I have been doing low carb atkins for just over 8 weeks.i have lost 20 pounds in that time,and have felt really good all this time i `ve been low carb.My blood pressure has been on the high side for years approx 145/85.For the past week it has been averaging 190/110 and as high as 197/116.I have been taking it 3 or 4 times a day because i am quite concerned.The only thing different that i`ve done lately is i started taking coral calcium supplements about a week ago.I stopped taking them as of yesterday to see if that had an effect but so far today it is still real high.What i would like to know if anyone has had similar experience with high blood pressur doing low carb.I don`t want to go off the low carb diet but i am getting nervous about the fat /my blood pressure.

Hmmm... was there magnesium in those calcium pills, also? High blood pressure can be caused by a magnesium deficiency, so if you were taking a calcium/magnesium suppliment, then stopped, you could be deficient again.

I'm just brainstorming here, I've never heard of low-carbing causing high blood pressure. It tends to lower it.

(edit) I grabbed my copy of Protein Power to re-read the section on magnesium. They note that many doctors (including themselves) will administer magnesium intravenously to lower a patients blood pressure, and it works almost instantly. Magnesium deficiency is very common, and since drug companies can't patent a natural substance, they want to sell you calcium channel blockers instead. (Magnesium is your natural calcium channel blocker.) Whadda racket.

Thanks for the reply .Yes there was magnesium in the calcium,but i was only taking them for about 1 or 2 weeks,and my pressure was not nearly as high before i took them.

Heh - you replied while I was editing my other post.

That's odd. Has it been going up and down for a few weeks? Were you on any medications for it?

Yes Kristine i have been on viox for 6or 7 weeks because of a knee injury,the other thing i realized i was taking an over the the counter nasal spray and sudafed but i stopped taking them almost a week ago.Maybe that is the culprit causing the high pressure.Today my pressure was 155 over 90,so it is coming down some.I have an appointment for a regular physical this friday hopefully it will continue to go down if not,will see what the doctor thinks,anyway thankyou for responding,i really like this forum,I don`t post much,but go to it daily ,keeps me inspired and has been a lot of help from lots of other posters.

stoogy

The numbers you gave are pretty high. Are you on medication? Glad to hear it's down some, and you're going to see your physician.

Please ask your doc for some parameters! If you're on medication you should be given high and low parameters....when to hold your med and when to call your doc. Even if you're not on meds, ask your doc at what point do you become concerned and call the doc or go to the ER.

Also ask what types of over-the-counter (OTC) meds you can safely take. A lot of cold preparations can increase your BP, and in your case, where it's already elevated, that can be very dangerous.

Cindy