Hi all, to those who know me from posting about 18 months back and to the newer posters
I'm back here because well, my BP is high again and I'm in a state of worry about it. I am literally fearful of going on BP meds - that scares me something chronic - and I was wondering how far can one go before you'd generally have to accept that without meds you cannot get your BP under control?
When I was last posting here I came because my BP was high, but life was very different then and apart from anxiety I didn't have many true stresses. Now on the other hand there are a lot of external factors that I'm sure have contributed to my BP being so high, plus a dire lifestyle due to work has not helped one bit.
2weeks ago I was getting readings like 15x-16x/11x-12x - far, far too high I know and since then I have put myself on a strict diet and have started exercising every day as well and am getting numbers ranging from 13x-14x/9x-10x with occassional jumps to what I had initially. I know these numbers are not good, but I am currently 100lbs overweight and was leading a totally sedentry lifestyle before I decided to make the changes I have. I've been told that weight loss is the first major move you have to make to lower your BP along with changing your diet, cutting our salt and taking up exercise I was also hoping someone could inform me of the number of systolic and diastolic pts you drop for every 10kgs you lose (I think it was, I can't remember)
Basically I'm in need of some education and a little bit of a guide as to when I can/should concede and go on meds. I am aware that right now my numbers are dangerous and that meds should probably be my first port of call, but for me they are the absolute last straw - my BP has scared me enough to stop me from lapsing (this time - I lost a lot of weight before and over the past 18months it has returned) The last time I was here I took a similar course of action and got my BP to 120/80 and after about 2months I stopped checking it and hadn't followed it much at all until a few weeks ago (imagine my shock seeing the awful numbers) I feel like a different person mentally - I hit a rock bottom and now wish and hope to have a chance to correct my ways..it may be too late, I don't know, but I'm here to try and ascertain that and mostly for the advice of others, has anyone else had a journey similar to mine and come through it without needing meds? I would love to hear and be inspired by you.
I'm 28 years old btw. Apologies for the lengthy and probably jumbled post. I've got a lot of thoughts swirling round in my head and it's like a race to get them all out before they disappear!!
I hope you guys can help me out.
Scout