HBP help - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

SandyS · 10-04-2003, 08:31 AM

Hello,

Seen my Dr yesterday and my blood preasure was high, 142/90. I'm not real sure what a good preasure would be but from reading other post I'm assuming much lower. This morning it was 162/102 with a pulse of 91. I will monitor it numerous times a day till I get the hang of this, but a couple questions. If your BP is elevated, do you feel jittery, are you hot, and do you feel weak?

Thank You

Tick Tock · 10-04-2003, 12:08 PM

Hi Sandy,
You may feel nervous, tense, relaxed, happy, etc. Unless your pressure is extremely low or extrememly high you won't feel anything. That's why they call it "The Silent Killer"

I used to have low-normal BP - about 110/72 or so. Now mine was running 150+/97. I am not overweight, never smoked, exercise regularly, good diet, etc. 45 years old male. I now have it lower than before at around 145/88 or so.

I personally don't feel anyting different unless it's over 170/100 (headache on the top of my head) or under about 105/75 (light headed). This varies for each person - both at what point you feel something and what you feel. However, remember that under nearly all but the most extreme circumstances you can't tell your BP by how you feel.

Good luck and keep on top of it. This is a good place for info and exchanging ideas but is no replacement for your doctor's advice.

Take care!

huntress-nm · 10-04-2003, 12:33 PM

Here are comments from a pharmacist a few years ago:
140/90 - concern - check in with your doctor
160/100 - urgency - check in with your doctor
200/120 - emergency - see your doctor or the ER pronto

What is conventional wisdom out there?

At 162/102 I would feel jittery and weak, but not hot. I suspect it's different for each person

Hope this helped!

zuzu8 · 10-05-2003, 01:54 AM

You got great info from Tick Tock and Huntress.
I'll just add that optimal BP # should be 120/80 or below.

What kind of home monitor are you using? Stay away from wrist and finger monitors. They are notoriously inconsistant and unreliable.

And relax for about five minutes, sitting in a chair, legs uncrossed before you take your reading. Keep your arm very relaxed, resting on a table at about heart level... Don't stiffen or tense it, or you might get an inaccurate reading. Some doctors recommend that you take it three times at each sitting, resting a few minutes in between. Throw out the first #, then average the last two. And make THAT one the one you record on paper.

And take your BP at the same times every day. Note also, that for most (but not all) people, BP is highest upon arising in the AM.

If you continue to get 162/102 for the next two days, call your doctor.... That's not borderline and you should get his input....When does he want to see you again?

And lastly, you said "numerous" times a day...Don't go crazy with this. Three or four times a day is really sufficient to get a good idea of how you're doing. Sometimes, when we get obsessed with all this monitoring, it creates much more anxiety and hence, higher #s!

zuzu xx

Sillyme03 · 10-05-2003, 07:50 AM

I am new to the board and am tapering off the toprol give by my GP DR. ( other post, guess no one has had my problems). Went to new cardiologist to taper off the Toprol. His assitant took my BP, then DR took it when he came in, but he had me sit, raise my arm and open and close a fist for about 15 seconds before he took my BP. I have never had anyone do this before. It was not on the same arm the assistant used. It was 10 points higher then the first reading. I did not think at the time to ask him as I had so many other questions. Does anyone elses's Dr. do this. Just wondering.....