27 with High Blood Pressure... - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

shiningstar521 · 12-19-2007, 08:04 PM

I have had high blood pressure on and off since I had my son 4 years ago. It has been extremely high for the past week and I have been getting dizzy spells and having chest pain. I'm 27, in good health and not overweight. I don't know what is causing it to go so high other than stress. It's mind boggling to me because it will be normal for months or like this time, a year...and then I'll have problems with it again.
I went to the ER today because I was ready to pass out and was having trouble breathing. My doctors office suggested I go there so they could run tests with faster results. They ran an EKG and did some blood work but didn't find anything there. I had surgery two months ago and when I told them this they said about blood clots after surgery. I don't know how they test for this but they said that was ok. I am not satisfied with "take some medicine" because *SOMETHING* is causing me to feel this way. I go back to see my family doc tomorrow where they'll most likely prescribe me some meds for it *again*. I was wondering if anyone out there has any experience with any natural ways to lower it other than obvious diet and exercise, meditation ~ which I already do. I've got to do something and i *hate* to use meds. Any suggestions, comments are greatly welcome!!!! Thanks

famnd · 12-20-2007, 01:09 AM

Stress otherwise known as LIFE is a huge contributor of HBP. Some of us are more vulnerable as we produce more adrenalin than others which spikes the b/p pretty fast.

For example, right now I have a lot of stress cause three of my adult children have some serious medical problems. I couldn't sleep last night until 3 am whereas my husband went to sleep like a baby & slept alnight. He is able to just tuck away those concerns
& go about his life.

So we have to have some buffers against these everyday stresses that we can't avoid. For me, it is writing it all out in a notebook (journal), exercising, eating healthy with some treats now & then, listening to music, focusing on what I can help them with not all the stuff I have no power to change.

Today was a good example. I had to go shopping so by the time I got home, I was exhausted & took a nap. I planned to go swimming then but my daughter called wanting to talk about her medical issues. It was 10:30pm before I knew it. Should I go to bed or go swimming which I had been looking forward too. I decide to stay up & have that relaxing time in the pool. Glad I did.

Preventing & relieving stress will do as much for our b/p as some meds from my experience over the last 5 yrs. Fam

bethsheba · 12-20-2007, 04:54 PM

star,

Although what you are describing could be caused by stress, it is more likely caused by secondary hypertension. BP that develops rapidly in a healthy normal weight individual is a sign that there are other things going on in the body that are causing the spikes....yes, stress can elelvate those pressures, but there are also chemical changes in the body that can elevate the adrenolin which elevates stress levels, which elevate the blood pressure. Yes, you can take meds for the blood pressure but you'd be far better off to find the source of your condition. Bp meds are nothing to mess with and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Unfortunately, too many doctors are ill equipted to diagnose and treat hypertension per the countrys' hypertension specialists! You didn't ask, but if I were in your shoes, I would recommend seeing a specialist.

Take care, beware, and good luck!

Bethsheba

flowergirl2day · 12-20-2007, 10:44 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Preventing & relieving stress will do as much for our b/p as some meds from my experience over the last 5 yrs.

I am glad you had your swim! Good for you!

I agree with that statement.
We cannot avoid finding ourselves in stressful situations. At one time or another, we have all been stressed out. As you said, that's life. It's how we cope with the emotional ups and downs that determines how long we will live and how happy we will be.

flowergirl

shiningstar521 · 12-21-2007, 07:22 PM

Thank you all for your your input

I appreciate it, and *any* to come

I went to the dr yesterday, and she did want to put me on atenolol again. I took this before and it made me soooooo tired... Which I don't know if I can handle right now, with my job and still recuperating from the surgeries I've had. But she also said she detected a murmur... so she has scheduled me for an echocardiogram. I would like to get to the bottom of this since it's been going on for years now. I don't like to "cover up" the issues with meds. I do have a history of migraines, and I see a chiropractor once a month ~ which was the ONLY thing to help my migraines (after trying everything!) ...which he felt had to do a lot with adrenalin issues... my neck is always so tense!
As for the chemical changes in the body ...i was concerned about this, as I have just had 5 surgeries ranging from march to october. I guess we'll see what the echo has to say and take the meds in the mean time. I have had high blood pressure before but never severe symptoms along with it like i've been having.
Thank you all