High Blood Pressure??

[Lobitz68]

The last few times I have been at the Urgent Care they have indicated that my blood pressure was high (over the last year plus), so yesterday I went in. Sure enough, it's high...VERY high. With 1 in 3 people having high blood pressure I figured that there is bound to be some experience on the forum.

So, do/did you have high blood pressure? Were you able to get in in check? What things worked for you? What things didn't?

My background: I am 35 years old. I work out 4 to 5 days a week (strength and cardio). I play and coach hockey as well, so I would consider myself to be a fairly active person. I don't smoke, but I do drink...sometimes a lot. Yesterday they put me on what I would consider a fairly strong dose of meds and I am going back in for a follow-up in 30 days.

That's my story, what's yours?

[jkeaton]

I was a fat a$$ who smoked two packs of cigs a day and ate at Mcdonalds at least twice a day, sat on my rear at night drinking beer and watching TV. I could not walk up a flight of stairs without breaking a sweat and losing my breath. My doctor gave me a choice one year during my annual physical, (2008 I believe it was), lose weight and get in shape, or go on medication for diabetes, high blood pressure, high colesterol, etc Said once I started on this medication, I would be on it forever. I opted for the other route cause I was sick and tired of being fat and tired........I started by walking every day, slowly adding a bit of jogging as the weight came off, quit smoking and started eating healthier. I lost almost 80 lbs, been smoke free for 7 years now and run at least 2.5 miles 4-5 times a week. I run 5k races once or twice a month. Just turned 51 last December, probably in the best cardio shape of my life. Still struggle with weight....manage to maintain with +/- 5-7 lbs, but man, it's like it takes me a month to lose 5 lbs and a weekend to gain it back....

Sometimes though, it's genetics. If high blood pressure runs in your family, maybe not much you can do about it.

[Lobitz68]

It pisses me off that I am as active as I am and still have to deal with this. But, if it helps me live a better quality of life and to be there for my family then I guess the diet changes and the pills go down the hatch. I do have a history of stroke and heart disease on one side of my family. The other side is healthy as can be... Looks like I got the bad genes.

Edited February 11, 2015 by Lobitz68

[rolly]

Talk about timing. I just got back from my doctor today for a follow up of the 24 hour blood pressure monitor she put me on last week. My blood pressure was high in my last visit so hence the monitor. I usually have normal blood pressure at home. She checked it today and the right arm was high and the left one normal. Guess which arm I was always checking? She's sending me to a cardio specialist for ultra sound and if the specialist doesn't find anything, then to an internist. All this before she considers medication. I'm a Gemini, which might explain why I have two different readings. I need to exercise more and watch my salt intake and diet. She also put me on low dose aspirin. If I was a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, I could understand the high blood pressure!

[Journey_SeXT]

The last few times I have been at the Urgent Care they have indicated that my blood pressure was high (over the last year plus), so yesterday I went in. Sure enough, it's high...VERY high. With 1 in 3 people having high blood pressure I figured that there is bound to be some experience on the forum.

So, do/did you have high blood pressure? Were you able to get in in check? What things worked for you? What things didn't?

My background: I am 35 years old. I work out 4 to 5 days a week (strength and cardio). I play and coach hockey as well, so I would consider myself to be a fairly active person. I don't smoke, but I do drink...sometimes a lot. Yesterday they put me on what I would consider a fairly strong dose of meds and I am going back in for a follow-up in 30 days.

That's my story, what's yours?

What about your diet? High sodium? Coffee or caffeine pills? Stressful job? Like I am the one to talk...I smoke over a pack a day and drink two full pots of coffee daily. but hey, at least I quit drinking and that made a big improvement on my health. I went from a size 42 to a size 36.

[dhh3]

High blood pressure runs in my family. My Dad's Dad had a massive stroke at 51 which killed him instantly. My Dad started on medication and lived to be 91. I have been taking Diltiazem (180 mg) and 1/2 of a Lisinopril (20 mg) probably for at least 10 years. I weight the same as I did when I graduated high school -- 167. I think that it has to do more with your metabolism than anything else.

In another post I mentioned that I have 2 bone graft fusions with a steel plate and 6 screws in my neck. 2 years ago I ruptured the disc at L4 and 5 in my back. Another bone graft fusion with 4 bolts and 2 rods. I have been complaining about the pain in this area for over a year. The Doctors told me it was the bolts and to "live with it". Now I'm taking bone density pills. 2 months ago I had a bunch of tests and the disc below the fusion, L5 and S1 is ruptured. So another fusion! Is it possible to suffer from road rage in the doctor's office? All of the pain medication that I have been on for the past 20 years will kill me long before the blood pressure medication does. I can no longer remember all the names of the meds that I have been on. The first fusion in my neck caused me to have horrendous headaches. Every med that they have prescribed for this, the main use is an anti-seizure medication. They all make me crazy (I believe that they are supposed to make me not crazy). So, I refuse to take them. So, it's like try this one. Nope. OK, try this one. Nope. This has been going on for 20 years. They finally found a combination that keeps the headaches at bay, but I have an extremely dry mouth. This started to affect my eyes - like they had sand in them. Went to my eye doctor. She put a piece of litmus paper in my left eye to check for moisture. A normal reading would be 12 to 14. Mine was 0. So now I am on 4 different kinds of eye drops. You have probably seen the ads for Restasis. It's horrible. It burns my eyes.

I have been told not to drink coffee. I'm not going to stop because I like the taste. 2 or 3 cups a day. I have never smoked in my life, but my wife did (another story for another time). I have made peace with my maker so I am ready to go when He says It's my time. But, I do think that he has plenty more for me to do.

[Lobitz68]

What about your diet? High sodium? Coffee or caffeine pills? Stressful job? Like I am the one to talk...I smoke over a pack a day and drink two full pots of coffee daily. but hey, at least I quit drinking and that made a big improvement on my health. I went from a size 42 to a size 36.

My diet isn't terrible, but it's not in line with the low sodium barely any red meat diet that they endorse... Only have on cup of coffee in the morning and drink water the rest of the day; coffee water and a beer for me, no soda... Having to work at all is stressful, but I wouldn't classify my job as stressful. I started working out again about 3 months ago. I am down about 15lbs and 2 pant sizes at the moment.

[Lobitz68]

Talk about timing. I just got back from my doctor today for a follow up of the 24 hour blood pressure monitor she put me on last week. My blood pressure was high in my last visit so hence the monitor. I usually have normal blood pressure at home. She checked it today and the right arm was high and the left one normal. Guess which arm I was always checking? She's sending me to a cardio specialist for ultra sound and if the specialist doesn't find anything, then to an internist. All this before she considers medication. I'm a Gemini, which might explain why I have two different readings. I need to exercise more and watch my salt intake and diet. She also put me on low dose aspirin. If I was a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, I could understand the high blood pressure!

Interesting... I bought a home monitor and have been checking it the last 2 days. It is slightly high, but just above the recommended levels... I have been checking my left arm because I am a righty and they ALWAYS check my right side at the doc. Maybe when I check it tonight after work I will do both sides and compare. I just figured the meds starting doing their magic right off of the bat. Maybe there is something else going on. Thanks for bringing it up.

[bramfrank]

I had a triple bypass (my brother had a quad when he was a year younger than I was when I had mine as did my father, who lived independently until the age of 93 - and drove, much to the chagrin of the residents near his apartment, until a few months before he passed away) - I was on BP meds since the operation, but came off them in May of last year and they have been well within 'normal' ever since.

'Normal' is not an absolute and 'high' does not mean that you will get diabetes or stroke out or have a massive heart attack.

I'm no lightweight, and I don't exactly follow a vegan diet (I eat lots of protein, limited carbs and consume too much salt) yet my BP is perfectly normal and with the exception of cholesterol (for which I take a minimum dose of statins) all of my blood chemistry is spot on.

As mentioned previously, it is more about genetics and stress than anything else, which is why top athletes sometimes drop dead in the middle of their peak years.

Oh - and like tire pressure readings, the proper way to test BP is be fully cooled down. You are supposed to sit upright with your feet flat on the floor, fully resting - your pressure cuff should be on your bare upper arm (not through a shirt) and your forearm should likewise be flat on a table surface - you should sit that way for at least 10 minutes and then take multiple measurements over a period of time (the machine at my cardiologist's office takes 6 readings over a 15 minute period) and use the lowest.

And Rolly - let your cardiologist handle the heart medication . . . He is a specialist and GPs tend to be somewhat clueless and are often out of date. Make certain that your pharmacist knows about any and all drugs that you have been prescribed - only the pharmacist has the computer that will identify potential conflicts between your meds.

You will likely be put on a daily 81 mg aspirin and some BP regulator. Often HBP is accompanied by high cholesterol and may also indicate a pre-diabetic condition, so make sure you have the proper blood workups and glucose stress testing done.

Edited February 12, 2015 by bramfrank

[rolly]

I had a triple bypass (my brother had a quad when he was a year younger than I was when I had mine as did my father, who lived independently until the age of 93 - and drove, much to the chagrin of the residents near his apartment, until a few months before he passed away) - I was on BP meds since the operation, but came off them in May of last year and they have been well within 'normal' ever since.

'Normal' is not an absolute and 'high' does not mean that you will get diabetes or stroke out or have a massive heart attack.

I'm no lightweight, and I don't exactly follow a vegan diet (I eat lots of protein, limited carbs and consume too much salt) yet my BP is perfectly normal and with the exception of cholesterol (for which I take a minimum dose of statins) all of my blood chemistry is spot on.

As mentioned previously, it is more about genetics and stress than anything else, which is why top athletes sometimes drop dead in the middle of their peak years.

Oh - and like tire pressure readings, the proper way to test BP is be fully cooled down. You are supposed to sit upright with your feet flat on the floor, fully resting - your pressure cuff should be on your bare upper arm (not through a shirt) and your forearm should likewise be flat on a table surface - you should sit that way for at least 10 minutes and then take multiple measurements over a period of time (the machine at my cardiologist's office takes 6 readings over a 15 minute period) and use the lowest.

And Rolly - let your cardiologist handle the heart medication . . . He is a specialist and GPs tend to be somewhat clueless and are often out of date. Make certain that your pharmacist knows about any and all drugs that you have been prescribed - only the pharmacist has the computer that will identify potential conflicts between your meds.

You will likely be put on a daily 81 mg aspirin and some BP regulator. Often HBP is accompanied by high cholesterol and may also indicate a pre-diabetic condition, so make sure you have the proper blood workups and glucose stress testing done.

Good advice- thanks!

[Lobitz68]

Talk about timing. I just got back from my doctor today for a follow up of the 24 hour blood pressure monitor she put me on last week. My blood pressure was high in my last visit so hence the monitor. I usually have normal blood pressure at home. She checked it today and the right arm was high and the left one normal. Guess which arm I was always checking? She's sending me to a cardio specialist for ultra sound and if the specialist doesn't find anything, then to an internist. All this before she considers medication. I'm a Gemini, which might explain why I have two different readings. I need to exercise more and watch my salt intake and diet. She also put me on low dose aspirin. If I was a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, I could understand the high blood pressure!

I checked both of my arms last night since the doc always checks the right and I've been checking my left... Numbers were very much in line. I have changed my diet a bit and been on the meds since Tuesday. Every reading I have taken has been either good, or just slightly elevated. Looks like the changes are working. Kind of annoying to be on meds though. Anyone able to successfully change their health enough to get off of the meds? Or maybe you know someone who has?

[dhh3]

I weigh the benefits against the side effects. If the side effects get to be too much, I start reducing the dosage until I am comfortable. I have all the instruments I need to monitor whats going on inside my body. Of course, my Doctor does not approve. I sometimes wonder if Doctors get kickbacks from the pill pushers?