is rich in nutrients, helps supplement calcium, and aids in sleep.
However, some people find that their health conditions have not improved, and they experience discomfort, which is rooted in the interaction between blood pressure medication and milk.
Consider an elderly person whose blood pressure is usually well controlled, but recently felt that the medication’s effects were not as good as before. Therefore, he consulted a doctor who, after inquiring about his lifestyle habits, discovered that he drank a glass of milk every night after taking the medication.
Similar situations also occur among other hypertensive patients, such as a middle-aged individual who habitually drinks a cup of warm milk after taking blood pressure medication at night to aid sleep.
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Initially, he did not notice anything amiss. However, over time, he realized his blood pressure fluctuated. He eventually realized that milk might be the issue, so he adjusted the timing of milk consumption to the morning, resulting in more stable blood pressure.
Some blood pressure medications can chemically react with substances in milk, leading to precipitation in the intestines, affecting drug efficacy. Long-term combined intake may lead to unstable blood pressure control and increased cardiovascular event risks.
There was also a young patient who initially responded well to blood pressure medication, but after some time, his blood pressure became unstable.
Initially, he thought it was due to the medication, but after consulting with a doctor, he realized he habitually drank a large glass of milk in the morning, coinciding with his medication time. The doctor advised him to wait one to two hours after taking the medication before drinking milk.
Long-term simultaneous intake of blood pressure medication and milk may reduce drug efficacy, leading to poor blood pressure control and increased health risks.
If you or your loved ones are taking blood pressure medication, remember to pay attention to the timing of medication and milk consumption. It is best to separate the two by at least an hour to enjoy the nutritional benefits of milk without impacting the medication’s effectiveness.
While it is known that high-fat, high-salt, high-fat, and high-sugar foods are not suitable for hypertensive patients, seemingly healthy foods can also affect drug efficacy or directly impact blood pressure negatively. Many people are unaware of the issue with these foods.
The first to mention is licorice, a common traditional Chinese medicine ingredient added to soups or teas for its believed lung moisturizing and cough-relieving effects, especially common in cold seasons.
In essence, licorice acid causes the body to retain more sodium and excrete more potassium. This poses an issue for hypertensive patients, as increased sodium can elevate blood pressure and decreased potassium may worsen the condition.
Moreover, many antihypertensive drugs work by reducing sodium levels, leading to decreased drug effectiveness when consuming licorice-rich foods, possibly making blood pressure harder to control.
Therefore, despite licorice’s medicinal value, it is advisable for hypertensive patients taking antihypertensive medications to avoid consuming foods or drinks containing licorice.
Next, let’s look at foods rich in vitamin K. These leafy green vegetables are widely considered part of a healthy diet, but vitamin K plays a lesser-known role in the blood clotting process.
The third food to watch out for is certain soy products that contain substances that may affect the metabolism of antihypertensive medications. Plant estrogens may alter liver enzyme activity crucial to the metabolism of these medications.
If affected, the ingested antihypertensive drugs’ speed of action may change, particularly concerning individuals sensitive to medication efficiency. It is advisable for hypertensive patients to consume soy products in moderation to avoid adverse effects.
Then there is grapefruit and its juice. Certain components in grapefruit inhibit a critical enzyme in the liver, CYP3A4. Inhibiting CYP3A4 activity implies an increase in antihypertensive drug concentrations in the body, resulting in overly strong drug effects and sudden blood pressure drops.
In daily diets, apart from avoiding common high-oil, high-salt foods, hypertensive patients need to be particularly cautious about foods that may interact with medications, ensuring drug effectiveness to better control blood pressure. Choosing suitable dietary habits is essential for maintaining stable blood pressure and preventing complications.
In addition to timely taking antihypertensive medications, hypertensive patients can lower blood pressure and maintain overall health through uncommon lifestyle habits and exercises.
While these methods may not be as well-known as deep breathing, walking, or meditation, they are equally effective and easily implementable, making them suitable for daily use.
Controlling blood pressure through foot baths may sound like a relaxing practice commonly done by the elderly. Still, in reality, foot baths have a significant positive effect on blood pressure regulation.
Foot soaking in hot water can promote overall blood circulation, especially blood flow in the lower limbs, reducing the heart’s workload and assisting in lowering blood pressure.
Next is ear massage, as the ears function as a “small universe” in our bodies interconnected with various organs.
In traditional Chinese medicine theory, ears are considered the convergence point of the body’s meridians. By massaging ear acupoints, one can regulate the body’s Qi and blood circulation, aiding in lowering blood pressure.
This method is simple, can be done while watching TV or listening to music without special equipment, making it ideal for hypertensive patients to use in everyday life.
There is an elderly hypertensive patient who massages his ears every morning and evening. He found that this method not only helps him feel relaxed but also helps maintain stable blood pressure unconsciously.
He even engages in a few minutes of ear massage during significantly stressful daytime periods to help him maintain emotional stability and control blood pressure fluctuations.
The third practice to introduce is static squatting. Static squatting is a simple exercise that primarily regulates systemic blood distribution through the tension and relaxation of lower limb muscles, achieving the effect of lowering blood pressure.
There is a young hypertensive patient who, due to a busy work schedule, lacks time for lengthy aerobic exercise but sets aside a few minutes each day for static squat exercises.
Lastly, abdominal breathing is particularly effective for hypertension. Through deep breaths, a strong lung oxygen exchange is promoted, lowering heart rate, relaxing the body, ultimately reducing blood pressure.
There is a long-term hypertensive patient who practices abdominal breathing every morning and evening. He found that this method not just helps him stabilize blood pressure but also aids him in facing life’s pressures more calmly. Even on days with significant blood pressure fluctuations, abdominal breathing assists him in quickly calming down, preventing further blood pressure spikes.
Consistent effort in these minor exercises, though seemingly insignificant, can significantly benefit long-term health maintenance.
What are your thoughts on not being able to drink milk while taking blood pressure medication? Welcome to discuss in the comments!
References
[1]周方静,张配豪,张星星,等.基于数据挖掘分析真实世界中医治疗高血压伴失眠用药规律[J].山西中医,2024,08.15
