The top 5 medications prescribed in 2021 are:
Atorvastatin
Levothyroxine
Lisinopril
Metformin Hydrochloride
Amlodipine
Let’s break down what these medications are used for and other important information about them.
Starting with #5, Amlodipine is used to treat high blood pressure and certain types of chest pain. Amlodipine is in a class of medications called calcium channel blockers, which simply means that it relaxes blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. According to the CDC, nearly half of adult Americans have high blood pressure, the real number is 108 Million that is 45% of the population. High Blood Pressure is the leading cause for heart disease and stroke, both of which are the leading cause of death in the US. Only half of those people prescribed with high blood pressure actually have it under control, and in 2018 half a million people died with hypertension as a primary or secondary factor. Think about it, that is nearly 1,400 deaths a day just because of high blood pressure.
Some of the side effects of Amlodipine are edema (swelling), excess fluid in the lungs, headache, fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, nausea, flushing, abdominal pain, sleepiness, male sexual disorder, drowsiness, itching, skin rash, and muscle cramps and weakness. Non-medical options for treating high blood pressure or hypertension are Magnesium and Vitamin D. Magnesium may help reduce blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide, a signaling molecule that helps blood vessels relax. There have been many studies showing a direct link between people with higher levels of Vitamin D in their blood, having lower blood pressure. The most recent study reported that people with the highest levels of Vitamin D in their blood had a 30% reduced risk of high blood pressure.
Metformin Hydrochloride is used to control high blood sugar, it is used with patients who have type 2 Diabetes. More than 34 million Americans have diabetes, and 1 in 5 of those people don’t know it. More than 88 Million adults have prediabetes, which is over a third of the population, and 84% of them don’t know it. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled as the American population has aged and become more overweight or obese. Medical costs and lost work and wages for people with diagnosed diabetes total $327 billion yearly.
Some of the side effects for Metformin Hydrochloride are heartburn, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, headache, and a metallic taste in your mouth. There are several supplements that can help you naturally lower your blood sugars. Cinnamon supplements are the best studied to show a lowering in blood sugars. It works by helping your body’s cells better respond to insulin, in turn this allows sugar into your cells, which lowers your blood sugar. The next highest rated supplement to lower blood sugar is American Ginseng. American Ginseng works by improving your cells' response to and increasing your body’s secretion of insulin.
Lisinopril is for High Blood Pressure, or Hypertension. Lisinopril is in a class of medications called ACE inhibitors, which dilate the blood vessels allowing for blood to flow easily. Now since we already covered all the necessary medical facts regarding high blood pressure when we were discussing Amlodipine, I won’t cover them again. Although it is clear that High Blood Pressure should not be ignored.
Some of the side effects of Lisinopril are weakness or cramping in the legs, cold hands and feet, dry hacking cough that won't go away, dizziness, drop in blood pressure when first standing up, dry mouth, insomnia, headaches, and heartburn. What are other ways to treat high blood pressure or hypertension? The top two recommended supplements to alleviate high blood pressure are Magnesium Lactate and AF Betafood. Magnesium Lactate promotes cellular energy production, helps facilitate muscle contraction, and supports the body’s energy production, which is used by the central nervous system, neuromuscular system and cardiovascular systems. AF Betafood supports normal processing of dietary fats for cholesterol and metabolism support. Another highly effective treatment for hypertension is chiropractic adjustments. By allowing the nerves to work at their optimal levels, especially the nerves that innervate the heart, you can effectively lower your blood pressure numbers.
Levothyroxine is used to treat an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism. Your thyroid releases thyroid hormones. The hormones control how fast your body’s chemical functions work (metabolic rate). Almost every cell in your body needs thyroid hormones. Among many other things, thyroid hormones help control how fast you burn calories, how fast your heart beats, and your body temperature. Women over 50 are more susceptible to develop hypothyroidism. Over 20 million Americans are affected, and 1 in 8 women have hypothyroidism.
Some of the side effects of Levothyroxine are increased appetite, weight loss, heat sensitivity, excessive sweating, headache, hyperactivity, nervousness, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, trouble sleeping, tiredness, tremors, muscle weakness, changes in menstrual periods, hair loss, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Alternative treatments to Levothyroxine are Selenium, Iodine, Zinc, and Iron. Selenium, a mineral needed for thyroid hormone production, helps protect the thyroid from damage caused by oxidative stress. The thyroid contains high amounts of selenium, and a deficiency can lead to thyroid dysfunction. Iodine is critical for thyroid function. In fact, currently, the only known role of iodine is to support thyroid hormone production. The mineral zinc is required for thyroid hormone production. An optimal concentration of zinc is needed for healthy levels of T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The thyroid needs iron to convert T4 into T3, the active form of thyroid hormone. Iron deficiency is associated with thyroid dysfunction.
Atorvastatin, also called lipitor, is used to treat high cholesterol, by lowering the bad cholesterol and fats, and raising good cholesterol in the blood. It works by lowering the amount of cholesterol made by the liver. 93 million U.S. adults age 20 or older have total cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL. Nearly 29 million adult Americans have total cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dL. 7% of U.S. children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 have high total cholesterol. High cholesterol has no symptoms, so many people don’t know that their cholesterol is too high. A simple blood test can check cholesterol levels. Having high blood cholesterol raises the risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death, and for stroke, the fifth leading cause of death.
Atorvastatin, or Liptor has many side effects, such as gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, cold symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, joint pain, insomnia, urinary tract infection, nausea, loss of appetite, indigestion symptoms such as stomach discomfort or pain, increased transaminases, muscle spasms with or without pain, musculoskeletal pain (pain that affects the muscles, ligaments, tendons bones, land joints, muscle pain, limb pain, mouth and throat pain, chest pain, lightheadedness and fainting, shortness of breath or other breathing problems, muscle weakness or loss of muscle strength, muscle ache, severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and muscle inflammation, with or without pain. Changing your diet and exercising are the two primary ways to help yourself lower your cholesterol naturally, but if you need further assistance there are many supplements that can help as well. Niacin, Soluble fiber and Phytosterols have all been proven to help lower your cholesterol naturally. Niacin is a B vitamin that increases the level of good cholesterol and reduces triglycerides, another fat that can clog arteries. Soluble fiber lowers the cholesterol absorption in your bloodstream. Phytosterols prevent your intestines from absorbing cholesterol.
*This blog is not meant to diagnose or treat any of the above listed diseases, but to provide information.
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