Hello, as the subject says im 22 male, And i was diagnosed with high blood pressure wheni was 20 almost 21. Now i havent been taking medication when im sure i should be, For not being on medication i think i need to get back on it, Because recently, The game i was playign is an exercise game (ddr) dancing heh, Well after im done playing 2 games my leg muscles are extremely tence and my heart is beating so hard i can hear it in my ears, Is this a sign of my blood pressure being to high? now and then my heart even skips beats which really bothers me, often times i feel like im out of breath or i get slightly woozy when it happens, I do like fast food though im told to stay clear away from it. What healthy or good tasteing foods can i snack on still or best to eat (i like junk food) for a guy like me? Thank you for any help! :) and btw yes i know to stay away from caffeine and chocolate. Although i do miss starbucks

The symptoms you describe do sound like high blood pressure. Get a home blood pressure monitor and start seeing what readings you get, then you'll know for sure.

If it's high, you can lose weight, eat better (everyone knows what not to eat, so quit eating junk if it's important to you to avoid meds), and see if that helps.

If you insist on eating junk and being overweight, then get some meds. But a young person should really attempt to control BP thru lifestyle changes before meds.

You need to get to a doctor now...given your early bp diagnosis, your current lifestyle, and no medical treatment you'll be lucky if you make it to age 23.

Bethsheba

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And contrary to your recent statements to the contrary, high blood pressure is increasingly common in people in their late teens and 20s, usually without any identifiable cause (e.g. kidney problems). I had high bp at that age and 20 years later I am in much better shape and my bp is in normal range by taking ace inhibitors and exercising.

...And contrary to your recent statements to the contrary, high blood pressure is increasingly common in people in their late teens and 20s, usually without any identifiable cause (e.g. kidney problems). I had high bp at that age and 20 years later I am in much better shape and my bp is in normal range by taking ace inhibitors and exercising.

Rigel,

I am well aware that high blood pressure is increasingly common in people in their late teens and 20s. And I know that hypertension can be controlled and treated.

My concern for esato is that:

1. His heart is beating abnormally hard (if it was beating normally, I doubt that he would have mentioned this)

2. His heart skips beats.

3. He experiences shortness of breath.

4. He feels woozy (I'm assuming lightheaded).

5. He is doing, what sounds like, strenuous exercise.

These can be symptoms of hyperventilation or anxiety (or other conditions)...but they can also be symptoms of heart problems. Exercise may be dangerous for someone with his health hx and with these symptoms. (A friend became a widow at the age of 23 after 6 months of marriage...her husband dropped dead in their home after a morning jog.)

When you are 20, 21, 22, you don't think it's going to happen to you...everyone you ever knew is still alive, everyone you know is healthy...you think you are infallable...you think you are indestructable...you don't think you can get sick or you can die...but you can. And so sometimes support needs to be more than a pat on the hand or some kind reassuring words. Sometimes support needs to be "this is what can happen if...."

Bethsheba