Ok, I try to take my bp when I am doing stuff around the house (with kids or whatever - like I am all day) and I sit down and take it and I am getting like 140's/85 - 86 - after I sit there for a bit - it goes down to about 125/75 - which # should I be going by. Do I assume my bp is always in the higher #'s becuz that is what I am doing most of the day or do I base it on my sitting numbers (which I don't do very often!
Thx guys - I can't seem to stop obsesssing about this!!! It just seems like when you go to the docs they have you sit down right away and take it - so I wonder is that what I should be basing the numbers on!
I'm freaking extra about it right now because my Aunt just passed away on Friday while she was in the hospital, she was having a heart valve replacement and her heart muscles were so weak it just couldn't take it. Then my other aunt told me that she had also had hbp for at least 3 years that she knew about it and hearing that just messed with my head a bit.
That's part of the reason that doctors have soooo many people on hypertensive meds...the doctor's office is a stressful environment and BP is supposed to be measure at rest so all they see is a steady stream of people who are always tense.
Go with the low number, taken after sitting quietly in a comfortable chair. If it disagrees with your doctor's numbers tell him exactly that but stick to your guns and demand that YOUR numbers are the ones that are the basis of diagnosis and treatment.
