Jay, I've been lurking and reading your posts for months. I'm a
student pilot but also happen to be a MD. Don't hesitate to treat your
BP with medication. It's highly effective and proven to reduce the
long term risks of hypertension. If you indeed have a strong family
history...all the weight loss and exercise in the world won't
necessarily do it for you (although it can't hurt either)

Thanks for the advice, Doc.

My father had strokes and high BP. (Of course, he also weighed 225 pounds,
at my height, was a heavy smoker, and refused to see doctors -- ever.)

His mother had a couple of strokes. She didn't drink, smoke, or have any
known bad habits, and lived to be 86 years old.

My father's grandfather died of stroke. (His father died young, in the
great 1918 flu epidemic).

In fact, our oldest ancestor in the US died of stroke in 1908. It's in the
genes, big time.

I haven't smoked since 1986, and work out daily with my 14 year old son.
And while 197 is a tad high for 6 feet tall, I don't have a paunch.

Dang. Guess I'm going to have to take the stupid drugs.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"