Hi everyone,

I'm new and I have questions, and concerns. Happy to have found this board!!

I'm a 26 yr old female. By random check, my Doctor discovered my bp was a little high. 135/89. She recommended me to check it every day for a week and write it down. I seen her after 1 month and because it was still high (ranging from 135-139 / 88-91) usually. I told her that I eat healthy with low sodium, I am a non-smoker, non-drinker...I work out every day... and I'm a bit over weight... 206 lb.. My EKG results came back fine, the only thing was that my pulse was a bit high, she said that was probably due to being nervous.

She than told me that it's possible that it might be weight related, since I gained probably 40lbs since I was 19. So she told me to check it once a week randomly until January. Now It is January and I am due for an appointment soon. My readings over the past 6 weeks have been :

12/01 134/92
12/03 128/74
12/10 140/92
12/15 128/84
12/19 119/80
12/22 139/85
12/23 139/81
12/27 130/81
01/10 144/83

So I am wondering if these numbers are to be concerned with? I notice sometime they are within normal range and other days they are defanitely High, but mostly on the systolic reading, as the diastolic readings seem to be normal for the most part.

Does anyone have any comments or insight? Both my parents, and other family members have HBP.


Thanks for reading, and looking forward to the replies.

Pulltab,


Personally....befoe I would medicate myself I would try weight loss to see if those numbers come down some which are not all that bad at this point, but yet they look to be somewhat "jumpy" and cause for possible future concern.


So I would try weight reduction first as your Doctor suggested, besides that you might like the way you look as well; so you can kill 2 birds with one stone.:)

Thanks Stumper.

I also am not that much over weight. 206 lbs / 5'5". I also once had a reading of 150/91 in my dr's office.

I really don't know if the numbers above are bad enough that I might need to have medication. I would prefer to not have to take any meds.

Also wondering how accurate the machine's are that you find in drugstores? That is where I take my readings.

I also recently developed a cholesterol desposit on my eyelid, at the age of 26 and I was concerned over that, but when my Dr did a bloodtest the cholesterol levels were within normal range.

I am feeling rather a bit frustrated because I am trying my damnest to bring those numbers down, and they are still not down to where they should be.

Thanks Stumper.

I also am not that much over weight. 206 lbs / 5'5". I also once had a reading of 150/91 in my dr's office.

I really don't know if the numbers above are bad enough that I might need to have medication. I would prefer to not have to take any meds.

Also wondering how accurate the machine's are that you find in drugstores? That is where I take my readings.

I also recently developed a cholesterol desposit on my eyelid, at the age of 26 and I was concerned over that, but when my Dr did a bloodtest the cholesterol levels were within normal range.

I am feeling rather a bit frustrated because I am trying my damnest to bring those numbers down, and they are still not down to where they should be.




Pulltab,


BP machines in stores are usually quite accurate, at least, that has been my experience and my doctor tells me so. But if you go to a few and the reading differs greatly then you may wish to ignore the one or ask the pharmacist.
If you buy one get a good one like a Omron.

Yes, BP is frustrating. Numbers do not always move quickly using natural things like weight loss or supplements. But if you were to try supplements try the fish oils as my studies in the past have shown them to be the most affective, but they take about 30 days for results.

Medication , on the other hand will drop numbers quite briskly, but if you notice on the forum they have their problems, such as, side affects. But then agian you may try one and Whyola...you won't have one problem.
I know a woman who is 53 years old and had HBP since the age of 20. She has always used medication BUT hers was quite high like 240/over something.


There is alot of knowledgable people here that I am sure can give you good advice once they weigh in. ;)

I would definitely try to lose weight. Just 15 pounds less can make a good difference...
Not sure whether the BP monitors in drug stores are a good idea. Even if they were accyrate, you'd most likely be taking your BP when you've been walking around, etc. (which can raise BP)
I would buy a good BP monitor that you can use at home when you're relaxed.

I am trying to lose the extra weight for sure. Everyone says to forget about having HBP because thinking about it is enough to make it high alone. I know this, but It's hard to forget about it when you are trying to make your lifestlye a healthy one that is conduscive to lowering your BP. There is a part of me that worries that something else is wrong with me which could be the cause of my HBP. I consider myself to be a high anxiety individual also. I've had 2 bad panic attacks over the last 7 months. I am learning to NOT have anxiety though. I am getting better at letting things roll off my back. ;)
Are my readings that bad? I know it's mostly pre-hypertension, but is that to be overly concerned with?

Everyone says to forget about having HBP because thinking about it is enough to make it high alone.

Everyone is right about that. But hype is still at fault for making you and other people so nervous about HBP. While it is pretty clear that chronically high BP over many years is a significant risk factor for heart disease, stroke, PAD, etc ..., (there is a theoretical basis for this too) just how high is high is not at all well known, and short term increases in BP are completely normal. (The traditional 140/90 cutoff is more of a guess than anything else.) You have some great numbers and then some more elevated numbers. That is normal, since stress, emotions, etc all raise BP. Over short periods, HBP is a normal physiological response that makes the body more efficient in dealing with external stress (helps in fight or flight response), improves mood, energy, etc ... But like an exhaustive workout, HBP can wear out the body if it remains high for extended periods of time (luckily we are talking on the order of decades here). Second, just because you have HBP for most your life doesn't mean you are going to have a stroke or heart attack. You are just at increased risk for it. I know several 90+ people that have had HBP for much of their life. Most of these people however, don't have other risk factors (i.e. they are not overweight, they are calm individuals, don't smoke, drink excessively, etc ..)

Officially, you don't have HBP, but you may want to monitor it every few months. The only risk factor you might have is being slightly overweight, so besides that there is really nothing to worry about.

Pulltab,


How well I know the affects of anxiety on BP. My 17 year old son has OCD and in the past has had panic attacks. This alone drove his numbers upward into the 140 ranges. Otherwise he was picture perfect with 105-115/70-74.
You need to help those anxiety and panic attacks. One course we purchased is called "Attacking Anxiety and Depression" by Lucinda Basset. You can do the search yourself and find it.
It deals with anxiety and depression by how we think and restructering ones thinking.

It is really good and should help your BP.

Hi..

My Doctor made a mistake and put me on medications too soon..that too on the worst kind beta blockers..they are habit forming..your body gets used to the medication and you have to keep it pumping..

Lose weight..change diet it will easily reduce your BP to normal range.Be patient though..diet and exercise needs regularity and takes 2 weeks to start showing results.

Tell ur dr not to put u on beta blockers..other medications are not that habit forming

Everyone is right about that. But hype is still at fault for making you and other people so nervous about HBP. While it is pretty clear that chronically high BP over many years is a significant risk factor for heart disease, stroke, PAD, etc ..., (there is a theoretical basis for this too) just how high is high is not at all well known, and short term increases in BP are completely normal. (The traditional 140/90 cutoff is more of a guess than anything else.) You have some great numbers and then some more elevated numbers. That is normal, since stress, emotions, etc all raise BP.
.....

Officially, you don't have HBP, but you may want to monitor it every few months. The only risk factor you might have is being slightly overweight, so besides that there is really nothing to worry about.

hi dand5 ... wow thank you so much, i really needed to hear these words. All the while I tried to keep telling myself not to be too worried, I guess I just never experienced any kind of concerning medical condition's before in my life, I have always been healthy so when I found out about this, I have not stopped thinking about it. But you really helped me put in into perspective. I am still going to randomly check my bp.

How well I know the affects of anxiety on BP. My 17 year old son has OCD and in the past has had panic attacks. This alone drove his numbers upward into the 140 ranges. Otherwise he was picture perfect with 105-115/70-74. You need to help those anxiety and panic attacks. One course we purchased is called "Attacking Anxiety and Depression" by Lucinda Basset. You can do the search yourself and find it.
.

Hi stumper... its good that your son's BP is normal otherwise. I know panic attacks are hard on your body, they really ware out your energy. I only had them twice, and I think they are highly situational episodes. I am normally not that anxious to the point of having a full on panic attack, normally it have to be under a great deal of pressure or really tired and under pressure for them to happen. But on a daily basis, I have some social anxiety, I think i should be on anxiety meds sometimes. I'll keep that book in mind!! Thanks for your suggestions.

Hi..
My Doctor made a mistake and put me on medications too soon..that too on the worst kind beta blockers..they are habit forming..your body gets used to the medication and you have to keep it pumping..

Lose weight..change diet it will easily reduce your BP to normal range.Be patient though..diet and exercise needs regularity and takes 2 weeks to start showing results.

Tell ur dr not to put u on beta blockers..other medications are not that habit forming

hi phunk95.... I know what you mean. Although i am just barely starting to research, If there ever comes a point when my Dr decides to try medicating me, I hope that we have exhausted all other options, because I really don't want to. I am defanitely going to keep working out, losing weight. You said that it takes 2 weeks for diet and exercise, but I have been continuously working out since October, I only lost about 5 pounds mind you, but I do get lots of exercise, and as for diet, I coincidly became more concious of my diet for weightloss and for low-sodium, and I don't drink and don't smoke. So I am as far as I know, doing everything in my will.... so the only thing left to believe is lose some more weight and see what happens. Thanks for your input!!

I am 25 and have been on a diuretic for High Blood Pressure for nearly a year and a half.

I would say that your readings aren't that high as of yet. I recently had blood work done and they called me in to tell me there was a problem. I was SOOOOO scared that when I got to the doctors for the results, my blood pressure was 176/115. That is extremely high! I had to take an emergency pill and lay on my left side for 30 minutes before I could leave. Needless to say, my liver enzyme was a little elevated which wasn't too bad. My EKG's and bloodwork have always come back perfect.

My normal readings are between 125-135/88-92. I am obese (now drinking LOTS of water) and high blood pressure runs highly in my family. I am trying to lose weight but it is so darn hard. I gained nearly 40 pounds within the past year and a half after starting the diuretic, so beware of the medications that they give you.

Keep an eye on your readings and continue exercising, thats what they keep telling me. Good luck. :)

I am 25 and have been on a diuretic for High Blood Pressure for nearly a year and a half.

I would say that your readings aren't that high as of yet. I recently had blood work done and they called me in to tell me there was a problem. I was SOOOOO scared that when I got to the doctors for the results, my blood pressure was 176/115. That is extremely high! I had to take an emergency pill and lay on my left side for 30 minutes before I could leave. Needless to say, my liver enzyme was a little elevated which wasn't too bad. My EKG's and bloodwork have always come back perfect.

My normal readings are between 125-135/88-92. I am obese (now drinking LOTS of water) and high blood pressure runs highly in my family. I am trying to lose weight but it is so darn hard. I gained nearly 40 pounds within the past year and a half after starting the diuretic, so beware of the medications that they give you.

Keep an eye on your readings and continue exercising, thats what they keep telling me. Good luck. :)

I would have felt scared too. Was everything OK in the end? They say that weight can make all the difference, so If you lost weight I bet you would be FINE. Good luck to you too!

This board has made a world of difference for me. I no longer am concerned with my readings.

My update :

I had a doctor's appt this morning. My bp was 138/98 in the office. My doctor said she will give it a bit longer, and then she may consider putting me on high blood pressure meds.

*sighs*

Without wanting to be sent down in flames I truly think that losing a bit of weight may help your HBP (although its not too high)....According to BMI you are classed as obese and not just slightly overweight. If you lost say about 50 lbs you may find that your bp comes down a bit.

Sorry to be harsh.....and hope that you work it through....

hi daisydee,
thanks for you reply, i didn't find it harsh, i found it more encouraging. I am very hesitant about going on meds. my goal is to lose 20lbs and see if that helps. i am sure going another 6 months will not hurt in the long run, it is worth a try. but if i lose another 20lbs and still with hbp then i will look at the meds as a last resort.

That sounds like a good plan...you have a good goal (i.e. to feel good and to lower your bp)....and I totally understand the not wanting to take medications...

go girl!

Hey everyone, i'm back and went to see my dr today she perscribed me on a low dosage of beta blockers (atenonol) half tablet, i think 10mgs per day. Thats all, i wanted to share the news. I wasn't looking forward to this time, but it's come to this. She also told me that there is still a chance to get off them again in the future, and she still believes my hbp is probably 'weight-related' which is possible. So now I am going to see what happens with the med.