Q: I started taking blood pressure medication two months ago. My BP is down, but I hate the way it makes me feel. I'm tired all the time, and frankly the zip has gone out of my zipper. Is there a way to keep taking this medicine and regain my zip? - Horace M., Biloxi, Mississippi
A: There's no reason to live like that. You need to talk to your doc about solutions - there are many.
First, you need to understand that high blood pressure itself causes sexual dysfunction, so taking steps to lower it with lifestyle changes and meds has got you moving in the right direction!
Second, some of the meds do cause fatigue and changes in sexual function (some impair and some increase libido). There are many alternatives available, and you may react differently to them. For folks who have had a heart attack (you didn't say if you'd had one), beta blockers are the go-to choice. For other folks, there are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), diuretics and calcium channel blockers (CCBs). While they all may cause sexual dysfunction, ACE inhibitors, ARBs and CCBs can cause also drowsiness; it may be worth trying a new type. So, talk with your doc and don't be reluctant to mention the sexual problems.
Third, if your current medication makes you tired during the day, talk to your doc about taking it at night. You'll feel more energetic in the daytime and be more inclined to exercise (that's really important for improving blood pressure). Aim for at least 30 minutes five days a week.
Fourth, try the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension) diet. It's designed to help lower blood pressure.
Fifth, if your doc says it's OK, you may be able to use erectile dysfunction drugs. With the proper supervision and a prescription, they're often safe to combine with blood-pressure-lowering meds. But only with your doc's OK.
Q: My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer a few years ago, and the tumors were treated with targeted radiation. Thankfully, they went away, but he still goes in twice a year for a CT scan. If he lives for another 30 years and gets two a year, that's 60 more scans. Isn't that too much radiation exposure? - Willie G., Manchester, New Hampshire
A: At some point, your dad's oncologist may back off the frequency of the CT (computerized tomography) scans, not only because of the radiation exposure, but with repeated good results, there will be less and less of a reason for them. However, you have asked a good question. These two things are true:
1. CT scans often offer the most precise look available into the human body. Since they were invented in the late 1970s, a lot of lives have been saved because of the technology. However, they're used somewhat more often than they need to be: In 1980, there were fewer than three million CT scans per year; today there are more than 80 million.
2. One CT scan exposes you to the equivalent radiation of 200 chest X-rays. Children are most vulnerable to the associated risks. Because they may have an 85-year or more lifespan, natural exposure to radiation (we get about the equivalent of one CT scan every seven years) plus actual CT scans can add up to a lot of radiation over the decades. Body tissue in folks over 60 is not as sensitive to radiation.
Anyone undergoing multiple CT scans should ask their doc the following questions:
- Will an ultrasound or MRI yield the same diagnostic information?
- Can I (or my child) have the lowest effective radiation dose possible?
- Does the doctor own the CT or have a financial interest in the imaging center? If so, get a second opinion.
The bottom line: A CT scan is a great diagnostic tool. If it's necessary, be glad you can get it.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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