High blood pressure

[Player456]

Sorry, this is so trivial compared to things going on.

I've just had a SMI check at the doctors.

The nurse took my blood pressure and it was 146/90, very high for me.

The nurse wasn't unduly worried as she said I was obviously extremely anxious, and she would check it again before I left.

When she took it again it was 143/92.

I've just checked at home, it was 113/98 (causing alarm). I took a couple of deep breaths and it was then 109/70.

How can it go from high to normal within minutes? Do I need blood pressure medication? I'm now worried that the migraines I get may be undiagnosed high blood pressure and may lead to something like what happened to my brother (they thought he had a stroke, then not, but something was wrong with his brain and he died within months).

You'd need to check it regularly to get a better picture, they won't be alarmed from just a single reading unless it's very high (mine was 190/110 when I saw the GP which got me hospitalised).

Use a log like this bihsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Home_blood_pressure_diary.pdf and keep a record for at least a week, taking it morning and night. Them you can discuss this with your GP further.

Thank you for the link, I will do so.

They should take you seriously if you've got a family history and you've also experienced migraines. I was suffering from 'migraines' when I was diagnosed. Am now on blood pressure medication for life and statins as well as a preventative measure.

Thank you, glad you're being treated

I was given a monitor for 24h when they first had concerns, do they could get a clearer idea of whether I had high BP or if it was just the stress of being at the GP. (Bit of both, as it turned out.)

FWIW 113/98 is unlikely to be accurate because the difference between the two numbers is so small.

BP can change very rapidly especially if you are anxious.

I'd spend a while taking a lot of readings at random times until you reach a time of being bored of doing it, rather than being highly invested in each individual result.

That will give your GP a much clearer idea of whether this is something that needs treating or not. If necessary they can give you a 24 hour monitor which just goes off automatically and records the readings for 24 hours which gets past the anxiety factor.