Stress = 236/136 = Need Help for my Hubby!!

[JohnsBabe]

Hello! I'm new to this board and hoping for some guidance...

My husband (52) has been under a lot of pressure at work for a while now and it's beginning to affect his health. He came home for lunch today after a stressful morning and I noticed numerous red blood vessels on the side of his face. At my insistence he checked his BP and it was 236/136! His heart rate was 91.

Needless to say, this has me terrified for him. He is downplaying things, perhaps wanting to protect me and not worry me, but I feel we need to do something ASAP.

As a brief background...he has been taking 100mg Atenolol since prior to our getting married almost 3 years ago, at which time he also had angioplasty and 3 stents done after having some chest pain. He also has high cholesterol and T2 Diabetes.

He's a very laid back and easy-going guy and until recently had been doing very well, but now that his workplace has become hostile things are quickly changing. With this kind of BP shouldn't he see someone immediately?? To see a specialist in another town will take us 2-3 weeks at best.

I'd appreciate any suggestions or information...this is all very new to me and I'm very worried...

Thanks~

[zekat]

I am not the most qualified to answer, but I do feel compelled to reply. I think a very prudent action would be to call a hospital & see what they think. I do this from time to time when I am not sure what to do (like once when I fell & knocked my head against concrete). Personally, I feel you need to take him to the ER as soon as possible. I don't want to stress you out, but I don't think he needs to be walking around with those numbers.

[jtu91952]

Hi Johnsbabe and welcome to the board. I am diabetic w/ hbp, high cholesterol and thyroid problems. I am difficult to treat with hbp and have tried just about every class of bp meds. Not too long ago, i posted with the same problem as your hubby. My bp was 236/110(something like that) and i waited a da or two b4 going to urgent care.

As a diabetic, that kind of bp is very dangerous. I went to the ER and they kept me for two days. Just to be safe, your husband should call his dr to see if he can be seen asap. My suggestion and what aarp health coaches suggested to me is to go to the er asap. I am also 52, diabetic and on various bp meds.

IMHO, its better to be ridiculed for being panicky(and be alive) than to wait it out to see what happens. High blood pressure is a serious matter for a diabetic. Good luck.

[Machaon]

Originally Posted by JohnsBabe

Hello! I'm new to this board and hoping for some guidance...

My husband (52) has been under a lot of pressure at work for a while now and it's beginning to affect his health. He came home for lunch today after a stressful morning and I noticed numerous red blood vessels on the side of his face. At my insistence he checked his BP and it was 236/136! His heart rate was 91.

Needless to say, this has me terrified for him. He is downplaying things, perhaps wanting to protect me and not worry me, but I feel we need to do something ASAP.

As a brief background...he has been taking 100mg Atenolol since prior to our getting married almost 3 years ago, at which time he also had angioplasty and 3 stents done after having some chest pain. He also has high cholesterol and T2 Diabetes.

He's a very laid back and easy-going guy and until recently had been doing very well, but now that his workplace has become hostile things are quickly changing. With this kind of BP shouldn't he see someone immediately?? To see a specialist in another town will take us 2-3 weeks at best.

I'd appreciate any suggestions or information...this is all very new to me and I'm very worried...

Thanks~

There is a strong probability that your husband has Insulin Resistance Syndrome, or Syndrome X. The signs of Syndrome X are high blood pressure, diabetes type 2, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, among other signs.

It is a reversible condition, but the "cure" is through frequent small meals (like six per day ) of high fiber and proper veggies, balanced by sufficient proteins.

There is an excellent 2002 article about Insulin Resistance from the UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center. The link follows:

http://www.snac.ucla.edu/pages/Resources/Handouts/HODiabetesandInsulinResistance.pdf

[bharkins]

Johns,

Your husband should contact his doctor immediately and if that is not possible I suggest that he go to the ER. Let the professionals determine just how dangerous those numbers are.