Losartan and eating bananas : what you need to know ?

You may have received a warning regarding the numerous hazards of losartan when coupled with other elements. In fact, you ought to be aware that taking it alongside specific foods raises the amount of potassium in your blood. It is true that you can stay away from some meals that affect potassium levels. Determining which ones you may and cannot eat is challenging. Bananas, a food high in potassium, are something about which we can however enlighten you.

What is Losartan ?

A blood pressure drug sold under the brand name Cozaar is known by its generic name, losartan. It is an ARB (angiotensin II receptor) family inhibitor. The most popular class of medications for high blood pressure is this one.

High blood pressure sufferers occasionally receive prescriptions for this group of painkillers. Additionally, if kidney issues are a possibility, it is administered. Only 25% of the 116 million Americans with high blood pressure have been successful in controlling it.

Those who could not control it had serious health consequences, including

• loss of vision ;
• heart disease, heart attack or heart failure;
• Stroke; Kidney failure
• kidney failure;
• and other kidney problems.

The practical solution to these problems may be medication, healthy diet and physical activity. This is where losartan is proving beneficial to patients. However, it is important to know how this medicine works.

How does losartan work ?

Losartan’s main effect is to prevent angiotensin II from attaching to its receptors. The blood arteries are constricted when angiotensin II is active. Then, the blood pressure significantly increases.

But the blood arteries are loosened when angiotensin II’s function is prevented. As a result, the blood pressure stays low. The dilatation of the blood arteries also lowers the overall blood pressure. As a result, the heart does not have to exert itself as much when pumping blood throughout the body.

The presence of losartan and ARBs facilitates the production of a large amount of urine in the body. This leads to less water and sodium retention. As a result, the heart does not work as hard because body fluids are reduced. This can also lower the blood pressure.

This is a mechanism that protects the kidneys of people with diabetes, especially level 2. When you take losartan, you do not feel its effects until after 6 hours. Usually they last about 24 hours, but longer in older people and those with liver or kidney problems.

Should I avoid bananas when taking losartan ?

Every drug has negative side effects. Losartan is a medication that aids in increasing the body’s potassium levels. This is because it has an impact on the system that regulates the body’s water and electrolyte balance.

For a healthy water balance, potassium is a mineral electrolyte that is required. However, the body might experience a variety of issues if potassium levels are low or high. However, because losartan aids in the removal of surplus fluid from the body, potassium levels rise when it is taken.

Those who have healthy kidneys might not experience any issues with this. Additionally, nothing will occur for someone on a low potassium diet. Around 400 mg of potassium can be found in one banana.

Following a low-potassium diet, which consists of limiting bananas and other potassium-rich foods, depends on the health of your kidneys. You may also want to consider your medical history and other medications and supplements you are taking.

It should be noted that people with kidney problems are more likely to develop high levels of potassium. Examples include chronic kidney disease or type 2 diabetes. This is called hyperkalaemia.

These symptoms can be less and more severe to the point of death. There are drugs that can increase the risk of this disease when you take losartan:

• Potassium-sparing diuretics ;
• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen;

There are many more that studies have not been able to find. But, in general, it all depends on how much potassium the supplements give your body. These include multivitamins and salt snacks as well.

In conclusion, you can take bananas and losartan. It depends on how well your kidneys receive a certain amount of potassium.