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Is my blood pressure high ??

zolabud

zolabud

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,285
Location
Lewes. Near B right on. East Sussex.
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Whelks,winkles... All crustaceous seafood except prawns. Can't do crab.lobster or scallops.
Don't like the way they are killed and cooked. Save our Scallops. SOS !!!
Also HATE evaporated milk.
When I saw my DN for my first appointment last week she weighed me ( EEK ) and took my blood pressure. I said "Is it ok" and she said it was.

But I wrote it down and forgot about it 'til today. I just Googled it and apparently it's rather high...

My Mum (84) has high blood pressure and unlike me she is really slim. She has been on medication for years....

It was 148/80.

Waddaya reckon?

I think that sounds rather high. I have looked at a website about lowering blood pressure without medication and they say Potassium is really important. So that means bananas which make my BG spike.
I am assuming losing weight will help this too?

I really feel like I am falling to bits...
 
The bottom number ok at 80, the top number is high. Ideally blood pressure should be 120 / 80, mine used to be 154 + / 130 ish and that got the docs and me worried.

Blood pressure also rises when you visit a doctors / hospital which may account for the higher peak, I used to use one of the wrist pressure monitors to check mine @ around £10, though the arm cuff ones are a lot better. Maybe time to invest in another tester, don't get ripped off on the price of these as they can vary a huge amount in price.

Stress or any problems can also cause blood pressure to rise, which is an annoying thing as my moms is always like 120 / 70 and mine is controlled by 2 different meds :(

If you GP's practice is close by, some have a blood pressure machine set up where you can walk in relaxed take your reading and drop the print out at the reception leaving your details on it and they will call you if any thing needs doing (in theory).
 
I have suffered from high blood pressure which used to quite often hit 220/95. After having 2 Strokes a couple of years ago I have been on medication and am now around 135/80. My doctor said I should aim at being under 140/90 . I never really took my high blood pressure seriously and look what happened. Get a good meter and keep a check what is happening.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
As Pav says the top reading is slightly high but this could be down to White Coat Syndrome , as suggested you should purchase a home bp monitor where you can record your own bp readings and take them along to your next clinic appointment.
 
Thanks all....
 
Has anyone a link to a good home blood pressure home monitor I can use please?

Don't know the first thing about them....
 
zolabud said:
Has anyone a link to a good home blood pressure home monitor I can use please?

Don't know the first thing about them....
Click to expand...


Omron do some excellent BP monitors, you can pick them up on Amazon for around £15, I'm on my second one now having used them for several years, just make sure you get the arm (upper cuff) type and not the wrist.
 
Went for the £10 one with free postage.

Read the reviews before I bought it and folk were saying that the large cuffed ones ( The one I bought) was more accurate than the standard cuff models as they read high.

Thanks for all your help.

What a wonderful forum this is....
 
Are you sitting comfortably, I wanna tell you a story.

I own a home blood pressure monitor and I also have white coat syndrome. Every time my doctor or nurse takes my blood pressure it reads high. Not disastrously high, just makes them tut a bit.

Mentioning that it was always ok when at home got me nowhere for a time but then I was sent off to the local hospital and fitted with a harness and a strapped on blood pressure/tape machine which had to run for 24 hours.

Guess what. No problems at all. Guess what else. They said I still had to take the heart tablets. So what was the point of all that then.
 
The £10.48 one is just the replacement arm cuff, not much use without the monitor. :D

Have a look in your local chemist as well, some times they do special offers and drop the price. Also check to see if the cuff is supplied with the meter, as some are meter only, then you buy the cuff separately as there are around 3 different sizes of cuff.
 
Is high blood pressure passed on through families?

What about high cholesterol ?

I am slightly concerned as my lovely cousin was 60 when she died last November.

She just dropped dead from a heart attack. She was not overweight,and didn't smoke and drank socially.

I can see what you mean about the 'White Collar' effect.

I shall wait with interest and see what my readings are in my home....
 
my bp 250/125 has gone down to 105/63 (avg) in 4 months hehe, i also find testing at home it is lower i was very dissapointed to get a reading of 120/80 in the chemist the other day :( but id say following your present course zola it should come down
 
zolabud said:
Is high blood pressure passed on through families?

What about high cholesterol ?
Click to expand...


Yes both can be passed on, heredity high cholesterol is called familial hypercholesterolaemia, not sure what the name is for heredity bp.
 
pav said:
The £10.48 one is just the replacement arm cuff, not much use without the monitor. :D

Have a look in your local chemist as well, some times they do special offers and drop the price. Also check to see if the cuff is supplied with the meter, as some are meter only, then you buy the cuff separately as there are around 3 different sizes of cuff.
Click to expand...

Really ???

RATS.
 
Do all the cuffs fit different monitors then?

Or do I have to buy a specific monitor?

Ta.
 
Update on my arm cuff I bought from Amazon last night.

I rang the company and asked what the cheapest monitor was that went with my cuff.

She gave me 2 models... One at £38.95 and one at £54.95.

I just can't afford £50 odd ( £38.95 + £10 I have already spent) so luckily as the cuff hasn't been posted yet I think I can get a refund...

Just waiting on a call from the very nice man I spoke to....

Watch this space....
 
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