cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,446 
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on May 22, 2015 2:31:49 GMT
I had a physical last month (last one was 3 years ago)
my my blood pressure has always been in the 110 over 70 range, but this time I was 145 over something. The doctor didn't want to immediately jump to medication, and suggested I periodically take it while I'm out and about (like at the pharmacy machines)
so far, I've had one that was 135 over, and then today I was 141 over 95.
If anything, my diet has changed for the better since January. I'm down 27 pounds and gave up sugar and white crap, no more artificial sweeteners. I've joked that the only thing that has changed in the last 3 years is that DS started rep basketball, and the high energy games stress me out....lol
How much longer would you take readings before calling to see her?
Should I be super worried? It does run in my family, my maternal Grandmother had high blood pressure, and my father died of heart disease. So I'm trying not to freak out, but it does worry me some!
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on May 22, 2015 2:38:20 GMT
First of all, I'd get my own monitor to have at home. If you have a FSA account, you should be able to pay for it with those funds. Then, I'd take readings every day, at the same time, for a month. Be sure to note if you are sick, in pain, or taking other meds, all of which can impact your BP. Then, I'd ask my doctor at what level, and for what time period, she would be worried. The last time I went in for a 6-month check in (we are monitoring my BP and meds), I'd tracked my BP for about a month ahead of time like I always do. It's usually in the 120/80 range, which I thought was the target. This last time, the whole month was in the 130-145/80-95 range, and I thought the meds were causing a problem. (Switched generics.) And my doctor told me they'd changed the guidelines, again, so for me, 150/90 was the new "keep it below" since I don't have any other heart/vascular related concerns (even though I do have a family history of hypertension AND heart disease). So you may be just fine.  |
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,446
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on May 22, 2015 2:41:45 GMT
First of all, I'd get my own monitor to have at home. If you have a FSA account, you should be able to pay for it with those funds. Then, I'd take readings every day, at the same time, for a month. Be sure to note if you are sick, in pain, or taking other meds, all of which can impact your BP. Then, I'd ask my doctor at what level, and for what time period, she would be worried. The last time I went in for a 6-month check in (we are monitoring my BP and meds), I'd tracked my BP for about a month ahead of time like I always do. It's usually in the 120/80 range, which I thought was the target. This last time, the whole month was in the 130-145/80-95 range, and I thought the meds were causing a problem. (Switched generics.) And my doctor told me they'd changed the guidelines, again, so for me, 150/90 was the new "keep it below" since I don't have any other heart/vascular related concerns (even though I do have a family history of hypertension AND heart disease). So you may be just fine. Thanks.... im in Canada so no FSA, but I'm sure DHs benefits would cover it. He is already on blood pressure meds, so we could both benefit from that. interesting about the "new" numbers, everything I've read today says I'm in the high range! |
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Post by elaine on May 22, 2015 3:00:56 GMT
First of all, I'd get my own monitor to have at home. If you have a FSA account, you should be able to pay for it with those funds. Then, I'd take readings every day, at the same time, for a month. Be sure to note if you are sick, in pain, or taking other meds, all of which can impact your BP. Then, I'd ask my doctor at what level, and for what time period, she would be worried. The last time I went in for a 6-month check in (we are monitoring my BP and meds), I'd tracked my BP for about a month ahead of time like I always do. It's usually in the 120/80 range, which I thought was the target. This last time, the whole month was in the 130-145/80-95 range, and I thought the meds were causing a problem. (Switched generics.) And my doctor told me they'd changed the guidelines, again, so for me, 150/90 was the new "keep it below" since I don't have any other heart/vascular related concerns (even though I do have a family history of hypertension AND heart disease). So you may be just fine. 150 Systolic is way too high. Your doc misunderstood the new American Heart Association guidelines (March 2015): Less than 140 is okay, but no one I have heard says 150 is nothing to worry about. I've been on BP meds since the month I turned 30 - never overweight, physically fit, cholesterol is always great. I simply inherited hypertension from my mom. It was 150/105 before I went on meds. Anyhow, 22 years later, I can say that taking a daily BP pill is absolutely no problem and worth the reassurance that it cuts down my chances of a stroke. |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on May 22, 2015 3:11:49 GMT
150 Systolic is way too high. Your doc misunderstood the new American Heart Association guidelines (March 2015): Less than 140 is okay, but no one I have heard says 150 is nothing to worry about. I've been on BP mess since the month I turned 30 - never overweight, physically fit, cholesterol is always great. I simply inherited hypertension from my mom. It was 150/105 before I went on meds. Anyhow, 22 years later, I can say that taking a daily BP pill is absolutely no problem and worth the reassurance that it cuts down my chances of a stroke. I'll be sure to ask her about it the next time I am in. (Fortunately, it's usually nowhere near 150/90, even when it was being wonky.) But I would still get my own cuff and rely on a series of readings from that.  |
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Post by Kate * on May 22, 2015 3:12:52 GMT
Just wanted to say Costco has an easy to use BP testing machine (about $40). It can even keep a digital record (for 2 people), although I use paper. Most of the ones I looked at in drugstores were either hard to figure out (for me) or too much $$$.
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Post by elaine on May 22, 2015 3:24:26 GMT
150 Systolic is way too high. Your doc misunderstood the new American Heart Association guidelines (March 2015): Less than 140 is okay, but no one I have heard says 150 is nothing to worry about. I've been on BP mess since the month I turned 30 - never overweight, physically fit, cholesterol is always great. I simply inherited hypertension from my mom. It was 150/105 before I went on meds. Anyhow, 22 years later, I can say that taking a daily BP pill is absolutely no problem and worth the reassurance that it cuts down my chances of a stroke. I'll be sure to ask her about it the next time I am in. (Fortunately, it's usually nowhere near 150/90, even when it was being wonky.) But I would still get my own cuff and rely on a series of readings from that. Yes, definitely! I never trust store BP machines- I have had several cuffs through the years. I even started with the plain old manual one with the stethoscope back when I first started on meds.  You mentioned monitoring your BP because of meds - I don't know if you mean other meds or BP meds that you are taking. If it is other meds, that is less concerning, but if you are already taking BP meds, I'd want to see my BP clearly in the "safe zone," rather than still skirting the limits, YWIM? I was on one med when I wanted to get and was pregnant, but after I was done having kids, I quickly switched back to another BP med, because the one I was on that was more pregnancy-friendly didn't do a good job keeping my BP down and I was on a large dose. |
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Post by compwalla on May 22, 2015 3:31:32 GMT
Oddly enough, I also lost a lot of weight and got healthy and then got high blood pressure out of nowhere. Turns out I have an adrenal tumor. Not saying you do but if you really feel like you are maximizing the benefits of lifestyle and exercise, make sure they do a thorough workup on you and don't let them just put you on meds and send you out the door. I've learned over the last few months that doctors all assume you are exaggerating your self-reported healthy habits. This can delay a real diagnosis. Please be insistent if you think something is really wrong.
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on May 22, 2015 3:47:48 GMT
You mentioned monitoring your BP because of meds - I don't know if you mean other meds or BP meds that you are taking. If it is other meds, that is less concerning, but if you are already taking BP meds, I'd want to see my BP clearly in the "safe zone," rather than still skirting the limits, YWIM? I was on one med when I wanted to get and was pregnant, but after I was done having kids, I quickly switched back to another BP med, because the one I was on that was more pregnancy-friendly didn't do a good job keeping my BP down and I was on a large dose. Yep, I get ya. |
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Post by impearia on May 22, 2015 3:52:39 GMT
I had low blood pressure my entire life until I hit my mid thirties. It was so low I would occasionally pass out. Then BAM! high blood pressure. I had a full work up with a nephrologist to check for possible causes because I am pretty young to have such issues. Nothing turned up at all, and he suspects it is just genetic and I am a bit of a stresscase, lol. Both my parents have bp issues but are very active, athletic and not overweight. The only thing that helps me is extra exercise, good sleep, and medication. Being as active as possible has helped. If as a PP posted you have high blood pressure readings consistently (over a month or so) it is best to get a work up done. While not optimal, the meds aren't so bad, and better safe than sorry.
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