High Blood Pressure Medicine Helps PTSD. Can it Help Alzheimer's Disease, Depression and Schizophrenia?
Could medicine currently used to treat high blood pressure protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia? Even though this sounds impossible, researchers think it's possible, and very likely, probable, according to a recent press release.
Researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University and the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center are focusing on the drug, Prazosin. At the present time, it's frequently used as an antipsychotic medication. Prazosin is under investigation to treat Alzheimer's disease, depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia because of how it works. Prozasin is already used to treat high blood pressure, and has been helpful in improving sleep and reducing the incidence of nightmares for military veterans who have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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I had a check up this morning. For the most part, it went fine but two things popped up. I've gained weight, which made no sense to me at all since I do not eat very much. I asked if stress could cause weight gain. Bingo! It can. It can also cause hair loss. That for me is not that big of a deal since I'm normally loaded with hair. The other problem is for the first time in my life my blood pressure was high enough that I now have to be on medication for it. Again the doctor said stress could be the reason.
He asked me what kind of stress I had going on now other than before. I told him that because of the outreach work I do, it's been taking a toll on my health, my sleep and my stress level. Giving up this work at a time when PTSD is exploding is not an option for me. I believe with all my heart this is what I was meant to do. Had I not fallen in love with my husband 25 years ago, I wouldn't have a clue what was going on with any of our veterans. This may cause me to cut back on the hours I spend but I can assure all of you that you won't really notice the difference on the blogs or in the email help. I just have to cut back on the research end.
The point to this disclosure is that stress can and does hit all parts of the body. I don't have PTSD, but I live with someone who does. It is very stressful for a long list of reasons mentioned often here. It is also very stressful to have PTSD. It does not end with the problems directly associated with PTSD but often causes problems with blood pressure, the heart, overall health as well as the health of those you have relationships with. I don't know if Prozasin will prove effective in treating PTSD but some treatments have been stumbled on. It is however essential that if you have PTSD, your blood pressure be monitored.
You need to go to a doctor for checkups often and at least disclose your PTSD to your doctor if you are not in treatment for PTSD. You know how I feel about treatment for PTSD. I've been preaching about getting help as soon as possible, but this is something I do not address often enough. Your health, all parts of it need to be taken care of. If I can get high blood pressure, anyone can. Stop and think about what you deal with in your life and then make the phone call to your doctor about getting a check up.
Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
http://www.namguardianangel.org/
http://www.namguardianangel.blogspot.com/
http://www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com/
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington
