View Full Version : High Blood Pressure
Just wondering if anyone on here suffers from it, as I'm being monitored for it at the moment.
On the 28th December I toddled off to the doctors as I do every 12 weeks for my contraceptive jab. They check my blood pressure and pulse every time, and they've never been a problem. They were a bit high the time before last though, and this time before I knew what was going on, I was being given an ECG. Why on earth do they say,'just relax, it's nothing to worry about'. If anything is going to put your pulse and blood pressure up it's being whacked on a heart monitor!
Anyway, the upshot is, I'm now monitoring myself with a machine loaned to me by the surgery, but I don't really know if my results are good or bad. Seeing as the Org is the font of all knowledge, I was hoping someone might be able to give me some idea of what can cause high blood pressure, and what is considered 'high'. I'm pretty damned sure all this stressing about it can't be helping:(
wyrdness
09-01-08, 05:39 PM
If it's always been OK before, then it's probably a one-off high reading. A brisk walk before being tested can be enough to produce an unusually high reading.
I had my blood pressure tested before joining the company gym and it was high. However, my office is 7 minutes walk from the gym and I'd walked over there quite quickly. After resting a little while my blood pressure went down to normal.
I can't remember what 'normal' is though.
Defender
09-01-08, 05:44 PM
Try this Lissa,
There's a table showing normal, Pre-hypertension, Stage 1 High Blood and Stage 2 High Blood.
http://www.diovan.com/info/answers/normal_blood_pressure.jsp?usertrack.filter_applied =true&NovaId=7852773779010594661
Luckypants
09-01-08, 05:47 PM
what reading you getting? I generally have good blood pressure and mine is in the 110/70 - 120/80 range. The values are generally lower for ladies I think.
They will be monitoring it so that they can see if it is a trend or a bad one off, like suggested by wyrdness.
Stop stressing, get on the bike for a blast to relax you. (actually check your blood pressure in a spirited section - that would be interesting!)
rictus01
09-01-08, 05:48 PM
The popular misconception of 100 plus your age, is toted as the benchmark, however 12 yrs of taking them everday has shown that's rubbish.
Body weight, how active your are, diet, stress and natural biology (my wife is Philipino and has this problem)all play a part.
Personnally my blood pressure has always been between 118-122/ 70-80, if it's over 125 it normally shows the machine is crap, the automatic ones aren't anywhere as good as the old manual way.
as a rough guess 130ish sy/ 80 dy would be "normal" although the range between them is also of importants.
Cheers Mark.
timwilky
09-01-08, 05:49 PM
I went through a bad time a few years ago. Ended up vomiting blood. Went to my local A&E and when they took my blood pressure they went into panic mode. I ended up being admitted and monitored for 2 weeks. 3 days after I was admitted my BP hit 215/160.
3 times my endoscopy to establish what was causing the bleed was cancelled until they got my diastolic below 100. I now take Amlodopine 5mg and Atenolol 100mg. Co-incidently I got a letter from my GP requesting I attend a hypertension review today. When I checked the other day, I am currently 120/85. I measure my BP weekly, My sister works for the company that makes the monitors and she sent me the same model as they provide to the hospitals. Still not as accurate as an old fashioned mercury sphygmomanometer. but with no spill risk or white coat effect a good compromise
Hmmm, it seems mine is fairly high then. Mostly 130-145/80-100, although I've had a couple of 120-ish/90-ish. My pulse is pretty consistent though at around 90-95. I'm guessing that the results may mean I'll be put onto drugs to control it:(
Funnily enough, my lowest readings have been when I was working on the bike at the weekend:D
mines low
i think it was 90/65 last time i checked pulse 65
rictus01
09-01-08, 06:01 PM
you're not using a cuff monitor are you Lissa? they are the most unreliable of the lot, it all depends how high you hold your wrist.
Cheers Mark.
you're not using a cuff monitor are you Lissa? they are the most unreliable of the lot, it all depends how high you hold your wrist.
Cheers Mark.
I'm using one identical to the one they use in the surgery Mark, goes around the top of your arm. I'm also being careful to try to keep my arm in a similar position each time, in case that affects things.
I'm using one identical to the one they use in the surgery Mark, goes around the top of your arm. I'm also being careful to try to keep my arm in a similar position each time, in case that affects things.
you do relise that you have to sit down for about 10mins b4 checking, also keep the arm suported, and a quite enviroment also helps
you do relise that you have to sit down for about 10mins b4 checking, also keep the arm suported, and a quite enviroment also helps
Lovely and quiet here at the moment, Hovis...............Pete's at work:D
I have checked it a couple of times when I've just yomped the mile home uphill from work, and my pulse has been a lot higher, but not my BP. Just doesn't seem to be any pattern to it that I can work out.
I went through a bad time a few years ago. Ended up vomiting blood. Went to my local A&E and when they took my blood pressure they went into panic mode. I ended up being admitted and monitored for 2 weeks. 3 days after I was admitted my BP hit 215/160.
3 times my endoscopy to establish what was causing the bleed was cancelled until they got my diastolic below 100. I now take Amlodopine 5mg and Atenolol 100mg. Co-incidently I got a letter from my GP requesting I attend a hypertension review today. When I checked the other day, I am currently 120/85. I measure my BP weekly, My sister works for the company that makes the monitors and she sent me the same model as they provide to the hospitals. Still not as accurate as an old fashioned mercury sphygmomanometer. but with no spill risk or white coat effect a good compromise
Second time of trying to reply to this:rolleyes:
How long after starting the medication did your blood pressure drop to a more normal level? Did you suffer any side effects from the medication? Did they suggest any other ways of trying to lower your blood pressure without taking medication?
timwilky
09-01-08, 08:18 PM
It took about 6 months for my blood pressure to be medicated down to about normal. They started with Atenolol at 25mg, then 50 now 100. When I suggested lowering the dose last year as I was now "Normal", they advised this would not be a good idea as the dose was correct otherwise I would be low BP if over medicated.
Weight loss is the first obvious thing to lower the BP, together with a reduced alcohol intake, whilst these obviously helped I was that far over that my BP problem is a lifetime issue, as my father was also Hypertensive there might be some genetic predisposition.
I have had no side effects from the medication. If anything I feel far healthier. I no longer get the odd headache. I know from my daughters how important it is to monitor BP with contraceptives. However, in some ways, you girlies have it easy. You are on a monitored regime. For us blokes we only go to the docs when we feel it is a matter of life and death and silent killers have a way of sneaking past.
plowsie
09-01-08, 08:19 PM
Dunno if any of you remember a while ago i had the same with BP I was reading 130/70ish, not good apparently, neglected it and now been told off by a lot of friends and family.
plowsie
09-01-08, 08:21 PM
Ahh yer forgot to mention I had a machine on me for a day dint last 2 hours but the poinnt I was at my calmest was when riding the bike lol.
It took about 6 months for my blood pressure to be medicated down to about normal. They started with Atenolol at 25mg, then 50 now 100. When I suggested lowering the dose last year as I was now "Normal", they advised this would not be a good idea as the dose was correct otherwise I would be low BP if over medicated.
Weight loss is the first obvious thing to lower the BP, together with a reduced alcohol intake, whilst these obviously helped I was that far over that my BP problem is a lifetime issue, as my father was also Hypertensive there might be some genetic predisposition.
I have had no side effects from the medication. If anything I feel far healthier. I no longer get the odd headache. I know from my daughters how important it is to monitor BP with contraceptives. However, in some ways, you girlies have it easy. You are on a monitored regime. For us blokes we only go to the docs when we feel it is a matter of life and death and silent killers have a way of sneaking past.
I weigh 49 kilos, and don't drink alcohol at all, so that's a couple of positives I suppose. I also have a fairly physical job, although as a smoker I'm really not that fit. I'm relieved to hear that you've had no problems with the medication, as it seems likely that will be the next step for me.
Interesting your comment about blokes not going to the doctors. My monitor caused a lot of interest at work today. Everyone wanted to try it. One guys BP measured 155/100. I suggested that while I couldn't swear to the accuracy of the monitor, it might be an idea for him to see his GP for a proper check.
I've always suffered with the opposite, my BP is normally around the 100/70 mark, with it rising to 110/70 when I'm in pain. I recently gave up my job working with challenging teenagers because the work was pushing my BP higher and higher, to the point that it was at 130/90 on one visit to the quack's. I've been prescribed Propranolol, which is a beta-blocker, to counter the anxiety and bring it down to normal levels. I'm due back to the doc's on Friday to see how I've progressed. Can't say I feel much better to be honest.
Ok, so my weeks monitoring is up and I've been back to the Docs. She isn't happy, so it seems the next stage is a blood test. Cue whinging from me..........I don't like needles and I'll have to lose time off work.............and pay..............to go to get the tests done. Whatever happened to having your blood taken at the surgery and it being sent off?
NOT having a good day today!
rictus01
11-01-08, 06:17 PM
try being diabetic Lissa, I get the form every three months and have to starve for 12 hours before, although I'll admit for the past year, it's only been when I'm up to it not walking tends to make getting there a problem.
Still fingers crossed it's sortable for you.
Cheers Mark.
try being diabetic Lissa, I get the form every three months and have to starve for 12 hours before, although I'll admit for the past year, it's only been when I'm up to it not walking tends to make getting there a problem.
Still fingers crossed it's sortable for you.
Cheers Mark.
Thanks Mark.
Apparently the tests are to check all my major organs are functioning properly, as well as for diabetes, cholesterol and thyroid function.
Oh well, at least my brain seems to be functioning ok:)
Speedy Claire
11-01-08, 06:43 PM
For adults of your age, a normal reading can be anywhere from 120/70 to 140/90. Readings that are consistently 140/90 or above would be considered high and would indicate the need for intervention but they would have to be consistently at that level.
A guide for blood pressure readings is........
Normal blood pressure less than 120/80
Low blood pressure less than 110/70
High blood pressure (hypertension) 140/90 or above
Hope everything turns out ok :smt023
My top readings have been fine, it's the lower reading they are worried about.
The thing is, I know stress can raise your blood pressure, and all I've been doing all week is stressing about my blood pressure, so no wonder it's been high:rolleyes:
:)
Speedy Claire
11-01-08, 06:51 PM
The lower reading is the "heart at rest" that`s why they tend to worry more bout the lower reading.
I know exactly what you mean lol.... how can anyone relax when they`re told your blood pressure is high but try not to worry!!! is mad!!
If you have it done at the surgery try and get there about 20 mins early so you have a bit of time to rest prior to having it checked. If you`re doing it at home just try an do it once a day and at the same time
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