I really need some help... - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

StormLuvver · 08-17-2004, 12:30 PM

First of all, I am so glad I found this site. I have been reading some of the postings, and I feel better already. My regualar doctor (who understood me) retired, so when I went to his replacement and she took my blood pressure, she was ready to put me on meds. I asked her to wait a while and take it again. She wasn't too happy with that. I went out and immediately bought a monitor, and began taking it at home. It was normal. I definately have white coat syndrome, but what scares me is now I am getting it even taking my blood pressure at home. I can feel it going up just thinking about it, and I have become obsessive about taking it. The first mistake I made was to take it while experiencing a lot of anxiety. Of course it was high. I will take it, wait about 10 minutes and take it again. I will do this four or five times in a row. I have a hard time relaxing while doing this. Can someone help me? I panic if it is a little high. Another question I have is, can too much caffiene make your blood pressure higher. I sure will appreciate any help anyone can give me. By the way, I'm scared to death of doctors. Thank you.

alptraum · 08-17-2004, 01:51 PM

Hello, welcome to the boards

I too get really nervous about taking my blood pressure even at home with nobody around, it freaks me out. It has gotten better now whenever I start to feel anxious, I tell my self that the feeling is irrational, there is no danger, and try to breath normally and let the feeling pass.

I used to obsess about my bp too, take it all the time, check my pulse and generally really flip out over it, life became really nightmarish and it really doesn't do you any good. I've begun to feel a lot better since I stopped obsessing about it all the time.

How old are you? What are your typical numbers at home?

zuzu8 · 08-17-2004, 01:57 PM

Hi Stormluvver,
Welcome to the boards!

You are not alone regarding the initial panic most of us go through when, for the first time we hear that our blood pressure is elevated and/or that we may require meds.

What was you doc's office reading?
And may I ask how old you are? (if that makes you queasy, just give us a ballpark under or over 40!).

How is your overall health otherwise and how is your weight?

Yes, caffeine can raise your BP.

If your BP isn't sky-high, sometimes lifestyle modifications can lower it significantly. Regular exercise, lower fat diet, lose weight if overweight, cut down on alcohol, and stop smoking (if possible!).

Don't take your BP at home more than 3 times in a row. You're bound to increase your anxiety level if you get too obsessive. Perhaps take it two or three times a day at the same time every day for a while to get an idea how it is a various times.

Make sure your are seated comfortably, arm relaxed and un-tensed, palm upward, resting on a table, cuff at heart level.
Feet flat on floor, legs uncrossed. Back supported.
Take one reading. Write it down
Wait 3 minutes
Take 2nd reading. Write it down
Wait 3 minutes
Take 3rd reading. Write it down

Throw out first reading entirely and average the last two.

Try not to smoke, eat or exercise 1/2 hour before you take the BP.

You should know that early AM readings are higher in most folks than later in the day or even mid-morning.

By the way, what kind of monitor did you get?

zuzu xxx

alptraum · 08-17-2004, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StormLuvver

Another question I have is, can too much caffiene make your blood pressure higher.

A 2003 Swiss study brief summary:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2488117.stm

"...A Swiss study indicates that the caffeine contained in coffee is not, as was widely thought, responsible for raising blood pressure. Occasional coffee drinkers who drank a triple espresso showed elevated blood pressure - but the same effect was recorded whether or not the drink contained caffeine. The finding suggests that another ingredient in coffee is to blame for stimulating the cardiovascular system. The research also indicated that regular coffee drinkers seem to become immune to the effects. Regular drinkers showed increased stimulation of nerve pathways - but no increase in blood pressure..."

2002 study that was presented by to the American Society of Hypertension showed:

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/16/1817_50966

"...Vlachopoulos and colleagues tested the effects of caffeine on the major arteries of 10 people who were being treated for high blood pressure and were an average of 62 years old. On alternating days, the participants were given either a pill containing 250 mg of caffeine (the equivalent of 2-3 cups of coffee) or a placebo.

Thirty minutes after the caffeine was given, there was a big jump in the stiffness of their arteries, said Vlachopoulos. The effect peaked after 60 minutes and remained significant for at least three hours.

This led to an 11 point jump in systolic blood pressure -- the top number -- and an 8 point jump in diastolic blood pressure -- the bottom number..."

While not comparable, the two studies do appear interesting.

junior26 · 08-17-2004, 02:28 PM

Welcome to my world. Ever since I had a reading of 180/80 when I was 15, I've been having high readings ever since because I keep thinking about that one time. I'm now 26, I never got my BP checked out officially, but I know that it hovers around borderline.

That said, just taking out the machine at home makes me nervous. The first time is usually around 170/105, then 160/100, 150/95, 145/90. And this is during a time of severe anxiety. Last month, I was able to get it down to 135/85.

If it's the waiting bewteen reading that raises your anxiety, you don't have to wait 10 minutes before taking the next pressure. Just raise your arm for 15 seconds to get the blood back to your heart. The norm is actually 2 minutes without raising your arm. They just say 10 minutes in the manual to be sure.

Also, it's true that you shouldn't take your BP unil you have digested your food. I know that in my case, when I eat a big meal, I have a very stong pulse all evening which raises my pressure.

My doc only takes my BP once as well. Last time, he even acknowledged my nervousness by saying, "Man, you've got the pedal to the metal!". BP 160/100. But no luck, he only takes it once as to not waste his precious time.

What kind of numbers are you getting? If you happen to get a low number, trust it. It's probably even lower than that when you're relaxed watching TV.

I've also noticed that I get lower results at the doctor's office using the stethoscope method (nervous) versus at home using a digital monitor (relaxed). Digital monitors don't seem to work for me at all. I don't know why, they just don't. They work with vibrations and they calculate the diastolic pressure according the the average systolic pressure, etc. Too many parameters for it to be totally precise. The slightest anxiety will screw up the results.

That's my 2 cents.