OT: Blood Pressure

[Midwest_non_sleeper]

Well, I finally did it. At two days shy of 41 years old. My BP at my checkup this morning was too high and now I have a followup to talk to a specialist about BP medications. It's been consistently high for awhile now.

Have high blood pressure? Tell me what I need to know. Tell me a story, and don't make it a scary one, because I'm a little freaked out already.

[jimbud]

I have a story, but will not bore you with it.
I learned the hard way to be involved with your therapy just like you are with your APNEA therapy.
Get your blood tests and check them out yourself.
Study up on them and what they mean.
If you notice something out of whack, make sure the doctor is aware of it.
Doctors are human and sometimes can be lazy.

And he lived happily ever after (even though it may not be as long as he thought it would).
JPB

[babydinosnoreless]

Well, I finally did it. At two days shy of 41 years old. My BP at my checkup this morning was too high and now I have a followup to talk to a specialist about BP medications. It's been consistently high for awhile now.

Have high blood pressure? Tell me what I need to know. Tell me a story, and don't make it a scary one, because I'm a little freaked out already.

Get one of those auto machines and check it at home. My husbands is always high in the doctors office but is nice and low when at home. He has white coat syndrome. Its a real thing.

[Janknitz]

I have a bit of white coat syndrome AND they almost always take the BP incorrectly at the doctor's office.

Either they sit you in the hallway with your arm dangling down while an electric machine squeezes your arm to death OR they sit you at the end of the exam table, back unsupported, legs dangling, arm dangling, and sometimes with their thumb on the bell of the stethoscope (sometimes what they hear is their own pulse!).

A proper BP is after you've been seated in a relaxed position for at least 5 minutes with your back and feet supported. The BP arm is supposed to be at or slightly above the level of your heart.

Surprise, the ONE time my BP was normal in the doctor's office was the ONE time it was taken correctly. I stopped letting them take it at the doctor's office at all.

I take it at home and it's usually low normal 100- 115 over 70's. If I was put on BP meds I'd be passing out.

[Okie bipap]

I have had high blood pressure for several years. I have taken several different blood pressure medications over the years, but my pressure has always stayed within normal ranges with medication. I am presently trying to find a medication to control my AFIB, and the one they have me on right now also affects my blood pressure. About an hour ago, it was 106/62. I check it my self at least twice a day and am keeping a log for my cardiologist to review on my next appointment.

[Goofproof]

Mine went down after a heart attack, I don;'t think that's a good solution, 35% heart function cuts the pressure as does the bad Aortic Valve. Jim

[roadcycler]

High BP easily treated. They will put you on either beta blockers or Ace inhibitors. Side effects yup, but you haven't had a heart attack yet as a side effect so get it looked after, the cure is definitely better than the long term result. Yes get an automatic BP cuff (costco, walmart, amazon) one that pumps up by itself bicep is more accurate than wrist. The newer ones take 3 readings and averages them. As mentioned before sit for a couple of minutes first feet on the floor uncrossed ankles and arm resting on the side of the chair/couch. It will definitely vary during the day, just record so you have a record when you go in, but GO IN. Glad they caught it early

[kteague]

Agree with those suggesting to not rely on one testing source. My doctor's office is notorious for not following position guidelines when taking my blood pressure. I discovered my wrist monitor had become unreliable and was showing my top number at least 20 digits above my doctor's office as well as the machine at the pharmacy. As you get meds, keep an eye on not just your blood pressure, but also your pulse. I have some non-threatening irregular heartbeats. Some meds slow the pulse also. I found with my numerous skipped beats then slowing of the remaining beats my pulse was reading lower than I am comfortable with accepting. In recent months I lost 10 pounds and was surprised such a small loss seems to have made a difference as my blood pressure is more stable than it's been in years. Also found that making sure to not allow fluid retention helps my BP also. Good luck with managing things. Maybe with some good healthy efforts by you you'll be able to keep meds at a low dose and avoid some of the side effects that worsen as dose increases.

[palerider]

I have a bit of white coat syndrome AND they almost always take the BP incorrectly at the doctor's office.

Either they sit you in the hallway with your arm dangling down while an electric machine squeezes your arm to death OR they sit you at the end of the exam table, back unsupported, legs dangling, arm dangling, and sometimes with their thumb on the bell of the stethoscope (sometimes what they hear is their own pulse!).

A proper BP is after you've been seated in a relaxed position for at least 5 minutes with your back and feet supported. The BP arm is supposed to be at or slightly above the level of your heart.

Surprise, the ONE time my BP was normal in the doctor's office was the ONE time it was taken correctly. I stopped letting them take it at the doctor's office at all.

I take it at home and it's usually low normal 100- 115 over 70's. If I was put on BP meds I'd be passing out.

Yes, that's a very good point.. I had to argue with a nurse in the hospital about it, (and won, after she agreed to do some experimentation...)

If you're using a wrist unit, or you're taking it somewhere other than upper arm, then it needs to be about the level of your heart, otherwise, the reading will be higher (if the cuff is lower than the heart) or lower (if the cuff is above the heart) because gravity pulls on your blood and affects the readings. (many people don't realize you can take a bp reading most anywhere on your body, upper arm is just most common, but ankles work just as well, (when laying down).

[SDBud]

I have a bit of white coat syndrome AND they almost always take the BP incorrectly at the doctor's office.

Either they sit you in the hallway with your arm dangling down while an electric machine squeezes your arm to death

If the BP cuff feels uncomfortable/too tight when it's expanding, you almost certainly HAVE high blood pressure!!

[Tom2572]

I've lived with HBP for a few decades, I take my meds and have never had a side effect that I can think of. If I forget to take my meds my blood pressure goes up until I take it again. I have a friend with type II diabetes and he worries about going into a coma if he forgets his meds. That's a level of fear I've never experienced. HBP isn't optimal but there are far worse conditions to have.

[chunkyfrog]

High blood pressure in a patient diagnosed with obstructive apnea is called a "comorbidity".
Luckily, it meant that my insurance had to pay for my cpap, as insurance guidelines
would have otherwise left me to be untreated.

[Okie bipap]

As you get meds, keep an eye on not just your blood pressure, but also your pulse. I have some non-threatening irregular heartbeats. Some meds slow the pulse also. I found with my numerous skipped beats then slowing of the remaining beats my pulse was reading lower than I am comfortable with accepting.

I recently developed AFIB and the medication they gave me to try to control it lowered my pulse to 50 to 55 beats per minute when resting. When it is that low, it becomes difficult to do anything. They took me off of the medication for one day and my pulse returned to a normal rate. Now, I am supposed to try taking the medication starting tomorrow morning.

[Cpapian]

I have had it for a few decades. I take my medicine daily. No big deal. It's in my family, so I have never concerned myself about it.

If one doesn't manage their blood pressure, it can damage the kidneys, heart and accessories, as well as cause strokes, sometimes small, unnoticeable ones(TIA) that lead to vascular dementia.

For some, exercise, and healthy weight can help reduce blood pressure in conjunction with your doctor's Rx.

A home blood pressure monitor is an excellent suggestion. Check for one recommended by your federal hypertension association. In Canada, where I am, the website is hypertension.ca.

[Muse-Inc]

Investigate taking magnesium, esp if only systolic (top figure) is elevated: magtein, taurate, citrate best forms. Mag helps smooth tissue relax which includes heart and lining of blood vessels amongst others. It's the 4th most abundant mineral in the body. It's estimated that 75% of us are msg deficient as it's depleted in our soils and removed by water processing. RDA (based in athletic 18 yos) is 400 for men, 380 for women. I've taken 400-800 mgs/day in divided doses since 2000 based on my research and doc's approval.