Dayummm!!!! You’ll recall that in response to a recent test indicating mildly elevated liver enzymes, I decided not only to lose a few pounds but also to go totally, completely on the wagon?
Well, I’ve been riding that dietetic wagon for a little over a month. Lost about five pounds. It’ll be the middle of August before we know whether the present frolic has an effect on one’s liver enzymes — the medicos like to wait three months before retesting.
But… In the absence of my favorite potables, something amazing has happened to the blood pressure: the average — yes, average! — is down to 117.4/79.6.
Holy mackerel!
After 18 days off the sauce, I decided for the heck of it to check the BP numbers again, even though I hate it and even though MayoDoc said to knock that off. Thought I’d take a look about once every ten days or two weeks.
So.
18 days into the Wagon Ride: Average = 127.2/87.6 (This, after discarding the initial reading of 142/91.3. Two systolic readings were in the 130s.)
24 days off the sauce: Average = 124.8/83.4 (all readings)
32 days booze-free: Average = 117.4/79.6 (no discarding of anything!)
A-n-n-d this happens at the time of day when my BP is normally at its highest.
Is that ay-mazing or NOT?
The BP did drop the last time I lost weight…but five pounds is not very much. The last weight-loss gambit associated with this flap was thirty pounds.
The difference is…last time I decidedly did not get off the sauce. A glass of wine or beer with dinner — the big meal of the day — is one of the very few small pleasures remaining to me. I do not drink myself into a stupor — very rarely do I drink enough to feel even faintly high. And there is a limit to the array of lifestyle blandishments I’m willing to do away with.
But apparently…if you believe there’s a connection…apparently even two glasses of wine a day is enough to push your BP upward.
Maybe the Christian Scientist relatives had something.