High Blood Pressure

shreddedadam
shreddedadam Posts: 29 Member
in Motivation and Support
So I was an unhealthy 380 pounds 4 months ago and decided to change my life. Eat super clean. Lift 5 times a week and cardio twice a week. Well after a good 60 pound weight loss, I've been hit with a brick. I have high blood pressure! I was worrying constantly about an health issue I had *eye floaters* and everytime i went to the doctors in a panicked state my BP was super elevated even hitting 200/110 sometimes.

But seeing all the people lose weight here and have their BP lowered I'm hoping I can do the same. I'm 26 I'm so blooming worried I'm going to have an heart attack. When the other doctor testmy BP it was 165/95 Which is making my doctor not worry as much even though its very high.

I believe that I had high blood pressure before my healthy eating.

Can this be overcome by weight loss? Am I going to die? lol

Replies

  • kramalicious
    kramalicious Posts: 143
    Oh for sure. Be sure to keep up with all your medical "numbers" maybe in a weight loss journal-- resting HR, cholesterol, BP-- it's ALL going to change. Depending on your heredity, you may have to keep taking some meds longer than others but work out hard, drop some weight, and your numbers will really improve. That's one of my NSV, kicking the meds out of my life, one at a time. Exercise alone will help a great deal , add in a better eating plan and you are set. Enjoy yourself!
  • shreddedadam
    shreddedadam Posts: 29 Member
    I'm just worried that I'm going to have a heart attack before I can even get on BP meds lol
  • beattie1
    beattie1 Posts: 1,012 Member
    Congratulations on getting to grips with losing that excess weight.

    Being stressed about your blood pressure will contribute to sending it up, so try to relax about it. Weight loss really helps bring your blood pressure down, so use that information to keep you eating healthily when the initial impetus wears off and you are tempted to fall / jump off the wagon!

    You need to remind yourself that losing the extra pounds is important and WILL contribute to a longer healthier life for you. You CAN do it! One foot in front of the other......
  • samammay
    samammay Posts: 468
    My BP was worse than that and is now a very healthy 118/74, through diet and exercise alone. I am totally off BP medication (which I hated) so yeah... work for it... you'll get there and faster than you think!
  • samammay
    samammay Posts: 468
    I'm just worried that I'm going to have a heart attack before I can even get on BP meds lol

    You arent. Your BP is bad, but not awful. My BP was 160/140 for a while. The nurse asked me how I was able to walk into the office.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    It will go down keep exercising and pushing that heart (within a safe doctor recommended range), and it will come down.
  • KerryITD
    KerryITD Posts: 94 Member
    My BP is always super high in a doctor's office. You might get a home monitor and keep track that way. You absolutely will lower your BP with weight loss and exercise! I hate doing cardio, but I do it for my BP. I do the weights for me. :)
  • shreddedadam
    shreddedadam Posts: 29 Member
    Think you guys are right. If the docs were concerned im sure they wouldnt have let me go out the building. I'll just do it the old fashion way diet and exercise like i am doing.

    Just scared me when someone said, if you weight lift you can go into cardiac arrest lol scared the beejesus out of me.
  • 9bars
    9bars Posts: 40 Member
    Watch your sodium intake too for me that has made a big difference.
  • 87monkey
    87monkey Posts: 83 Member
    try adding more foods in your diet that help with blood pressure :) (celery, oats, broccoli, etc). I also read about apple cider vinegar being good for high blood pressure. anyway do a little of your own research about foods and keep up the good work on losing weight!
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member

    Just scared me when someone said, if you weight lift you can go into cardiac arrest lol scared the beejesus out of me.

    Who told you that? Get the approval from the doctor, but I would be so surprised if they said you couldnt.
  • shreddedadam
    shreddedadam Posts: 29 Member
    Doctors dont seem super concerned. Like taking meds is probably worst case scenario. But what freaked me out is I asked someone for advice and they basically said I could have a stroke at any moment. I'm 26, eating healthy and trying to lose the weight lol
  • Athena53
    Athena53 Posts: 717 Member
    My BP is always super high in a doctor's office. You might get a home monitor and keep track that way. You absolutely will lower your BP with weight loss and exercise! I hate doing cardio, but I do it for my BP. I do the weights for me. :)

    We have a BP monitor home because DH has that issue. He calls it "white coat syndrome". So you may be better off than you think, especially if you're sitting there worried sick about what the results will be when they're measuring the results in the doc's office.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Doctors dont seem super concerned. Like taking meds is probably worst case scenario. But what freaked me out is I asked someone for advice and they basically said I could have a stroke at any moment. I'm 26, eating healthy and trying to lose the weight lol

    Yes if your BP remains in the 200 you are at risk, but it's gone down good sign. Keep eating right and exercising and get regular checks with your doctor. Sometimes you can even run into the office and just have them do a quick BP. If they arent busy a nurse will gladly do that for you.

    Or as someone else suggested get a monitor for your home. They arent that expensive.
  • BrainyBurro
    BrainyBurro Posts: 6,129 Member
    So I was an unhealthy 380 pounds 4 months ago and decided to change my life. Eat super clean. Lift 5 times a week and cardio twice a week. Well after a good 60 pound weight loss, I've been hit with a brick. I have high blood pressure! I was worrying constantly about an health issue I had *eye floaters* and everytime i went to the doctors in a panicked state my BP was super elevated even hitting 200/110 sometimes.

    But seeing all the people lose weight here and have their BP lowered I'm hoping I can do the same. I'm 26 I'm so blooming worried I'm going to have an heart attack. When the other doctor testmy BP it was 165/95 Which is making my doctor not worry as much even though its very high.

    I believe that I had high blood pressure before my healthy eating.

    Can this be overcome by weight loss? Am I going to die? lol

    yes, but i think exercise is more important. get out and walk or jog or run regularly and that seems to be even more important than just dropping weight (in my experience and from the anecdotal evidence of others).
  • macybean
    macybean Posts: 258 Member
    I have had high blood pressure since I was 29. In the 220s/120s range. Nothing I did changed it...diet, weight loss, exercise, no caffeine, no alcohol, low sodium, yoga, mediation...well, you get the idea. You may not have the same results, but for some, high blood pressure is something we cannot change (it runs in my family. My mom was 95 pounds and a runner. She also developed high blood pressure at a young age that was only treatable with meds).
    Being on medication is not a terrible thing (although the transition can be quite trying. I should know, I think I've taken them all!) and you probably will be able to get off meds. If not, know that it's something you can handle.
    And, for the record, I lift weights and have yet to have a stroke. So far I've outlived my grandfather who did have a stoke at 42. Of course that was years ago when the treatment for high blood pressure included relaxing after work with a cigarette!
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I have had high blood pressure since I was 29. In the 220s/120s range. Nothing I did changed it...diet, weight loss, exercise, no caffeine, no alcohol, low sodium, yoga, mediation...well, you get the idea. You may not have the same results, but for some, high blood pressure is something we cannot change (it runs in my family. My mom was 95 pounds and a runner. She also developed high blood pressure at a young age that was only treatable with meds).
    Being on medication is not a terrible thing (although the transition can be quite trying. I should know, I think I've taken them all!) and you probably will be able to get off meds. If not, know that it's something you can handle.
    And, for the record, I lift weights and have yet to have a stroke. So far I've outlived my grandfather who did have a stoke at 42. Of course that was years ago when the treatment for high blood pressure included relaxing after work with a cigarette!

    this is a very good point. if you do have to be on medication there is nothing wrong with that.

    As we all know hypertension is the silent killer better you know and get the proper treatment.
  • shreddedadam
    shreddedadam Posts: 29 Member
    its good to know that worst case scenario is basically BP meds. I felt like i was given a death sentence lol
  • Hoebilly
    Hoebilly Posts: 10
    I was in the same BP range as you at the beginning of the year, I'm on BP meds now that are excellent and my BP is under control. I'm also hoping that once I get to my goal weight I'll be able to get off the meds completely, just watch your salt and remember that bananas and dark chocolate are your friends! :P

    P.S. If you are concerned about a stroke, as your Doctor about starting a low dose asprin regimen as well, good luck!
  • retiree2006
    retiree2006 Posts: 951 Member
    You're doing one of the best things you can for yourself...eating healthy and getting active. It is scary when you have such a high number, but you've already seen some positive results with your BP since you've changed your habits. If you have a local WalMart or Walgreens, many times they have a BP machine you can use to check and see how you're doing if you're not able to get a BP cuff to use at home. I was able to cut my meds in half after losing 75 lbs. but also have a family history that might keep me on minimal BP meds for life. Good luck to you.
  • shreddedadam
    shreddedadam Posts: 29 Member
    That's the thing. I was panicking and worrying myself sick before hand and I hear that can push it to that high. Still, it's high but I'm so worried about a stroke or heart attack now. I'm eating healthy and im on the right track, now I have this worry over me. I'm 26 lol

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