High blood pressure readings.

[mickeypillow]

My GP asked me to take my BP at home and send him an email with the readings before issuing a prescription. We have a machine at home and some results since Friday have been as follows-

152/80
153/94
140/90
154/89

They are high aren’t they? I emailed them to the surgery yesterday but I can’t get an appointment to speak to the GP and they’ve not called me to discuss. All I can do is call at 8 am and just hope I can get through to get a same day appointment but I am a bit worried.

Are you sitting in a chair with your back supported?
Have a cushion on your knee, or your arm resting on the table, so the cuff is level with your heart.
A full bladder, tight belt, crossed ankles or a recent cup of coffee can affect readings.
Don’t talk when you take a reading as that can affect it.

Take 3 readings within a couple of minutes of each other and use the lowest one.

It’s not hugely high so don’t panic too much.

It's not very high at all.

Thank you. The readings were done at the kitchen table but will take them again in-line with what you’ve said.

They are high but not massively high. I take regular readings on my doctor's instructions, and I would agree with the PP that how you sit makes a surprisingly big difference to the readings. You need to take a few readings and use the lowest one.

You need to speak to your GP for advice but there's no panic. Those readings aren't too worryingly high (although I do know how worrying this all can be, and I sympathise).

Not excessively but maybe they will offer you a 24 hour monitor.