The question now was why is this happening.. Last February, I started using my Nordic Track again. I used a heart monitor to make sure I did not exceed my aerobic heart rate. I did the calculation (85% of 220 - my age) and the answer was an appalling 127. Even worse news was that with my old settings I could not go very fast and I could not use my hands at all. I walk a lot and I ride a bike a lot. But neither of those really gave me a good cardio workout. After 4 months I was able to up my speed and use my arms. I was making good progress on my cardio workout.
But I had a hard time understanding why I went from 40 mg to 10 mg in a very short time. My friend Bryant pointed out that the L - Arginine supplement I take increases blood flow by enlarging my blood vessels. But I have been taking that for nearly 10 years. But his comment led me to the Plavix that I have been taking since the heart attack. It is a blood thinner. And I continue to take an 81 gr aspirin as suggested by my doctors. I believe that my cardio workouts (12 minutes 3 days a week) in conjunction with two blood thinners (Plavix and aspirin) plus the L - Arginine supplement have combined to bring my blood pressure down significantly. A typical resting pressure is now 110/62.
I am also hopeful that this will help reduce damage from my diabetes. And more will be revealed later.
