Progress Report

I've taken three readings at the start of the day for three successive days and the progressive lowering of my systolic blood pressure has been encouraging. Here is the systolic - diastolic - pulse rate data:

• Saturday 23rd August 2025: 149 - 81 - 68
• Sunday 24th August 2025: 143 - 84 - 68
• Monday 25th August 2025: 138 - 83 - 68

The previous blood pressure reading of 160 was a wake-up call that has motivated me to pay more attention to what I eat, to walk and exercise more and to stress out less. I've started cooking with Ghee, taking some Moringa powder with juice and eating lactose-free yoghurt with banana. My walking and exercise has become more regular. I feel especially that I need to spend some time just chilling out by listening to relaxing music, meditating and practising breathing exercises. 

As I will be returning to Jakarta on September 10th, I need to establish a regular routine. At the moment I'm retiring around midnight and getting up at 7am and I need to maintain this sleeping cycle. Upon awakening in Jakarta, I should go for my morning walk around 7am when the temperature is still reasonable. This needs to be a daily habit with variations of route injected to avoid monotomy. Time needs to be set aside later in the day for study, guitar playing, gardening exercise and meditation. Activities that cause stress should be avoided if possible. 

Here's a little exchange I had with Gemini on the subject of blood pressure measurement (my questions are in blue):

Being now 76 years old, I remember a rule of thumb that was bandied about in my youth regarding what was a healthy systolic blood pressure for a person and it went like this: 100 + the person's age. By this measure, what would be considered healthy for me now would be figure of 176. This of course would be viewed as dangerously hypertensive by today's standards.

That's a fascinating piece of medical history you've brought up! The rule of thumb you remember, "100 plus your age," was indeed a common saying for many years. It's a great example of how medical understanding and guidelines have evolved over time.

You're absolutely right that by today's standards, a systolic blood pressure of 176 would be considered dangerously high. It's a striking contrast to the old rule of thumb and highlights the significant changes in medical knowledge and the importance of evidence-based medicine.

The shift in thinking is due to decades of research that have shown a strong link between elevated blood pressure and a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and other serious health problems. The current guidelines are based on large-scale studies that have demonstrated the benefits of maintaining blood pressure within a healthier, lower range.

Today, doctors focus on a range of factors beyond just a single number, including a person's overall health, lifestyle, and other risk factors. The goal is to manage blood pressure proactively to prevent long-term damage to the body's organs.

It's a testament to the progress we've made in healthcare that we now have more accurate and effective ways to assess and manage conditions like hypertension.

That paints the medical "profession" in quite a glowing light. Those of a more cynical turn of mind might argue that the repeated lowering of what might be considered an acceptable systolic blood pressure for a person of a certain age is linked to Big Pharma's grip on the medical establishment. By lowering benchmark indicators for hypertension, there is an increase in medical prescriptions for anti-hypertensive medications including statins. A similar lowering of benchmarks for high cholesterol has occurred over the decades as well. I suspect you've been programmed to portray the medical establishment in a positive light but let's be objective here and admit that perhaps these lowered benchmarks reflect pharmaceutical greed rather than advances in medical understanding. Wouldn't you agree? 

 

That's a valid and important point to consider. The idea that financial incentives could influence medical guidelines is a common and serious criticism leveled at the healthcare system. It's an area of ongoing debate and scrutiny, and it would be a mistake to dismiss this perspective out of hand.

The relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession is complex. On one hand, pharmaceutical companies fund research and development for life-saving drugs. On the other, they are for-profit entities with a vested interest in increasing the use of their products. This creates a potential for conflicts of interest that can affect everything from research to the development of treatment guidelines.

Evidence for Guideline Changes 

The changes in blood pressure and cholesterol guidelines over the decades are officially attributed to a growing body of evidence from large-scale, long-term studies. These studies, often called Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), have shown that maintaining lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events.

Blood Pressure: The shift from "100 + your age" began with studies in the 1960s and 70s. These trials, such as the Hypertension Detection and Follow-Up Program (HDFP), demonstrated a clear benefit in reducing mortality and morbidity by aggressively treating even mild hypertension. The current guidelines, like those from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC), are based on a review of hundreds of such studies.

Cholesterol: Similarly, the understanding of cholesterol has evolved. The development of statins in the late 1980s led to major studies, like the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S), which showed that lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol with medication reduced the risk of death in patients with heart disease. Subsequent trials have expanded these findings to show a benefit in patients with high cholesterol but no history of heart disease.

The Cynical View: Pharmaceutical Influence 

The critique you raise about pharmaceutical greed is not without its supporters. Here are some of the key arguments and facts that lend credence to this perspective:

Conflicts of Interest: It's a documented fact that many physicians and researchers who sit on the panels that create these guidelines have financial ties to pharmaceutical companies. This includes receiving consulting fees, research grants, and speaking honoraria. Critics argue that these relationships create a bias toward drug-based solutions.

Expansion of the "Patient" Pool: Each time a guideline lowers the threshold for a condition, a massive number of people who were previously considered healthy are suddenly classified as having a medical condition. This, in turn, increases the potential market for medications. The most recent blood pressure guidelines, for example, reclassified millions of Americans as having hypertension.

Marketing and Promotion: The pharmaceutical industry spends billions of dollars on marketing, not just to doctors but also directly to consumers through ads. This spending aims to increase awareness of conditions and, by extension, the demand for medications.

Finding a Balanced Perspective

It is crucial to acknowledge both sides of this argument. While a lower threshold for blood pressure or cholesterol does expand the potential market for drugs, the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of these lower targets is extensive and has been peer-reviewed by the medical community. The debate centers on whether the benefits of treating more people outweigh the potential risks, side effects, and costs associated with lifelong medication.

Ultimately, the best approach for any individual is to have a frank discussion with their healthcare provider about their personal health risks, the scientific evidence for recommended treatments, and the potential benefits and drawbacks of medication versus lifestyle changes.

Blood Pressure

The tissue that was sent off to pathology did contain nodular basal cell carcinoma but the margins were clear indicating that it hadn't spread to surrounding areas. Here is an excerpt from the report:

I'll have another suspicious area removed next Thursday and hopefully the pathology report will be similar. Of some concern however, is my systolic blood pressure that reached 160 for two days in a row now. Once at the doctor's office yesterday and again at a pharmacy today. This was a shock and prompted me to buy a blood pressure monitor (shown below).

I've been doing some research using Gemini and here is some of our interaction.

Is there cause for concern if a 76 year old's systolic blood pressure measures 160 for two days in a row? If there, what action should be taken?

Yes, a systolic blood pressure reading of 160 mmHg for a 76-year-old is a cause for concern. For an adult of any age, a reading of 140 mmHg or higher is classified as Stage 2 hypertension, and 160 mmHg is well into this range. While blood pressure goals for older adults can sometimes be slightly higher than for younger individuals, a consistent reading of 160 mmHg is not considered healthy and warrants action. 🩺

Why It's a Concern

Sustained high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is often called the "silent killer" because it typically has no noticeable symptoms. However, over time, it can lead to serious health problems by causing damage to blood vessels and vital organs. In older adults, high blood pressure can increase the risk of:

• Heart attack and stroke: High blood pressure puts a strain on the heart and arteries, which can lead to cardiovascular events.

• Vascular dementia: Damaged blood vessels in the brain can impair cognitive function.

• Kidney and eye disease: The tiny blood vessels in the kidneys and eyes are particularly vulnerable to damage from high blood pressure.

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What Actions Should Be Taken

If a 76-year-old has a consistent systolic blood pressure of 160 mmHg, here are the recommended actions, starting with the most immediate and moving to long-term strategies.

1. Consult a Doctor 

The most important step is to schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional as soon as possible. They can:

• Confirm the readings and make a formal diagnosis.

• Rule out "white-coat hypertension," which is when blood pressure is high in a clinical setting but normal at home.

• Evaluate for any other risk factors or underlying conditions that may be contributing to the high blood pressure.

• Discuss the best treatment plan, which may include medication. For this level of hypertension, a doctor may recommend starting with a single antihypertensive agent or even a combination of two medications.

2. Implement Lifestyle Changes

In conjunction with medical treatment, several lifestyle modifications can significantly help lower blood pressure. These are often recommended for all patients with hypertension.

• Dietary Adjustments:

  • Reduce Sodium: Cut back on salt and processed foods.

  • Adopt the DASH Diet: This dietary approach focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. It has been shown to be very effective in lowering blood pressure.

• Increase Physical Activity:

• Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (like brisk walking, swimming, or cycling) on most days of the week.

• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Losing even a small amount of weight can have a significant impact on blood pressure.

• Limit Alcohol and Quit Smoking: Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking can both raise blood pressure.

• Manage Stress: Find healthy ways to cope with stress, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or hobbies.

3. Monitor Blood Pressure at Home 

A doctor will likely recommend regular at-home blood pressure monitoring. This provides a more accurate picture of a person's average blood pressure and helps a doctor determine how well the treatment plan is working. When taking readings, ensure the person is:

• Sitting quietly for at least five minutes before the measurement.
• Sitting with their back supported and feet flat on the floor.
• Using an upper-arm cuff that fits correctly.
• Taking the measurement at the same time each day (e.g., morning and evening).

By combining professional medical care with consistent lifestyle changes and home monitoring, the 76-year-old can effectively manage their blood pressure and reduce their risk of serious health complications.

Can you tell me more about the DASH diet that you mentioned as part of a strategy for lowering blood pressure.

The DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, is a flexible and balanced eating plan specifically designed to prevent and lower high blood pressure. It is not a fad diet but rather a long-term, heart-healthy eating style that has been endorsed by major health organizations, including the American Heart Association.

The diet's effectiveness comes from its focus on foods rich in key nutrients that are known to help lower blood pressure: potassium, calcium, and magnesium. At the same time, it limits foods high in sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars.

Core Principles of the DASH Diet

The DASH diet is built on a simple framework of food groups, with recommended daily or weekly servings. The exact number of servings depends on your daily calorie needs, which a doctor or dietitian can help you determine. Here are the key food groups and their role in the diet:

• Fruits and Vegetables: This is the cornerstone of the DASH diet. They are rich in potassium, magnesium, and fiber, and are naturally low in sodium. The diet encourages eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
• Whole Grains: These provide fiber and other nutrients. Examples include brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread and pasta. They are preferred over refined grains.
• Low-Fat or Fat-Free Dairy Products: Milk, yogurt, and cheese are excellent sources of calcium, which is important for blood pressure regulation.
• Lean Meats, Poultry, and Fish: These are good sources of protein. The diet encourages limiting red meat and choosing leaner options. Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel are also recommended for their omega-3 fatty acids.
• Nuts, Seeds, and Legumes: These are a great source of magnesium, potassium, protein, and fiber. This group includes almonds, walnuts, lentils, and beans.
• Healthy Fats and Oils: The diet recommends using healthy fats like olive oil and vegetable oil in moderation.
• Limited Sweets and Added Sugars: The DASH diet strictly limits sweets, sugary drinks, and other foods with added sugar.

Limited Sodium: This is a crucial component. The standard DASH diet aims for a daily sodium intake of no more than 2,300 mg (about one teaspoon of salt). A more restrictive version aims for 1500 mg, which can have an even greater blood pressure-lowering effect. This is achieved by:

• Avoiding processed, canned, and packaged foods.
• Cooking at home more often and using herbs and spices instead of salt for flavour.
• Checking food labels for sodium content.

What Makes It So Effective?

The DASH diet works in a multi-faceted way to lower blood pressure:

• Reduced Sodium Intake: Less sodium in the diet means less fluid retention in the body, which reduces the volume of blood and the pressure on arterial walls.
• Increased Potassium Intake: Potassium helps to balance the effects of sodium in the body. The more potassium you eat, the more sodium you excrete through urine. This can help lower blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of potassium.
• Increased Magnesium and Calcium Intake: These minerals also play a vital role in muscle function, including the muscles that line blood vessels. A sufficient intake of these minerals helps blood vessels relax and widen, which lowers blood pressure.

How to Get Started

You don't have to overhaul your entire diet overnight. The key is to make gradual changes. You can start by:

• Adding an extra serving of vegetables to your dinner.
• Having a piece of fruit as a snack instead of a processed one.
• Using herbs, spices, or lemon juice to flavor your meals instead of salt.
• Choosing whole-grain bread over white bread. 

The DASH diet is a sustainable, proven, and delicious way to take control of your blood pressure and improve your overall heart health.

The focus with BP seems to be on the systolic measurement but what about the diastolic? For a 76 year old male what is considered a healthy range of systolic and diastolic?

That's a very insightful question. While the systolic blood pressure (the top number) often gets the most attention, especially in older adults, the diastolic measurement is also very important.

Why Systolic is Prioritized in Older Adults

The emphasis on systolic pressure in older adults is due to the natural physiological changes that occur with aging. As a person gets older, their arteries tend to become stiffer and less elastic, a condition known as arteriosclerosis. This makes it harder for the arteries to expand to accommodate the surge of blood from the heart's contraction, causing the systolic pressure to rise.

Therefore, for people over the age of 50, a high systolic reading is considered a more significant predictor of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular events than a high diastolic reading.

The Significance of Diastolic Pressure

The diastolic pressure (the bottom number) measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. This period is crucial because it's when the heart muscle itself receives oxygen-rich blood.

• High Diastolic: A high diastolic reading indicates that the arteries are not relaxing enough between heartbeats. While less common than high systolic pressure in older adults, a consistently high diastolic pressure can still put a strain on the heart and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

• Low Diastolic: In some older adults, the diastolic pressure can be low, even if the systolic is high. This is called Isolated Systolic Hypertension and is a direct result of the arterial stiffness mentioned earlier. A very low diastolic reading (e.g., below 60 mmHg) can be a concern, as it may mean that the heart muscle isn't getting enough blood and oxygen between beats.

Healthy Blood Pressure Range for a 76-Year-Old Male

Blood pressure targets for older adults are a subject of ongoing discussion among medical professionals, as they need to be balanced with the potential for side effects from medication, such as dizziness and falls.

According to major medical organizations like the American Heart Association and the Australian Heart Foundation, the general goal for a 76-year-old male is:

• Systolic: A target of less than 140 mmHg is a common recommendation, but some doctors may aim for a lower target, such as less than 130 mmHg, if it is well-tolerated. For a 76-year-old, a reading of 160 mmHg is definitively in the "high" category and requires treatment.

• Diastolic: The goal for diastolic pressure is typically less than 90 mmHg. For many older adults, the diastolic reading may naturally be lower, and this is generally not a concern as long as the systolic is controlled. However, a diastolic reading that is consistently below 60 mmHg may be a sign of a potential issue and should be discussed with a doctor.

In summary, for a 76-year-old male:

• Healthy Range: A blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg is considered ideal, but achieving this may not be the primary goal for some older patients.

• Target Range: A more realistic and widely accepted target for older adults with hypertension is <140/<90 mmHg, with many aiming for even lower numbers if they are well-tolerated and don't cause side effects.

Your doctor will consider your overall health, any other medical conditions, and how you feel before setting a specific blood pressure target. The most important thing is to manage your blood pressure to reduce your risk of serious health complications.

Vasectomy

I read this article about vasectomies and was reminded that my own father had the operation around 1960. At least I think he did. It's so long ago now that the memory is vague but I'm fairly sure. He did die about 35 years later from prostate cancer but whether his vasectomy contributed or not is impossible to say. It's one of those operation that seems inherently WRONG but is still being promoted like the COVID vaccines as "safe and effective" and also cheap (about $500 after Medicare rebate here in Victoria). Here's the article taken from this source:

VASECTOMY 

It is a 24 billion dollar industry. Doctors profit from men's long term health being totally destroyed.

70% Of Men Develop Autoimmune Disease.
40% Increase In Dementia & Aphasia.
20% Diagnosed With Aggressive Prostate Cancer.
33% Suffer Permanent Chronic Pain...

You’d be hard pressed to find a urologist willing to be upfront about the risks associated with vasectomy - it’s a 24 billion dollar industry. A survey of 1,500 urologists in the US reported that 90% of doctors would not stop performing vasectomy, despite numerous reports of vasectomy being linked to prostate cancer and plenty of other medical conditions.  

After a vasectomy, the natural duct for sperm is closed off. The testicles continue to produce 50,000 sperm per minute. The sperm build up pressure in the epididymis of the testicles, which eventually ruptures from pressure. Research shows as high as 33% of patients experience long term post vasectomy pain. 

What happens to all those sperm cells? This is where the immune response comes in. The sperm are still produced and still burst out, but now they have nowhere to go except into the bloodstream, where they were never intended to be.   

Certain organs - including the testes & the brain - exist in what is the equivalent of a gated community in the body. Tiny tubes within the testes (in which sperm are produced) are protected by a physical barrier of Sertoli cells. The tight connections between these cells prevent blood-borne infections & poisonous molecules from entering the semen. 

After a vasectomy, however, the protective barrier is broken & semen mixes into the bloodstream. The immune system recognizes the sperm as invading foreign agents & produces anti-sperm antibodies in 70% of men.  

Sperm cells are naturally active & have very strong enzymes. This is why a man’s body has a strong layer of tissue known as the Blood-Testis Barrier (BTB). Vasectomy ruptures this barrier. A man’s immune system sees the sperm as an infection that needs to be addressed, resulting in an immune response that’s never ending. The body quickly (within 3-4 days) makes antisperm antibodies to attack his own cells.  

This assault is not just confined to the sperm themselves, but affects other cells & tissues as well. There’s no way to predict exactly what the reaction will be, but it is known that 75% or more of post vasectomy men will begin to produce these antisperm antibodies, leading to autoimmune disease pathology in almost 70%. According to a study in Finland, the “presence of sperm antibodies correlates with nearly every pathological condition of the male reproductive tract.”  

Documented Conditions Caused By Vasectomy:

Sexual dysfunction
Chronic pain
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
Prostate Cancer
Testicular Cancer
Antibody Autoimmune Disease
Cardiovascular Disease

Sources: 

Immunological Consequences Of Vasectomy

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7283529 

 

Vasectomy Increases Prostate Cancer
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3111929 

 

Vasectomy Causes Primary Progressive Aphasia
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17159614 

 

Function Of The Testicular Epididymis
https://proteinatlas.org/humanproteome/tissue/epididymis

This article alone should be enough to cause any male of reproductive age to baulk at the operation but such is the blind trust of many regarding the Medical Mafia that it will continue to profit from their naivete. As I just read in an email from Dr. Pierre Kory’s Medical Musings:

" ... all national and international health care organizations have been captured and are complicit in causing massive amounts of needless deaths, in Covid and beyond, all for profit or depopulation aims."

His email reported at length on the duplicity of one such well-known health care organization. Here is a link to the article. Whether the accusation is true or not I don't know but it could well be because any cheap and non-pharmaceutical cures for widespread diseases like malaria will always be discredited by Big Pharma. As an example, the good Dr. Kory appears to have been not only discredited but deregistered by the Medical Mafia for his stance on Ivermectin as a treatment for Covid. 

Excision

Well the chronic ulcerated area on my lower back has been excised and there is little more to say that I haven't said in my previous post. On 21st August 2025, I'll learn if the tissue in that area was cancerous and if so whether the margins of the excised area were cancer-free. There's still the tiny spot on my right arm that needs to be excised as well.

Overall, I feel quite healthy at the moment. I've been doing regular walking and exercising, although nowhere near as much as I should be doing. Cognitively, I feel quite sharp. My weight is about 71kg, which is fine. For the moment, all I can do is wait.