High Blood Pressure - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

badger · 02-28-2004, 01:37 PM

Hello,
I'm 15 years old, and recently at a routine physical, the doctor said my blood pressure was 128 over something (80 i think), and he said that they begin to 'worry' at 130.

Now this was a shock to me, as I am on the varsity swimming team and end up swimming 2-4 hours a day, and in summer/fall play waterpolo 2-4 hours a day every day. My height is 5'4 and my weight is 130. My diet is also usually:
breakfast: Cheerios w/ milk & glass of orange juice, lunch: yogurt, nature valley granola bar, pb&j sandwich, banana/apple, thermos of water, salted peanuts, and then whatever dinner is (usually some meat w/ carrots and rice & bread w/ butter).

The doctor didn't take to much note of it, just saying that maybe I was nervous and so my blood pressure rose while taking the test. But I don't think so.

I know I should schedule another appointment, but I wanted to see what other people said first.

Is this normal? And could playing violent games on the computer a couple times a week which causes my heart rate to jump be contributing to my high blood pressure?

Thanks.

Rick7799 · 02-28-2004, 02:59 PM

That is not a bad reading. You can't go by just one reading anyway. You need several over a period of weeks or months to get the real picture. The next time you are at the dentist or anywhere else ask them to take for you. Don't trust the ones you see in stores. They can be inaccurate. I would not worry at all about this one reading.

As for the computer games, they could raise it for the moment but it would settle back down to normal when you are done playing.

mandi-deg · 02-28-2004, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badger

Hello,
I'm 15 years old, and recently at a routine physical, the doctor said my blood pressure was 128 over something (80 i think), and he said that they begin to 'worry' at 130.

Now this was a shock to me, as I am on the varsity swimming team and end up swimming 2-4 hours a day, and in summer/fall play waterpolo 2-4 hours a day every day. My height is 5'4 and my weight is 130. My diet is also usually:
breakfast: Cheerios w/ milk & glass of orange juice, lunch: yogurt, nature valley granola bar, pb&j sandwich, banana/apple, thermos of water, salted peanuts, and then whatever dinner is (usually some meat w/ carrots and rice & bread w/ butter).

The doctor didn't take to much note of it, just saying that maybe I was nervous and so my blood pressure rose while taking the test. But I don't think so.

I know I should schedule another appointment, but I wanted to see what other people said first.

Is this normal? And could playing violent games on the computer a couple times a week which causes my heart rate to jump be contributing to my high blood pressure?

Thanks.

Wow it would be great if that was my blood pressure. The last time I did mine it was 145 over 99. I am a very tense person and when i get it done I am always nervous and jittery. I wouldn't be too worried about your blood pressure. If my blood pressure was what yours is my doc would say its fine. A lot of things can contribute to high blood pressure. My best advice is dont worry about. Check it from time to time and if it gets higher and stays that way then have it checked out more.

shellebelle · 02-29-2004, 03:23 AM

It would never hurt to get another reading for your blood pressure. At my doctor's office once mine was really high. They retested it at the end of the appointment because they suspected it was because I was nervous, and everything was fine. Mine's normally in the "normal" range.

I'd suspect that it was just your nerves since you do get a lot of exercize and seem to have a very good diet.

zuzu8 · 02-29-2004, 04:15 AM

Badger- Almost everyone's blood pressure "spikes" at the doctor's office. They even have a name for it: White Coat Hypertension.
("white coat"=doctor= some anxiety just feeling the inflation of the cuff or simply being examined).

I'm sure you're fine!

zuzu xx