Blood pressure increase normal? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

trojan63 · 03-23-2007, 04:04 AM

Hi,

I have been very active most of my life, then for a few years I became complacent and let things slip, put on a few pounds and became fairly inactive. As part of the initiation I had to have my BP taken and it came out with a reading of around 165/103, so as a result the gym wouldn’t allow me to join until I got a letter from my GP.

I went to the GP and had a similar reading, so he did a scan and blood tests, both showed normal and I had a cholesterol level of 5. So I got the letter and joined the gym, after a few months again due to work pressures and not having enough time it all fell to the way side again and I slipped back into complacency.

I also have minor IBS and a Hiatus Hernia and after a visit to the osteopath he suggested that the back pain I was suffering was in fact reflux acid, not being a smoker or drinker or an eater of fried foods, I decided to ask the doctor if there was a food intolerance test that could pin point certain foods that might be triggering the reflux, during this visit she took my blood pressure which came back as 185/88.

That was the turning point for me again, I had bought a Omron BP machine for around £100 last year so I could do BP tests at home, so 4 weeks ago I started to make time to go to the gym, lost 9lbs and started to check my BP at 3 points of the day and the results were averaging between 125-135 / 75-82 and the back pain and headaches pretty much gone. So this morning before going back to the doctors I took my reading again and it was 139/86 and when I got home I took it again it was 135/82, but at the doctors it showed as 186/88?

She said she wasn’t worried and she was happy to go by my home readings as going to the doctors increases BP, but can it really increase it that much? I certainly didn’t feel that anxious.

Thanks

Lenin · 03-23-2007, 05:54 AM

Quote:

I had bought a Omron BP machine for around £100 last year so I could do BP tests at home

That's an EXPENSIVE rig.

Quote:

So this morning before going back to the doctors I took my reading again and it was 139/86 and when I got home I took it again it was 135/82, but at the doctors it showed as 186/88?

She said she wasn’t worried and she was happy to go by my home readings as going to the doctors increases BP, but can it really increase it that much? I certainly didn’t feel that anxious.

You've got a classic case of White Coat Syndrome. Yes, it can increase that much and no, we don't even need to feel consciously anxious for it to rise to stellar heights at the doctor's office.
Best we can do is keep good records.

Congratulations on getting your life back on priorities.

famnd · 03-23-2007, 06:49 PM

Hi 63,

I coined a term "cuff anxiety" as opposed to WCH because most of us aren't afraid of the Doc's. Rather we're afraid of the consequences of HBP. My b/p will go up at least 20 points systolic when I go to my primary care Dr. who takes care of my b/p issues. Whereas when I go to my thyroid Doc who is from India & very warm & patient centered, my b/p has been as low as 110/70. My thyroid Doc suggested I take Labetalol (an older drug with a history-alpha/beta blocker). This drug can be taken before Dr's appointments to decrease one's b/p. Since it is a beta blocker, one has to be sure not to take extra tabs & get withdrawal which can be serious. Of course, one's Dr. has to educate the patient on the guidelines of taking the drug. Fam