Pre-hypertension...when should I be concerned

You probably should own a BP monitor if this runs in your family and you are at the pre-hypertension stage. Checking mine everyday is part of my life. When I was playing sports in college, I was 130/70. The nurse always used to say a little high but the bottom number is low. Over the years, the bottom number kept moving up.

This is really something you should talk to the doctor about. I only see my doctor twice a year, but I always know what my BP number is.

Edit: Didn't see that you could check it at home. If the doctor doesn't recommend it on your visit, maybe you don't need to ask for the medicine. However, keep watching it.

I'm hypertensive and even with meds I'm around 133/82. You're on the high range of what is considered normal (pre-hypertensive) and I don't know of any doctor who is going to treat that with medication.

I'd get a BP monitor and just keep an eye on things. In addition to watching your diet and exercise, I'd recommend also watching your potassium intake and making sure you're getting plenty of veg and whatnot. I drink low sodium V8 pretty much daily to help me hit my goals of around 4,700 MGs.

I was diagnosed 2 years ago with meds I am usually around 131/80. Usually medication isn't brought in until its 140/90 or higher. I would just check it at home and if you see a consistent pattern of it being high call your doctor. One high reading doesn't necessarily mean its high I was told to just keep an eye on it. I also only have one kidney so I know all about how blood pressure affects the kidneys its scary but a reality. Who knows keeping up with diet and exercise you may lower it all on your own before you reach the high stage.

mwcontois wrote: »

I'm a 52 male and been diagnosed with pre-hypertension. My doctor has asked me to watch this for the last couple of years. Started dieting and exercise regularly in August...not seeing any changes in my BP...it is consistently around 138/85. He tells me to get attention if it goes over 140/90 (either number).

Because I am actively exercising and watching sodium intake, and my BP is not getting better, should I be proactive and get medication to lower it?

I have a very similar story.

High BP runs in my family. Father is in his mid-70s and having kidney issues.

Exercise used to moderate my BP, but as I reached my mid-40s, that no longer seems true. I was 20-25 lbs overweight and seeing my BP steadily creep upwards.

I threw in the towel this year and asked for BP meds. I'm on a low dose. It took several weeks for the meds to reach full effect. Now it is sticking in the 130-135, 70-80 range. Sometimes it will be a little lower. Very rarely a little higher.

I have lost most of that weight and really ramped up my exercise. At this point, my BP isn't dropping like I had hoped it would. Maybe the time will come when I've lost enough weight that BP will naturally take care of itself, but I'm glad I didn't wait.

mwcontois wrote: »

I don't understand the potassium thing. I thought my Dad was on a low potassium diet because of his end stage renal failure condition? Am I wrong? He's in the hospital now, and might not make it out. He's been getting dialysis for 4 years. He is suffering from his condition, and complains about always getting the same food in the hospital...pasta, chicken or turkey. He doesn't have much life left so I was planning on bringing him some TX BBQ Beef brisket with a couple of sides. I was looking up the side options and looking towards low potassium items, as I thought that was his requirement. for instance, I don't think he is allowed any potato product...am I wrong?

No, you are very much in the right there! High potassium is one of the many, many things folks on dialysis have to watch out for, along with stuff like high sodium, high phosphorus, low calcium, low protein...the dialysis diet is very complex, as I'm sure you know! But (a) food requirements change based on individual situations and different stages of chronic kidney disease, and (b) your food requirements as someone without CKD are different from those with it.

There is data here at UpToDate that explains the potassium-hypertension link pretty well. Briefly: "A low dietary intake of potassium may increase the blood pressure, and potassium supplementation almost always lowers elevated blood pressure." As folks here say, this suggests that for individuals who don't have to restrict potassium intake for other reasons, increasing potassium through your diet may help reduce blood pressure. Unfortunately for those of us with high potassium levels- including folks with CKD like your dad, or those of us on medications that raise our potassium levels like me- that's not helpful information; we're worried about REDUCING potassium. But if you're able to safely put more potassium in your diet, it's a good tactic to try.

TL;DR- kidney patients (especially those on dialysis) have different nutrition requirements from the rest of the population.

And I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he's as happy and comfortable as possible and he has an easy time of things.