Cbrookhart,
Normal resting blood pressure is now considered to be at or preferably below 120/80.
Your diastolic readings are near normal, but the systolics (top #s) are on the high side, especially for a young adult your age.
One of my questions to you is what monitor are you using? Your own home monitor, or are you going to pharmacies and such? The latter can't always be counted on to be accurate.
How is your weight? Being overweight can contribute greatly to elevated readings.
Excess alcohol intake can do it.
Anxiety and stress are a big factor too.
Lack of regular aerobic exercise can also a contributing factor.
Certain drugs like ibuprofen and cold medicines can elevate BP. Anything w/epinephrine in it also. Certain antihistamines.
The way you take your BP is also an important factor. You should be relaxed, sitting in a chair (back supported), legs uncrossed, feet flat on floor, arm resting on a table with the cuff at heart level. Arm should be positioned palm upward and limp, not tensed. Take your BP 3 times with an interval of 2-3 minutes between each reading. Throw out first reading (yes, discard!!) and then average the last two.
If the majority of your readings are 120/80 or less, then I would simply keep monitoring for a while on a regular basis. Don't obsess though.
Monitor for another month, maybe three times a day MAX, at the same time each day, at least 1/2 hour before or after eating, smoking or exercise.
Note: Readings taken upon arising in the AM are usually the highest of the day for most people.
Keep a record and I would not be concerned with the occassional highish reading...only if you are getting them more frequently and/or daily. Even then, there's still no reason to panic, but it's something to watch to see if it creeps up over time, with particular attention to your systolic numbers.
zuzu xx
Borderline BP
Linear Mode
