In recent years, high blood pressure has become a health problem that plagues many people. To control their blood pressure, many people choose to take blood pressure medications. However, many people have questions about whether they can drink milk while taking blood pressure medication. In fact, there is a certain interaction between antihypertensive drugs and milk, so it is advisable to stay away from the "6 substances", which include milk, while taking antihypertensive drugs.
First, let's understand the mechanism of action of a blood pressure medication. Antihypertensive drugs lower blood pressure primarily by inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) or blocking angiotensin receptors (ARB). These drugs regulate blood pressure in different ways, but they all have some effect on the human body.
Milk is a calcium-rich food, which is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. However, there is an interaction between the calcium in milk and antihypertensive drugs.
Some ingredients in antihypertensive drugs bind to the calcium in milk, reducing the absorption and efficacy of the drug. Therefore, if you drink milk while taking blood pressure medication, it may cause the drug to be less effective or even completely ineffective.
In addition, the protein in milk can also have an effect on blood pressure medications. Some components in antihypertensive drugs need to be bound to proteins to work, and the proteins in milk compete with the drugs to bind, reducing the drug's efficacy. Therefore, you should try to avoid drinking milk when taking antihypertensive drugs to ensure the efficacy of the medication.
In addition to milk, there are some other foods that should also be kept away while taking blood pressure medication. These foods include coffee, tea, chocolate, grapefruit, alcohol, and salt. The caffeine in coffee and tea stimulates the nervous system and increases the workload on the heart, which leads to an increase in blood pressure.
Theobromine in chocolate also stimulates the nervous system and increases blood pressure. The ingredients in grapefruit can interfere with the metabolism of antihypertensive drugs, which can affect the efficacy of the drugs.
Alcohol can cause blood pressure to rise, and increasing the amount of salt in blood pressure medication can lead to water retention in the body, increasing blood pressure. Therefore, the intake of these foods should be avoided as much as possible while taking antihypertensive medications.
In addition to food, there are some other substances that should also be kept away from blood pressure medications. These substances include tobacco, herbs, certain medications, and chemicals. The nicotine in tobacco causes blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure.
Ingredients in certain herbal medicines may interact with antihypertensive medications, affecting how effective they are. Certain drugs and chemicals can also interact with blood pressure medications, which can make them less effective.