[ARCHIVED THREAD] - High blood pressure anyone? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 9/25/2016 10:45:42 AM EDT
Im 42. bout 205lbs, maybe 15lbs over my "ideal" weight. Immense stress at work. Haven't been feeling so good last week or so - headache, just felt like shit. Took BP last night - 160/104 
My normal is about 130/80 ish... So I realize I have an issue that needs addressed... However is this something I need to get done like right this second (it's Sunday) or is it something I make a doc appt and go from there? It's been bouncing around - 160/104 was hightest... this am was like 155/95... Yeah, stupid for asking med questions in GD and all.... |
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Just get it taken care as soon as you can, I had HBP for a long time, then a buddy of mine passed away at 47 from a massive HA, that week, I went in and got it taken care of, but now that you know, you can get it taken care it will take them a while to get you on the right med(s) and once they do, you will be amazed at what seems stressful right now, will become a non-issue in the future.
But get er done as soon as you can. |
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Just get it taken care as soon as you can, I had HBP for a long time, then a buddy of mine passed away at 47 from a massive HA, that week, I went in and got it taken care of, but now that you know, you can get it taken care it will take them a while to get you on the right med(s) and once they do, you will be amazed at what seems stressful right now, will become a non-issue in the future. But get er done as soon as you can. Thank you. And sorry to hear about your buddy. 
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Also, when you go into the Dr. make sure and take you BP machine with you, then you can figure out how accurate it is and make a note of it for future use. |
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High blood pressure runs in my dad's side of the family, it doesn't help that I'm out of shape and eat like shit as well. Now with medication, being more considerate of what I eat and trying not to get stressed out at work, I'm good. Go see your PCP next week, you'll be fine. |
| 160/104 puts you into stage 2 hypertension, cut out any contributing factors you are able to, ie: caffeine, nicotine, etc. See your doctor and follow their recommendations. Just be aware if you are taking your BP at home, your monitor may not read as accurate as the doctors office will. I was in the same boat, headaches, dizzy spells, did the above, got on blood pressure meds and am working at eating better, and reducing stress. My Dr is happy with where I'm at BP wise and I feel much better, best of luck to you! |
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Lisinopril 40mg/day here.
I started on bp meds when my doctor clocked me at 160/90. Now I'm usually around 125/72. I also eat better and exercise more than I used to. I use one of these to check myself at home. It works well and I've checked it against the machines at the doctor's office. Just follow instructions carefully to get accurate readings--rest time before checking, keeping the cuff at chest level, etc.: 
Don't get one of those wrist monitors. They don't work. |
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Yeah, I've had high BP ever since my 20's (hereditary). You do need to see your doc and get set up on a course to lower you BP, but imo right now it's not a reason for an emergency trip - it can wait til you can get it to your doc (but do it soon). Don't fear the meds if that's what it takes, I've been taking meds for BP for the last forty years with zero side effects (except when I was on Lisinopril - I got the cough). Take the meds to immediately get it under control then work on diet, exercise, and stress relief to get it back down naturally and you might be able to discontinue the meds. I also use an Omrom BP monitor and it works great.  |
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Also, when you go into the Dr. make sure and take you BP machine with you, then you can figure out how accurate it is and make a note of it for future use. Quoted:
Also, when you go into the Dr. make sure and take you BP machine with you, then you can figure out how accurate it is and make a note of it for future use. I was wondering about this. I was checking out different units on Amazon recently and a common complaint among even the more expensive models is widely varying readings. |
| Before I started taking a HCTZ/Liprinosil combo, my bp was about 160s/130s. Now it's about 100s/70s. Not a smoker or drinker, could certainly lose a few pounds, but stress is a big thing in my life. Both my parents and my sister all take meds for bp as well, so there's a family history of it. |
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I was wondering about this. I was checking out different units on Amazon recently and a common complaint among even the more expensive models is widely varying readings. Quoted:
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Also, when you go into the Dr. make sure and take you BP machine with you, then you can figure out how accurate it is and make a note of it for future use. I was wondering about this. I was checking out different units on Amazon recently and a common complaint among even the more expensive models is widely varying readings. There is always going to be some variation in readings. There are apps you can use to chart the readings that will show trends, which is really what is important, not day to day fluctuation. I think a lot of people don't follow instructions on how to obtain the most accurate readings, either. For example, you aren't supposed to sit down after walking around and immediately take a reading. You need to rest in place for several minutes to let things settle down. Also, one needs to try to keep the conditions as similar from one reading to the next as possible, even the same time of day, to get consistent data. The instructions also tell you to keep the cuff at the same elevation as your heart when you are taking a reading. Even at the doctor's office they don't follow these guidelines, so there is no guarantee that the doctor's readings are accurate either. I've had nurses take a reading, and then my doctor take a reading 10 minutes later and get completely different results. |
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I knew 2 guys with real high blood pressure, both in their 40's first one had over a dozen strokes, then got jaw cancer from chewing tobacco, the other listened to Alex Jones and refused any medication had blood pressure 240/140, he did start doing meth daily. Got sent to prison and died of an anyurism at 42.
Take you medication. My BP was 180/110 with medication is 130/75. |
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Also, when you go into the Dr. make sure and take you BP machine with you, then you can figure out how accurate it is and make a note of it for future use. I was wondering about this. I was checking out different units on Amazon recently and a common complaint among even the more expensive models is widely varying readings. Yes, all of the home systems vary, that is why it is important to take your meter with you when you go to the Doc, they will take your BP, let you rest then check your meter and make a note on the bottom of it, so they know, I only go in once a year now to get my meds refilled and I always take my meter with me, they check it and we make notes. I took some meds about a year ago, and those suckers made me sick, so they changed me to another one and have been fine every since, I two of Metoprolol everyday and one Amlodipine everyday and even as a smoker who is little bit overweight, I still run right around 129 over 67-72. I don't add salt to anything, I use non-salt alternatives and I read the label on every thing we buy to eat. You would be amazed at how much added sodium there is in packaged foods, even cake mixes and other treats! My meter is a Micro Life, that is usb enabled and came with the program, so all I have to do is plug it into the computer and it downloads the date and time that I took my BP and enters all the information in the tracking software, and it has the ability to adjust for the variation between the Doc's machine and mine, so it automatically corrects to show what I have been running over the past week. |
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I am much older than you OP, and my BP has been inching up. Not long ago it spiked for no apparent reason. I had funky vision and now I have a high tone in my ears that doesn't go away. No I haven't been to the Doc yet, I know I need to. Anyway, when I feel like my BP is rising, I throw down a couple of aspirin, it seems to help |
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Quoted: Wouldn't lots of excersizing and diet changes be safer than meds? Excersizing helped me. Probably. But I'm not a medical professional, so I went to one, who advised me to quit eating like shit, and who wrote me a prescription and said here, take this. So far, it's worked. |
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There is always going to be some variation in readings. There are apps you can use to chart the readings that will show trends, which is really what is important, not day to day fluctuation. I think a lot of people don't follow instructions on how to obtain the most accurate readings, either. For example, you aren't supposed to sit down after walking around and immediately take a reading. You need to rest in place for several minutes to let things settle down. Also, one needs to try to keep the conditions as similar from one reading to the next as possible, even the same time of day, to get consistent data. The instructions also tell you to keep the cuff at the same elevation as your heart when you are taking a reading. Even at the doctor's office they don't follow these guidelines, so there is no guarantee that the doctor's readings are accurate either. I've had nurses take a reading, and then my doctor take a reading 10 minutes later and get completely different results. Quoted:
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Also, when you go into the Dr. make sure and take you BP machine with you, then you can figure out how accurate it is and make a note of it for future use. I was wondering about this. I was checking out different units on Amazon recently and a common complaint among even the more expensive models is widely varying readings. There is always going to be some variation in readings. There are apps you can use to chart the readings that will show trends, which is really what is important, not day to day fluctuation. I think a lot of people don't follow instructions on how to obtain the most accurate readings, either. For example, you aren't supposed to sit down after walking around and immediately take a reading. You need to rest in place for several minutes to let things settle down. Also, one needs to try to keep the conditions as similar from one reading to the next as possible, even the same time of day, to get consistent data. The instructions also tell you to keep the cuff at the same elevation as your heart when you are taking a reading. Even at the doctor's office they don't follow these guidelines, so there is no guarantee that the doctor's readings are accurate either. I've had nurses take a reading, and then my doctor take a reading 10 minutes later and get completely different results. I know all that. But reading reviews, there's no way to tell if people are doing things right or if the unit is just inaccurate. |
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Wouldn't lots of excersizing and diet changes be safer than meds? Excersizing helped me. If you can get it down that way, then that is great, but unfortunately for some of us, just exercise and diet don't work and we have to take meds, especially those of us who are getting older and slowing down. |
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Wouldn't lots of excersizing and diet changes be safer than meds? Excersizing helped me. Yes it should , mine has been consistently bad whether I was eating well & exercising vs not . I even quit drinking and it didn't change so we ran all kinds of test & I have kidney issues that I need to have a specialist look at , but my new meds are helping . |
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Wouldn't lots of excersizing and diet changes be safer than meds? Excersizing helped me. I think fixing high bp takes a combination of things. One of those is certainly getting into shape. Sometimes when the bp is pretty high, I think they prescribe meds just to get it down to safe levels quicker. Changing your diet and exercising might take a while to realize adequate results. Also there is some hereditary aspect to it that may not be fixed just with diet/exercise. Some other things to consider: reduce alcohol intake and caffeine intake. I used to drink bucket loads of coffee each day. Now I usually have 1 or 2 regular coffees and then switch to decaf if I still want some more. Not perfect, but it is so much a part of my routine I can't get rid of it completely. My alcohol consumption is also down, but not completely. You still have to enjoy life a bit, right? I had to make some changes, though, because I want to be alive to see my kids grow up. |
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I know all that. But reading reviews, there's no way to tell if people are doing things right or if the unit is just inaccurate. Quoted:
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Also, when you go into the Dr. make sure and take you BP machine with you, then you can figure out how accurate it is and make a note of it for future use. I was wondering about this. I was checking out different units on Amazon recently and a common complaint among even the more expensive models is widely varying readings. There is always going to be some variation in readings. There are apps you can use to chart the readings that will show trends, which is really what is important, not day to day fluctuation. I think a lot of people don't follow instructions on how to obtain the most accurate readings, either. For example, you aren't supposed to sit down after walking around and immediately take a reading. You need to rest in place for several minutes to let things settle down. Also, one needs to try to keep the conditions as similar from one reading to the next as possible, even the same time of day, to get consistent data. The instructions also tell you to keep the cuff at the same elevation as your heart when you are taking a reading. Even at the doctor's office they don't follow these guidelines, so there is no guarantee that the doctor's readings are accurate either. I've had nurses take a reading, and then my doctor take a reading 10 minutes later and get completely different results. I know all that. But reading reviews, there's no way to tell if people are doing things right or if the unit is just inaccurate. I don't trust reviews when it comes to my health choices, because so many people don't know how to use the equipment correctly, I depend on my Doc to look at it, then tell me how to compensate for the differences between their equipment and my equipment. Not knowing what the people are doing and how they are doing it, pretty much tells us, don't trust their reviews. Just take your meter to the Doctor with you. 
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I don't trust reviews when it comes to my health choices, because so many people don't know how to use the equipment correctly, I depend on my Doc to look at it, then tell me how to compensate for the differences between their equipment and my equipment. Not knowing what the people are doing and how they are doing it, pretty much tells us, don't trust their reviews. Just take your meter to the Doctor with you.
Good advice. |
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How do you guys know when your BP spikes? Do you recommend getting a BP machine? I'm pre hyper tension, but excersizing has dropped it to around 130/80. I know when mine spikes, I have blurry vision, pounding feeling in my ears, shimmers floating in my eyes and feel angry more often. Yes, everybody should have a BP machine at home, that way you can check and get to a doc if something goes out of wack. |
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I was averaging about 130/90. +/-5 on both numbers. I know that's not real high, but just a few weeks on the treadmill for 30minutes 4-5x weekly put me back at or under 120/80.
Lose some weight, watch the diet, and probably most importantly get some exercise which will help with the stress. |
| Last year I hit the gym hard - down to like 175lbs, and raced atv's semi frequently. BP was in the 120/70 range... Haven't been to the gym in months, and started eating badly - burgers, steaks, pizza, etc. I don't smoke and rarely drink a few. So I am going to venture to say that if I worked out more, I'd be in a better place. However with the advice I've gotten here, I'm going to get doc involved - prob going to need some meds at first....if I have Stage 2 Hypertension and my readings are correct, then yeah doc is going to lend a hand at first. |
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I started on meds last year. Lisinopril worked great at low dose, but after three months I had a weird reaction. Everything started to taste salty. I mean even my black coffee tasted salty. Two docs and three nurses were confused. None had heard of this side effect previously. I stopped the me and three days later it cleared.
I switched to HCTZ and all is well. My first doc told me I needed so little that I could open the bottle and take a whiff daily. |
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Quoted: Last year I hit the gym hard - down to like 175lbs, and raced atv's semi frequently. BP was in the 120/70 range... Haven't been to the gym in months, and started eating badly - burgers, steaks, pizza, etc. I don't smoke and rarely drink a few. So I am going to venture to say that if I worked out more, I'd be in a better place. However with the advice I've gotten here, I'm going to get doc involved - prob going to need some meds at first....if I have Stage 2 Hypertension and my readings are correct, then yeah doc is going to lend a hand at first. Good on you for getting yourself squared away. I wasn't a doctor person for the longest, figured I was just fine and everything was cool. My dad kept beating me up to go get a routine check up, that high blood pressure runs in our family, stroke killed his dad, etc. It was one of the better decisions I felt that I've ever made. My doctor's office is awesome, and it's comforting knowing exactly where I stand health-wise, what I need to work on and such. |
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I went through a spell of 160ish/110ish due to high triglycerides. A regimen of fish oil, exercise and a low dose of metoprolol keeps it down around 115/75.
it started at 45 now 48 15lbs overweight fairly active, but don't exercise enough diet is normal, maybe too many sweets, hence the high triglycerides. |
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I started on meds last year. Lisinopril worked great at low dose, but after three months I had a weird reaction. Everything started to taste salty. I mean even my black coffee tasted salty. Two docs and three nurses were confused. None had heard of this side effect previously. I stopped the me and three days later it cleared. I switched to HCTZ and all is well. My first doc told me I needed so little that I could open the bottle and take a whiff daily. I believe that was the drug that made me so freaking sick, I couldn't even get off the couch, it took all of two days for me to call the Doc and tell him I was NOT taking that stuff anymore! 
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I believe that was the drug that made me so freaking sick, I couldn't even get off the couch, it took all of two days for me to call the Doc and tell him I was NOT taking that stuff anymore!
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I started on meds last year. Lisinopril worked great at low dose, but after three months I had a weird reaction. Everything started to taste salty. I mean even my black coffee tasted salty. Two docs and three nurses were confused. None had heard of this side effect previously. I stopped the me and three days later it cleared. I switched to HCTZ and all is well. My first doc told me I needed so little that I could open the bottle and take a whiff daily. I believe that was the drug that made me so freaking sick, I couldn't even get off the couch, it took all of two days for me to call the Doc and tell him I was NOT taking that stuff anymore!
My doc had me try Lisinopril. I put on 10lbs in a month. I hated that shit. |
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Quoted: 1/3 adults over the age of 20 has hypertension, with that number jumping to 2/3 at over the age of 60. Life style (Tobacco, alcohol, Stress) and Diet (Low fat, low salt) are the major keys to reducing blood pressure. Not in my case. Have been on keto for just about a year now. Lost 50 pounds, stopped eating sweets and almost all carbs except for fresh fruit and vegetables. I was on two BP meds. I quickly went down to one med, then a half dose of that. then I stopped it altogether on July 4th. My diet is rich in fat, and I eat much more salt than when I did on the traditional low fat diet. My BP last night was 125/80. Oh, and the weight loss had little to do with the lowering of my BP. When I first started noticing my BP creeping up about 10 years ago my doc wanted me on meds. Even though I have a family history of it I asked for 6 months to loose weight and see if I could lower my BP that way. I picket up my jogging routine until I was doing about 15 miles a week. I lost 20 pounds, which put me a few pounds over where I am now. My BP continued to climb. What I did not change was my diet. Although I lost weight with the increased exercise, I still ate too much sweets. So for me too much sugar causes my BP to go out of control. So my advice to the OP is that if you have a sweet tooth cut out all sugar for a month and see what that does to your BP before getting put on meds. |
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24 and just recently placed on BP meds. Parts hereditary and high stress job. (Corrections). Atenolol 25mg daily. Even a low dose of lisinopril kicked my rear. Was floating about 160/100 daily, now more in the range of 120-130 over 80-90. Highest I got was 164/110. |
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How do you guys know when your BP spikes? Do you recommend getting a BP machine? I'm pre hyper tension, but exercising has dropped it to around 130/80. Definitely! And check it often. It's cheap insurance. Learn your norms. Body and arm position can affect readings significantly, especially with a wrist cuff machine. After a little practice, I was able to get comparable readings between it and my arm cuff meter. Rest for several minutes, sit upright with feet flat on floor, and make sure the cuff is level with the heart. FWIW, a few minutes ago mine was 114/60. It'll spike after meals and immediately after activity. It's also generally lower in the morning than during the late afternoon. |
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Quoted: Im 42. bout 205lbs, maybe 15lbs over my "ideal" weight. Immense stress at work. Haven't been feeling so good last week or so - headache, just felt like shit. Took BP last night - 160/104 My normal is about 130/80 ish... So I realize I have an issue that needs addressed... However is this something I need to get done like right this second (it's Sunday) or is it something I make a doc appt and go from there? It's been bouncing around - 160/104 was hightest... this am was like 155/95... Yeah, stupid for asking med questions in GD and all.... |
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OP, I wouldn't rush to the ER but I also wouldn't lollygag. Call your physician tomorrow and get in to see him ASAP. Hypertension is a slow killer but the sooner it's treated, the better. I was diagnosed with hypertension 28 years ago, at the ripe old age of 20. I now know, thru DNA testing, that I am highly predisposed (7 times more likely than average) to hypertension so a perfect lifestyle and a perfect weight might not be enough for me. Anyway, I've religiously taken my medication for 28 years and last week I had an echocardiogram to check on the status of my heart and it came back completely normal. Twenty eight years of hypertension and no cardiac changes, simply because I was diligent with my medication. If I hadn't taken my medication diligently, I would be in rough shape, if I was even still alive, right now. I know this because a friend is in the same boat and he's never gone on medication. I'll be surprised if he makes it to 50. |
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Im 42. bout 205lbs, maybe 15lbs over my "ideal" weight. Immense stress at work. Haven't been feeling so good last week or so - headache, just felt like shit. Took BP last night - 160/104
My normal is about 130/80 ish... So I realize I have an issue that needs addressed... However is this something I need to get done like right this second (it's Sunday) or is it something I make a doc appt and go from there? It's been bouncing around - 160/104 was hightest... this am was like 155/95... Yeah, stupid for asking med questions in GD and all.... Yup, see a doctor for a "band aid fix" for what you must really do, long term to fix yourself, to live beyond only 60-65...(And eventually get off those BP meds!) Quit smoking, now. Cut back on alcohol, way back. Cut waaay back on salt intake, eliminate beef/red meat/bacon and fats from diet. Go on low fat, high fiber diet and go for a walk everyday; lose those 15 pounds. FWIW, I had a "Nuclear Stress Test" yesterday, to look for blockages in my heart. Perhaps your doctor will have you do the same. I'm 55, 5' 10", 202 pounds, BP was 124/72 and resting heart rate 2-3 minutes after stress test was 55. I'm on that diet mentioned above. Cholesterol 147 (4 months ago) I DO, however have to start that "walking"part of the above. (To lose those 15 pounds, also) Good Luck! |