Hello my name is Leah and I am new here. I've been diagnosed with hbp and after a battery of heart tests at the hospital they can find no reason for it. So it must 'just' be stress induced. I was started on Micardis 80mg 4 months ago. After seeing my doctor again he now has given me Micardis Plus 80mg/12.5mg as it is still not under control. I am only 117 pounds, 5'6, a non-smoker and a vegetarian so I don't know what else I can do!!?? Trying to cut down on salt and caffeine even though I didn't consume much of either beforehand. Is there anyone else who falls into my so-called 'category' as a low-risk for hbp but yet still has it and is still struggling to get it under control? :confused:
I thank you very much and hope everyone else is doing alright. :)

Hello Leah, Good luck with this thing. I have suffered exactly what you are describing and I can't find a way out. The only thing I can say is that if I had to do it all over again, I would have exhausted every option before I was put on any medication. I mean, diet, exercise, supplements, even anti-depressants. My thread is on here somewhere if you would like to read it. I am about to close it out, though. So good luck. There are alot of good people on these boards. They'll help you. Frank

Do you have a family history of high blood pressure?

Thank you for your responses to my post Frank and mgraylorn,,,,appreciate it. Frank they just automatically put my on meds because my bp was so high for someone like me,,,,I mean I didn't have a bad diet and lifestyle to begin with. And as for a family history of hbp,,,no mgraylorn,,,no one in my immediate family,,,,just one aunt I know of who is very overweight. Maybe sometimes you just get it,,,,you think? *shrugs her shoulders"

Leah,

That makes no sense to me. I don't know why they didn't put you on an anti-anxiety medication 1st, while they tested for secondary causes. You may have just been nervous (white-coat) when they took your B/P in the hospital. I would do anything in my power to avoid meds. Just my advice.

Are you going through menopause? Sometimes hormone fluctuations can cause BP to rise.

,,,,,no not at menopause just yet. And if I may ask another question, please and thank you,,,,my doctor has told me there is no cure for hbp so does that mean when one is diagnosed with this you are on meds for the rest of your days? :confused:

your doc is full of it - there are cures, its just different for every person depending on what is causing the HBP

The trick is figuring out what is causing it, and yes, in some people, there is no solution other than meds

but its worth a little effort to try to figure out the cause & a possible solution rather than being on meds the rest of your life

Probably the majority of people diagnosed with high blood pressure will have to take some medication for it for the rest of their lives.

Some people with slightly elevated bp will be able to get off or avoid medication for at least a while with weight loss, dietary changes, exercise, etc., but they will have to stick with those changes permanently.

Some people have some secondary cause for hypertension, like an adrenal tumor, and if that is corrected, then they can go off medication.

If you are thin, eat a healthy, balanced, low salt diet, get a moderate amount of exercise, and don't have something like a tumor, bad heart, or bad kidneys, then you are probably stuck with medication.

How high was your blood pressure that made them put you on meds? It is my high pulse rate (always over 100) that made the docotr put me on meds, even though my blood pressure was okay.

Initially my bp was in the high 150's to low 160's over high 90's to low 100's. I was sent home with a cuff to keep to moniter it so I do know it isn't 'white coat' hbp as it is still higher than norm at home. Who knows? I do think though when I go back for my regular visit to my heart doc I will ask if being on my anti-anxiety meds will be enough and I am soooooooooo uncomfortable with the idea of being on hbp meds forever. Thanks everyone you've all given me good insight and I appreciate it. :)

Based on your at home numbers, you would probably be better off on blood pressure medication, even though you don't like the idea.

Long term, uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to strokes, heart problems, kidney damage and Alzheimers. I think all those things are a lot worse than taking blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

Leah,


My thoughts:
First buy a home BP tester (auto-inflate, upper arm model.) Take your BP daily and record it after sitting (or better, reclining) comfortably for 5 minutes. After a month you'll have a good average resting BP that you can use to ascertain your options.
If your only readings have been in a doctor's office they may be wildly off the mark.

On the drugs, if you do MUCH better on the Micardis (maximum dose BTW) and the added thiazide diuretic then maybe you are not the type of hypertensive that needs the fancier drugs (like the Micardis) at all. I'm sure the new formulation will work FAR better than the Micardis alone, but only time will tell.

Here's another case where the doctor followed his drug company inducement rather than commonly accepted procedure, which is to start with a cheap generic DIURETIC. It seems more the rule than the exception.

Hmmm, I wonder why the doctor would first prescribe the $1.50 pill? I'll have to think about that <scratching head.>

hey i am a 23 year old male that has hbp and i am 5'9" 135lbs and i am an active person and eat healthy and i checked my bp after getting like dizziness and sinus problems about 6 months ago but what happened before that was i was in a lot of stress over an apartment i was living in!!! when i checked mine at the grocery store it was 135/75 so i freaked and checked it a gain after walking around the store and it was 145/85 so then i went on a nervous anxiety phase!! i would check it at an urgent care and i would be in the 140s and 130s over 70s and 80s and i was just getting really mad and scared but i did notice that everytime i took my bp i felt really nervous and i had trouble breathing normally!! this all started in oct of 2004 and i saw a doc in jan 2005 and he did blood test and they were normal and he took my bp and it was 140/80 and again he took it 140/80 so why is my top number up and the other ok??well i too am very confused on how i got hbp and i am seeing another doc april 14th 2005 and hoping he can find out weather i have hbp or it is anxiety and nervousness!! i just cant figure out how you must feel while checking your bp!!! hope this helps u know u are not alone and any replies would be great!!! thank you

shane