Who here has high blood pressure?

tehbasketcasey
tehbasketcasey Posts: 41
in Motivation and Support
Who has high blood pressure?
I got mine taken today, and came out at 131/81 - which isn't technically high blood pressure, but it is higher than optimal. What about you guys? And, what do you do to reduce your pressure when it spikes?

Replies

  • poopoomonkey1978
    poopoomonkey1978 Posts: 108 Member
    I have had my blood pressure going all over the place lately. When I went to the doctors last it was right before going to a friends viewing and my bp was 190/117. I was put on water pills and even then 85% of my readings are high. Exercise has been the one thing that lowers it for me. You need to watch your salt intake though
  • Xhell_on_heelsX
    Xhell_on_heelsX Posts: 299
    This girl! Had high blood pressure since my daughter was born and have been on meds ever since. I'm hoping as my weight goes down my doc will take me off of them. Meds = No bueno
  • melissawaters
    melissawaters Posts: 31 Member
    I am on meds for mine, but I have recently started watching my sodium intake on here. (well trying to watch my sodium. lol) also drinking more water than I normally do and increased my exercise, so hopefully next time I go to doc it will be down. oh, and I quit smoking:) good luck to you!!!! :drinker:
  • Devon_McCormick
    Devon_McCormick Posts: 14
    Mine is much higher than your's. Last February my bp was 190/112. I was immediately put on medicine. It lowered some but not in the normal range. I have been dieting and exercising everyday the last month. I have lost twelve pounds. My bp is nearly normal. Exercise and low sodium diets are key. I have a strong family history for high bp. I also am a teacher so it often goes with the job. I really hope my new lifestyle choices help me to get off my bp medicine. Good luck to you.
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    Not me! (well, not anymore). Yay!
  • Stinkerbelle84
    Stinkerbelle84 Posts: 328
    I do. Mine is a little higher than yours, so not too bad. I do have a higher heart rate as well so meds are a must do for me. I take a beta-blocker, which also reduces my heart rate, once a day. I also watch my sodium, drink lots of water, limit caffiene, and watch my overall diet. Exercises works the best to control it though (for me). Good luck to you!
  • boilerbabe69
    boilerbabe69 Posts: 27
    I was fighting with mine and after losing 24 lbs I'm medication free. I still check it regularly out of habit but it sure feels good to know I don't have to take meds. About the only thing I know to do when it is high without medication is to lie on your left side and try to relax. In reality if it is 131/81 your not in bad trouble or trying to have a stroke but it is something to watch and keep better track of. Good luck.
  • samblanken
    samblanken Posts: 369 Member
    Pissed off? Sleep poorly? Hung over? Stressed out? Eat too much chinese the night before? Your BP will be high. Me personally, I have sleep apnea and diabetes. If I do not sleep well my blood sugar and blood pressure is through the roof. So don't let one reading dictate your life. My doc wanted to put me on BP meds and I said no way, I slept really badly the night before and that is why it is so high. Next day everything was good. :wink:

    Edited to add: If I sleep well, my blood sugar and blood pressure are normal. If I sleep poorly, blood sugar and blood pressure are both very high. My exhusband was cheating on me and when I went to the doctors office for STD testing my BP was through the roof (because I was so PISSED OFF). Don't let one high reading dictate going on medication. There are alot of things that factor into that number.
  • Robyn120
    Robyn120 Posts: 249
    I'm on meds for mine but hope to be off once the weight goes down more and more!
  • mrsjas2000
    mrsjas2000 Posts: 908 Member
    I have been on 3 pills since my daughter was born, and she is 12, I am hoping to get off of them when I get rid of this weight. I am also scared to come off of my water pills as everyone says you gain 10 lbs in the first week off of them
  • mbz0616
    mbz0616 Posts: 77 Member
    Me! I've dropped 35 pounds and reduced my body fat percentage to 23% but still need meds to keep my BP in the right range. Darn annoying. Now working to reduce sodium - currently averaging around 2000 mg/day.
  • Cherokeetruthtalker
    Cherokeetruthtalker Posts: 1
    I have learned to sit quietly and concentrate in my breathing, or take a short nap and dark chocolate helps as well.
  • tehbasketcasey
    tehbasketcasey Posts: 41
    Yeah, medication scares me a little... I don't want to deal with those side effects. I heard that there are natural remedies for high blood pressure, such as ingesting herbs, or drinking more water.
    Caffeine is god, so I don't know if I can give that up.
    But yes, it's good to know I'm not alone in my struggle, and I want to make sure that I don't damage any delicate internal organs.

    Good luck you guys, we can do this!!!
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    I've been on BP meds for about 4 years, I think. Without them, my natural BP is around 145/80. Not horrendously high. But my mom has two different heart conditions and my dad has high BP. So my doc didnt' want to mess around. I've had to raise my dosage twice. Now, with this dose, I'm usually around 128/72. Which is pretty OK.
  • Stinkerbelle84
    Stinkerbelle84 Posts: 328
    Meds are not as scary as they sound, especially not if they work properly. If you take one that doesn't agree with your body it can be hell, though. As far as caffiene, I still drink it. I do find that black teas cause me to be super jittery, while other milder teas do not. Moderation is key.

    Do you get in a lot of exercise now? If you do not, then start! You should see a tremendous reduction in BP, along with stress levels and anxiety. I am always much better off after a good workout. Even a nice long walk.
  • tehbasketcasey
    tehbasketcasey Posts: 41
    I hate running. I refuse to do so unless I am being chased, and then I can run very fast. I like to walk and swim for my exercise, mainly. I walked today for a good 40 minutes. Exercise usually makes me feel better, so maybe increasing my exercise will help my pressure.
  • Stinkerbelle84
    Stinkerbelle84 Posts: 328
    Try to break a sweat and get your heart rate up. I love to do "Just Dance" on Wii, or even just dance around to the radio. Find little ways to get that cardio in and your heart pumping. Walking did wonders for my BP. I lost 47 pounds several years ago from just walking, eating right, and an occasional Denise Austin home DVD.
  • tehbasketcasey
    tehbasketcasey Posts: 41
    And you look great!!!
  • DivineDee
    DivineDee Posts: 23
    I have had high blood pressure for years now and take medication daily. My doctor has told me that if i would lose the weight I could eventually get off the medication. :happy:
  • tehbasketcasey
    tehbasketcasey Posts: 41
    I bet you can :)
  • LethainIowa
    LethainIowa Posts: 43
    Mine was through the roof a few years ago..and I was a lot thinner then. My whole family has high BP..so I'm not surprised I do. I take 4 pills a day..2 morning, 2 night. On meds it's normal.
  • NewMsT
    NewMsT Posts: 33
    I have been on bp meds for about 4 years now. My doctor calls me a walking time bomb as my unmedicated averages are around 203/190. The nurses always, and I mean always, panic when I come in because I really think they worry about me killing over in their office. My high bp is genetic but I do hope that losing weight can help out. At least getting to lower my meds would be amazing.
    It does help that I am on a different medication than I was originally on as that one made it difficult to function. With this one I really don't notice anything unless I forget to take it. That results in a really horrible day.
  • Retiredmom72
    Retiredmom72 Posts: 538 Member
    I take 2 different pills. I am hoping to get off the meds. I did get off Lantus and Metaformin for diabetes. I shocked my doctor when my A1C dropped from 13+ in June to 6 in December. I know bp is still high because I sometimes wake up with headaches.
  • TennesseeSodaholic
    TennesseeSodaholic Posts: 129 Member
    Who here has 'white coat syndrome'? My bp is high when I go to the doctor (around 145/80). Reason: I hate going to the doctor, and can feel the stress building in me when I walk through the door. Then when it is time to take the bp reading, I get even more stressed because I know it's going to give a high reading and I'll be told I have high bp.. As soon as I leave, I am immediately calm. I take my bp at home and it is normal. I won't take bp medication because I reckon all those high readings at the doctor are wrong due to my stress levels. After all, how bad would it be to take bp medication if you don't really have high bp?
  • LeonnieH
    LeonnieH Posts: 209 Member
    I don't have high blood pressure but there was a period of about a year a few years ago that were particularly stressful for me and caused broken sleep patterns most nights. The stress and lack of sleep is what caused a rise in blood pressure for me, changes were made which removed the stress and enabled me to get a full night's sleep - blood pressure almost immediately returned to my normal readings. So make sure you can minimise any stress in your life and get a good night's sleep, it helps :)
  • Kashmir09
    Kashmir09 Posts: 45
    Who here has 'white coat syndrome'? My bp is high when I go to the doctor (around 145/80). Reason: I hate going to the doctor, and can feel the stress building in me when I walk through the door. Then when it is time to take the bp reading, I get even more stressed because I know it's going to give a high reading and I'll be told I have high bp.. As soon as I leave, I am immediately calm. I take my bp at home and it is normal. I won't take bp medication because I reckon all those high readings at the doctor are wrong due to my stress levels. After all, how bad would it be to take bp medication if you don't really have high bp?

    that's me!!! went to the doctor for a minor injury (she's a pal so no reason to be particularly stressed) she took BP and it was through the roof at 180/90 something) ... she insisted on "soft" medication - after check-ups and blood tests there's nothing wrong EXCEPT STRESS - oh YESSS I am stressed out most of the time :explode:
    I got a gadget to measure BP at home and my daily average is in the very normal range - am aiming to get it down even lower to stop the med altogether - main reason for joining here ...
    Get that weight down
    Move Move Move
    Eat healthy

    ... oh and it seems that the one of best foods to lower BP is BROCCOLI - now, I HATE broccoli :sad: but I am forcing them down my throat ...
    Chia seeds are said to lower BP too ... am waiting for my order to get here :happy:
  • nixxy74
    nixxy74 Posts: 106
    just gone through a gammet of blood test and they come back normal.so i guess im stressed with my bp being high at 150. i lost a lot of weight and it come down from 170 systolic and i felt great at the time i was doing it ....so why the hell do i feel so ill now? i cant complete a workout without feeling dizzy and have been ordered not to workout ......im screaming on the inside as i was doing so well. It hurts to think ive done this for nothing.(i know i havent ...i know lol) i wont give up but im frustrated beyond belief!

    right someone book me a holiday stat! :tongue:

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