Blood pressure

[mack76]

Blood pressure was 142/92 a few weeks ago I have to check for a week at home I tried but my heart was.going fast as I am anxious how.can I reduce this anxious feeling when at doctors still same.or when I get real anxious how.to lower i do 30 plus mins on exercice bike.most days are there foods to help reduce without the need for medication also any tips im anxious weather its everyday things or at doctors or new medicine or tablets the sude effects worry me it took me time to get courage to take the metformin I need ideas on foods ideas to reduce weight and blood pressure im do confused what I think is OK turns out it wasn't I had a quick pot noodle thought carbs wernt high sent blood sugar levels from 6 .8mmol to 11 .8 mmol in 90 mins average blood pressure from 24 jour test is 169/95 I'm waiting on doctors calling I have 2 autistic children I'm scared I'm also over 17 stone weight coming down slowly from 20 stone 4 3 years ago being put on ramipril one tablet daily has anyone tried these whay are side affects like and how soon before ot starts working to lower blood pressure

 

[searley]

Compared to mine you are quite low

You can not do much about tests at the gp but you can test at home and give them the readings


I’m on 9 BP tablets a day and my bp is still 171/90

 

[mack76]

Compared to mine you are quite low

You can not do much about tests at the gp but you can test at home and give them the readings


I’m on 9 BP tablets a day and my bp is still 171/90

Thanks for your reply sorry to hear your still high although on medication

 

[KennyA]

When they do my BP at the GP they tend to do it at the end, because otherwise mine is up quite a bit. I don't have high BP and I'm not particularly anxious about check-ups, but it still rises. They have worked out that I respond better (ie I get a lower reading) to the old fashioned method of cuff and stethoscope rather than the automatic machine.

So you could try asking for a different measuring method, or getting them to do it after everything else?

 

[Melgar]

@mack76 142/92 would be considered high blood pressure. I have a genetic disposition for high blood pressure. My mom had dangerously high blood pressure in her 20’s. It became an issue when she was pregnant with me. In her 60’s it was ridiculously high at 240/160. She once told me a young intern let out a gasp when she took her blood pressure. My mom ended up taking medication for it. She died just before her 80th birthday. Mine was 150/90 before going on blood pressure medication. I take Rampril 5/12mg. It’s considered a low dose, but it was enough to bring my BP right down to 110/70. In fact sometimes it goes low. High blood pressure is considered detrimental to your health over time. I wore a BP cuff for 24 hours so white coat syndrome was removed. . Are you able to request a 24 hr cuff from your Dr. Have they offered you BP meds?

 

[EllieM]

Are you able to request a 24 hr cuff from your Dr. Have they offered you BP meds?

I would recommend asking for a 24 hour cuff before going on medication. I've been on bp meds since my late 20s but they did give me a 24 hour test first. The meds have gone up and down over the years (comes down with less weight and more exercise) but as I've been T1 since 8 I'm happy to take the medication in order to protect my eyes and kidneys (still working after 55 years of T1).

 

[becca59]

I would also suggest the hr cuff. My husband has extreme anxiety. Even me doing his blood pressure without letting him see the results didn’t help the panicky high levels. Told he was going to have to take blood pressure tablets they tried the hour cuff as a last resort. He didn’t have high blood pressure. Just anxiety.

 

[Outlier]

Also bear in mind that the ideals for blood pressure - which once was a systolic of your age plus 100 - have been steadily lowered over the years. Now there is no differential made between a young athletic person with supple blood vessels and an oldie with stiffer ones. Some GPs factor this in and others don't. I suspect there is an element of profit and targets involved, but that would be cynical of me, wouldn't it?

 

[mack76]

I would also suggest the hr cuff. My husband has extreme anxiety. Even me doing his blood pressure without letting him see the results didn’t help the panicky high levels. Told he was going to have to take blood pressure tablets they tried the hour cuff as a last resort. He didn’t have high blood pressure. Just anxiety.

Hi how did your husband stay relaxed I am due to have 24 hour monitor fit tomorrow morning they tested both arms twice still both high and my heart going fast im really anxious

 

[searley]

Hi how did your husband stay relaxed I am due to have 24 hour monitor fit tomorrow morning they tested both arms twice still both high and my heart going fast im really anxious

I’ve had one of these, best thing is to ignore the fact the cuff is there and live life as normal

The night time measures are quite telling as you are totally relaxed when asleep

 

[mack76]

I’ve had one of these, best thing is to ignore the fact the cuff is there and live life as normal

The night time measures are quite telling as you are totally relaxed when asleep

Thanks for your reply hopefully it will come back OK after this test just so anxious since my diabetes diagnosed and my heart beats faster

 

[KennyA]

Also bear in mind that the ideals for blood pressure - which once was a systolic of your age plus 100 - have been steadily lowered over the years. Now there is no differential made between a young athletic person with supple blood vessels and an oldie with stiffer ones. Some GPs factor this in and others don't. I suspect there is an element of profit and targets involved, but that would be cynical of me, wouldn't it?

Cynical, yes, but also accurate - there's a QoF target for this as for many other things.

 

[Melgar]

Kick back or not, high blood pressure is a stroke risk. Two of my uncles on my mother‘s side, no doubt suffering from the same genetic high blood pressure as my mom, died from brain hemorrhages. My mom prior to her going onto BP meds had a minor subarachnoid hemorrhage. I don’t think there is any valid argument against the fact that high blood pressure over time can cause life threatening health risks.

 

[searley]

Thanks for your reply hopefully it will come back OK after this test just so anxious since my diabetes diagnosed and my heart beats faster

Your heart can beat fast.. and yet the BP still be normal and vice versa

 

[searley]

Kick back or not, high blood pressure is a stroke risk. Two of my uncles on my mother‘s side, no doubt suffering from the same genetic high blood pressure as my mom, died from brain hemorrhages. My mom prior to her going onto BP meds had a minor subarachnoid hemorrhage. I don’t think there is any valid argument against the fact that high blood pressure over time can cause life threatening health risks.

In my case mine won’t drop as I result I already have heart damage (LVH) and whenever I go and see someone in health care and they take a BP they look at me like I’m going to keel over any second

My cardiologist is going to discuss experimental surgery next time we talk

 

[Melgar]

In my case mine won’t drop as I result I already have heart damage (LVH) and whenever I go and see someone in health care and they take a BP they look at me like I’m going to keel over any second

My cardiologist is going to discuss experimental surgery next time we talk

Sheesh @searley I hope your appointment with your cardiologist goes well.

 

[flakey rascal]

Sheesh @searley I hope your appointment with your cardiologist goes well.

I have high blood pressure and on tablets. I bought a monitor so i can check at home as i seem higjer at the doctors. That way i can compare before and after a checkup

 

[Melgar]

I have high blood pressure and on tablets. I bought a monitor so i can check at home as i seem higjer at the doctors. That way i can compare before and after a checkup

If you suffer with high or even raised blood pressure, a BP monitor is a must. They do have BP stations in the pharmacies here, I can't remember if they have the same in chemists in the UK.

 

[searley]

If you suffer with high or even raised blood pressure, a BP monitor is a must. They do have BP stations in the pharmacies here, I can't remember if they have the same in chemists in the UK.

My gp practice has one for public use which gives a print out that can be left for the GP if needed..

Many of my local pharmacy’s have them but you need to book and appointment

But to be honest the cost of them is not a lot in the UK I actually have 2 or 3 of them

 

[Melgar]

My gp practice has one for public use which gives a print out that can be left for the GP if needed..

Many of my local pharmacy’s have them but you need to book and appointment

But to be honest the cost of them is not a lot in the UK I actually have 2 or 3 of them

They are about $60 here, I guess that is around £30 - £35 in the UK.