Blood pressure

[ArcticBells]

I've not been feeling too good recently with headaches and dizziness so used my friend's BP machine. It came out as 185/120 which she tells me is too high.

I'm going to ring my GP tomorrow but wonder how this compares with others who take their own readings ? Did you need treatment at this level or just lifestyle changes?

At that level they will likely offer medication. It depends on your readings when you go in though. They can fluctuate

That is high, assuming you took it properly. Normally you are seated, relax arm and take it a few times. There may be triggers, do you drink plenty for example? You may need to do a 24 hour monitor to assess the overall pattern.

That’s very high. Did you just take it once? And position yourself correctly? You need to take it three times. The first is usually higher.

That is high. You'll need to do 24hr monitoring but equally there are lifestyle changes that may help. Low salt, low fat, more movement, don't drink, don't smoke and no caffeine.

I’m prone to high BP at the doctor’s because I get anxious but it’s much lower at home. Having it that high in a home setting is potentially a concern - definitely get in touch with GP first thing in morning and tell them that reading. If it’s consistently that high then it’ll be medication as it would be dangerous not to. (Mine is considered high when it’s 130/90!)

That's pretty high. I had mine done at a work wellbeing event last week and it was similar, the nurse taking it advised me to ring my GP straightaway. GP got me in to the treatment room within a day or two to get it measured, and to get an ecg. ECG was fine so she's started me on one medication to begin with and advised on lifestyle changes to go alongside.

My DH has had high blood pressure for years, we tried all the lifestyle changes for him and while they helped a bit, they can't make enough difference to get really high blood pressure back to normal - the medication can (four of them in his case).

That diastolic is very high at 120. As others have said though, a few other readings for comparison would be ideal.

Don't delay seeing a Dr about it.

I have stage 2 hypertension and have done since pregnancy with one of my kids. My lifestyle is clean as a whistle but because I'm under 40 I was referred to hospital outpatients to a specialist clinic for early onset hypertension. I'm not on medication with agreement of the consultant however I am showing signs of kidney and eye damage, neither of which are symptomatic.

@Name235 is there a particular reason you aren't on medication? My DH was diagnosed early onset at about 35 and they started with one type of drug and kept adding others until they got his BP back to normal. It seems really odd they'd allow eye and kidney damage to occur if they could prevent it.

Thank you. The reading was after lying down because of such an awful headache. I will call my GP tomorrow.

That's very high. Adult BP should ideally be 120/80. Smoking, being overweight, and being under stress can all make it high, but if yours is like that all the time, the GP will probably suggest tablets and may want you to wear a 24 hour monitor

I'm normal weight but have been very stressed and working 60 hour weeks

Headaches and dizziness prob due to that high blood pressure.
If you feel more unwell phone 111 but you absolutely must ring GP in AM.

Don't smoke snd eat a balanced diet but drink probably too much wine. Sorry to drip feed but that how jittery I get.

That's very high. I have been leant a bp machine for a week to monitor my bp and am averaging around 150/100 which is higher than they are happy with, but as pp say you may not have been doing the measurement right. Talk to your gp, you may need medication or other treatment to bring your bp down.

They will not prescribe on one reading but will ask you to record it for a week or so. Your BP rises when you are in pain so that could account for that high level. See your doc and take it from there. You do sound as if you are living in a stressful environment right now but please be aware that lifestyle changes will not always make any difference. Sometimes you can have hereditary hypertension - is there any problem in your family with it? There's not much you can do wrong in taking a BP reading but do relax and give yourself 5 mins before you take.

Stress can definitely have an impact but usually that's more on the top figure than the bottom one, yours are both high so best get it checked out.

Did you get any feedback from your doctor OP?

Had mine taken last night at drs due to very dizzy and plugged ear full of wax was 156/90 I’m generally 135ish long term steriods though, this morning 183/93 got to take 4 days readings! I have recently been had one of my meds increased so that doesn’t help high blood pressure side effect, do not drink smoke take any drugs only meds and clean eater

Sorry this morning 153/93