How bad is this blood pressure?

[RadioRaheem84]

My blood pressure has been varying wildly in the past month.

I've gotten readings as high as 150/95 in extreme cases to as low as 137/86.

I think it's been steady at 140-145/90 though.

I know that's pretty high for a guy like me in my late twenties but I just do not want to go on meds for the rest of my life.

Any one else here diagnosed with high BP? I was hoping to just quit the eating out, start exercising, and take fish oil and garlic. I also quite alcohol and smoking.

I took BP medicine for two nights and they were the most demonically inspired medical tablets I have ever taken in my life LOL. They were just horrible! I felt like I was lobotomized.

Point is, is there hope for a guy my age to lower his BP without the use of strong meds? It doesn't seem like this BP (140-145/90) is that outrageous or am I just being optomisitic?

[RedAnarchist]

One of the best things to do would be to cut down on salt - you need some (maybe 2.5g at the most, although here in the UK it is recommended that adults do not consume more than 6g a day - a healthy diet would probably not contain anywhere near that amount), but too much can be really bad for the body. Also, make sure you are at a healthy weight.

[heyjoe]

140/90 is fine. you dont need medicine for that. the acceptable numbers have been lowered over the years so that pharmaceutical companies can make more money. you might also have white coat syndrome meaning your blood pressure goes up whenever your blood pressure is taken because you get tense about it. also a little know fact, the blood pressure in your non dominant arm is usually about 10 points less than your dominant arm.

[RadioRaheem84]

Excellent facts. I knew something was up. I get real, real tense when I check my pressure and it varies wildly. The first one is always high as I go in really nervous about it.

I am not overweight but have been eating out too much and stressed as hell because of my job.

Also, where did you read that the pharma companies were lowering the BP numbers?

[heyjoe]

they are behind the lowering of numbers that are considered abnormal by doctors. cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting glucose levels are all considered to be abnormal at lower levels than in the recent past. take your blood pressure with your non dominant arm and see what the numbers are. if you are getting your blood pressure done with a cuff and a stethoscope by a person your readings could vary from person to person who is doing the reading.

[RadioRaheem84]

Actually Im going to the grocery store pharmacy and using that machine.

[heyjoe]

i went to the drug store and bought a cheap blood pressure cuff and stethoscope and can take my own blood pressure. it was pretty cheap. its not hard to do if someone shows you. i have some medical problems so sometimes i have to keep track of whats up.

[RadioRaheem84]

But my BP being in the t40s and 90s isn't fatal as of now right? Im not going to keel over cus of a stroke, right? I can manage this with diet and exercise and a lack of meds ?

[heyjoe]

yes, the first thing to do is to cut down on salt. there is already salt in many types of food that you would not think of. give it a while of lower salt and then take it again. keep hydrated. you wont keel over from 140/90.

[RadioRaheem84]

:thumbup:

[Martin Blank]

My blood pressure has been varying wildly in the past month.

I've gotten readings as high as 150/95 in extreme cases to as low as 137/86.

I think it's been steady at 140-145/90 though.

I know that's pretty high for a guy like me in my late twenties but I just do not want to go on meds for the rest of my life.

Actually, those numbers are not too bad. From a medical point of view, those readings are considered within the "normal" range, thought very slightly elevated. (The whole 120/80 reading as "ideal" is a myth.)

Doctors usually don't begin to worry about your blood pressure until the diastolic (the number after the "/") is above 100 consistently, unless you have a history of low pressure.

When I was diagnosed with hypertension, my blood pressure was 220/118. That's considered high.


Any one else here diagnosed with high BP? I was hoping to just quit the eating out, start exercising, and take fish oil and garlic. I also quite alcohol and smoking.

I took BP medicine for two nights and they were the most demonically inspired medical tablets I have ever taken in my life LOL. They were just horrible! I felt like I was lobotomized.

Point is, is there hope for a guy my age to lower his BP without the use of strong meds? It doesn't seem like this BP (140-145/90) is that outrageous or am I just being optimisitic?

There are two things you can do right away that will start helping to lower your blood pressure. First, cut down on the salt. You should only be taking in 2400 milligrams of salt a day at the most. If you eat out, ask for low-sodium options (no MSG!) and check sodium content. Second, cut out the frozen and similarly-prepared foods, especially the so-called "low calorie" frozen foods. Those items usually have close to an entire day's worth of salt in them. The "low cal" items have even more, because they use salt to boost the flavor.

If you're going to do exercising, taking natural supplements, etc., take it slow. You can just as much shock your system by going from being generally sedentary to highly active quickly as you can from going from extreme cold to extreme heat.

What meds did you take?

[RadioRaheem84]

I remember I had a crazy attack because I took too much of this crazy caffinated tea called yerba mate when I had a bad cold. I then took three ibuprofen, three shots of Afrin nasal spray in each nostril, and this all coming off from Nyquill taken at 6 am.

It messed me the fuck up. I had a BP reading from the paramedics of 180/120.

My doctor uncle sent my brother with a pill called Micardis 90mg. It was amazing. Lowered me down good.

Went to the doctor the next day and he thought my heart was a bit too fast for my age so he put me on Bystolic 5mg. It was the worst thing I've ever taken in my entire life. Instant side effects.

I tried it again the next day hoping for some change and it was still the same side effects.

Lately my BP has steadied at 140/90 with different fluctations between 147/90 to 137/86-88.

I think the highest it has gotten so far was 152/100 and that was really freaking out over what my reading would be. After relaxing it would shoot down to 145/85.

I think I really suffer from anxiety big time and need to chill the F out.

But yes, I am trying to avoid BP medications like the plague after taking Bystolic. I didn't mind Micardis but I just took that once and as an emergency pill after having a BP so high.

I want to start slow with the exercise but I also want to do some strength training like push ups and sit ups. Would this be possible? I also want to do some cardio but will start off with walking.



When I was diagnosed with hypertension, my blood pressure was 220/118


:crying:

[Martin Blank]

I think I really suffer from anxiety big time and need to chill the F out.

If that's the case, then get treated for anxiety. I expect that the BP issues would go away if your anxiety was under control.


But yes, I am trying to avoid BP medications like the plague after taking Bystolic. I didn't mind Micardis but I just took that once and as an emergency pill after having a BP so high.

If you do end up having to take BP meds, see if they can prescribe a low dose of Lopressor (metoprolol) -- like 25 mg once a day (I take 100 mg twice a day). It works really well with virtually no side effects.


I want to start slow with the exercise but I also want to do some strength training like push ups and sit ups. Would this be possible? I also want to do some cardio but will start off with walking.

I would start with low-impact aerobic exercises, like walking, and stick to that until they have your heart issues sorted out. After that, ask your doctor what your limits are (if any) and stick to them.


:crying:

Hey, I'm still here, ain't I?