High blood pressure?

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DH has just found out that his blood pressure is quite high. Our doctor said it was slightly high last year, but higher this year, which was surprising as he doesn't have many risk factors. In perfect health otherwise. Doctor suggested that he buy a watch that monitors it, which he has ordered, and is seen again in a month to discuss.

He's 60, has never smoked, isn't remotely overweight, is in fantastic shape (runs/cycles/boxes/pilates/strength training), drinks maybe 3 glasses of red wine a week. Although we don't watch salt specifically, we don't go crazy on it, and eat 90% home cooked, unprocessed food.

He's not in love with the idea of going on medication, but obviously will if no alternative.

Has anyone had anything similar?

It can just be one of those things, ssometimes it's high despite healthy lifestyles, especially if it runs in the family and as you get older. Good thing it's been picked up though.

Thanks @Stickytreacle.

Yes, we've now learned that his mother, who has also alway been very fit, has it too. Would be nice if families talked about this kind of thing😐

OP, a significant proportion of the population in the west suffer from high blood pressure, obviously that is not a good thing. But if medical advice is followed and prescribed medication is taken, blood pressure levels can be kept well within safe limits.

DH was the same late forties. Had high BP and cholesterol. Now on anti hypertensives and statins. Make sure his bloods are checked too including lipids and Hba1c. The watches are not usually advised for monitoring, a machine with an arm cuff is more accurate, they're about £25.
High BP can be asymptomatic and very damaging. He should really have an ECG and his kidney function checked by way of bloods and a sample too.
Practice nurse.

Yes, he had a full workup, including an ECG and carotid artery scan, all bloods, etc. Everything perfect except the blood pressure. I think that's why the doctor suggested the bracelet for a few weeks, because the result was so unexpected. He did come down with a nasty case of flu the day after his appointment, so it's possible that raised it some, but now that I know about his mum, I'm guessing it will be hereditary.

He will obviously take this very seriously.

*The bracelet came with an arm cuff, so it can be used both ways.

I've got 2 brothers and a sister. All older than me all HBP as do I. . One brother is in his early 60s, hikes up serious mountains, runs, skis, very skinny, doesn't drink. Rest of us are reasonably fit and eat healthily.

We are all sky high blood pressure and on medication, it's genetics.

we have no gp so dh bought his own bp cuff for christmas.
the first readings were high, non smoker non drinker ++ active at 67. decreased salt intake and boom normal within a week.
might be worth logging all your sodium intake and decreasing that.
he uses nutricheck to log all his food and keeps his sodium to 1000mg per day (or tries).

Thanks @GildedRage. I think we'll try that

Sadly around this age the genetic predispositions around BP, cholesterol etc seem to start showing up. Up to you, but medication for BP seems to be very effective once the right dose/brand is found (it may take a bit of fiddling around in my experience). I've said to myself that if I want to live like I'm 45 when I'm 70 I'm probably going to have to accept a little help from modern medicine.