Blood pressure

 

I don’t like taking blood pressure medicine.  It makes me feel sluggish and it messes with my libido.  I’ve tried it a few times, but so far have always been able to get back off it by managing weight, diet, exercise, and caffeine.

 

I see the ads on television that say “Don’t take Viagra if you take nitrates for chest pain, as it might cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure.”  The combination of Viagra and nitrates causes a drop in blood pressure?  I don’t take nitrates for chest pain, but since my heart issues years ago, I have a small bottle of nitroglycerine tablets in my pocket at all times, just in case.  If a person had high blood pressure, but didn’t want the side-effects of blood pressure medicine, then why not take a little bit of nitro, and a little bit of Viagra, and only experience a moderate drop in blood pressure?  The side effects of that cocktail might be more pleasant than the side effects of the prescription blood pressure treatment.