High Blood Pressure and Low Pulse Question - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

dbd08 · 01-29-2009, 08:33 AM

I'm 19/M 6'2" and 170lbs with no family history of just about anything. I visited my doctor and she noted that my blood pressure was 132/90 and that I had a fairly slow pulse (55-58) for not being very athletic (I only started working out about a week before the visit and had not worked out for probably a year before that). All blood work was normal, and an ECG showed fine. I am a very anxious person and always worrying about something - especially about my health. I've previously had an echocardiogram several years ago because my GP heard a "split gallop", but was giving the all clear and they said I had a "great heart". I've had a history of high blood pressure as well.

I should also add that I eat a very healthy diet - I'm at college and everyone thinks it's strange how healthy I eat as they scarf down their greasy hamburgers. What sucks is I've asked friends who eat like crap and their blood pressure is always awesome (110/70 etc). :-(

Any ideas? I'm baffled by this considering I'm a lean, young guy with no family history.

mod-anon · 01-29-2009, 08:52 AM

Please note that this thread is moved to the High & Low Blood Pressure Board.

dbd08 · 01-29-2009, 09:02 AM

I should also add that I drank the night before I went to the doctor. I hardly ever drink (maybe once every two months) but when I do I get a bit drunk - nothing crazy.

zekat · 01-30-2009, 04:11 AM

Have you tried buying a cuff and taking your BP at home? You might find that you have perfectly great BP at home. It seems the doctors office (and worry over high BP readings) can sometimes affect the BP reading. Mine is almost always higher at the doctor - by a LOT

It's something to consider. I've found that in the long run, tackling the anxiety helps everything else!

dbd08 · 01-30-2009, 02:32 PM

Actually I went out and bought one last night. The first couple readings with it were high, but I was a tad worried then too as well. Turns out now that I've been doing it a several times in the last 24 hours I magically have lower BP. I would assume that I've just conditioned myself to not care what the readout will be when I take it and I am now getting a more accurate measurement. It's a tad high on the systolic still (125-130) but diastolic is solid at 77-80 everytime.