First of all I want to thank all of you for your replies. My mind has been pre-occupied with blood pressure readings for the last 4 days. Now to answer some of your questions. I am over 40. My readings, up until recently, varied throughout the day. I noticed they seem to be higher in the middle of the day, and lower at night. At 8:30 p.m. I had a reading of 118/77. Most of my evening readings were normal or below. In the afternoons they would be higher. 134/84, 142/94,but if I waited a while they would go down. Then last week I was under a lot of stress with our sick daughter in law, then I hurt my back and got a migraine. Probobly not the best times to be taking my blood pressure, huh. Which leads me to another question..Will pain make your pressure readings higher? So, I took my pressure in the afternoon and it was 164/96. I freaked out. Then I was off...I took it every 10 minutes after that getting more and more freaked. My readings were 158/96, 156/88 and 146/87. I've been obsessed ever since. They do come down after a while. Then tonight after dinner I made myself lye back and relax. I took my pressure twice, and "Halleluia" it was 122/77. I was so happy, I jumped off the couch and got on here to see if I had any replies. So, what do you think? Does it sound like stress? Thank all of you so much again. I don't want to stress my husband out, so it's good to have someone who can relate to this and help. God Bless

I think its stress because mine does exactly the same thing. In fact I started a very strict diet and it sent my bp upward. My bp has been 117/63...and 2 weeks after the diet started it was 130/66 and then 148/77. So now I'm scared. But I don't take my blood pressure alot when I get scared..instead I avoid it because I know it will go up from the anxeity.

Some people tell me though, that it should never go that high even under stress...and that I should be on BP meds. I dunno..but all the worrying I swear is not worth it.

My mother is 82 and walks around with BP that is low one day and sky high the next... it hasnt killed her yet... but the doctors think she should be taking BP meds too.

Some people tell me though, that it should never go that high even under stress...and that I should be on BP meds. I dunno..but all the worrying I swear is not worth it.


Of course blood pressure reponds to stress; that's the sign of healthy living organism! Secondly, I don't think the numbers you report (under stress) are anywhere near alarming.

As long as you monitor your pressure, and keep in contact with your doc you should be just fine.