On blood pressure meds at 42

[Thisistemporary]

Just wondering if anyone can relate. I have started taking medication for high blood pressure after failing to bring it down with lifestyle measures. I really have tried very hard. Low salt/ high fibre diet, drinking beetroot juice, running 5k 2 or 3 times a week, low caffeine and alcohol, normal BMI. It seems to have been triggered by having preeclampsia 2 years ago and there is probably a genetic element as my dad has been on meds since his 40’s despite being a fit long distance runner at the time (though he is a bit of a stress head).

I just feel very worried to now have a chronic condition like this and am terrified about my heart health. I also feel like a failure for having it so young. I’m so worried I’m going to have a heart attack or stroke in my 40’s or 50’s while my daughter is still so young.

Anyone in a similar position?

I went on them at a similar age. The thing that really made a difference was changing reporting lines at work away from bullying git German manager. Diet and exercise does help, though. I am not in my 50s, still on meds, but am a bit fitter and slimmer (still overweight) than I was then, and my readings are usually fine, with the exception of the time the nurse talked about eyes just before doing my BP - that reading definitely showed I am squeamish about eyes!

It can be reassuring when the meds bring the results down though. I have been on a low dose of candesartan since around 46 and it has made such a difference.

I also went on them at a similar age despite being a vegan, whole food eating, non drinking, non smoking, semi pro dancer with a BMI of 20. The doctor said it's mostly genetic. The only possible life style change I could make was salt. I tried my best but have since stopped worrying. But the meds work fine.

I’ve been on them on and off since I was 16. Put permanently on them at 40, now 47.
Dr’s assume a genetic component as my Dad was treated from mid-30s for high blood pressure, and had several heart attacks in his 40’s.
My blood pressure goes through periods of being wildly uncontrolled despite the meds, so the Dr’s end up changing my meds around quite a lot. At this point I’m more or less resigned to the fact that I’ll be lucky to get to 50 without major issues.

Thanks for the responses. Have any of you seen a cardiologist or had any tests on your heart to see if there’s any damage?

A friend of a friend used olive leaf extract and hawthorn Berry tablets. Decreased her BP very effectively (I'm told)

I have been on them since a similar age, now 63. I saw a cardiologist at the time in the US and the work up was very thorough. Heredity was a factor plus a highly stressful job.

I took my fitness and diet more seriously but the need for the drugs remains. I have had heart tests done since ( as a prelude to chemo), and my heart was very strong, no issues, as were my kidneys, which are also,affected by untreated hypertension.

My father was treated for many years , never had a stroke or heart problems, so clearly the meds did what they were supposed to do.

Yes, I’ve been on them since at least 40 but due to an underlying kidney problem that was undiagnosed. It does worry me, particularly having a stroke and having young children. I have had some tests but actually Im slightly unsure about the results so that doesn’t help! I know the medication does work and I’m just hoping I can get the kids to adulthood. I have to remind myself that all sorts of unexpected things can come up in life and I just need to do the best I can from where I’m at.

I was 37/38 when I went on BP meds @Thisistemporary. Honestly, it makes no sense, I’m petite size 8-10, never smoked, don’t drink really. The only explanation is that it all occurred after the Covid vaccination, either that or genetics. But anyway it is what it is, just look after yourself as best you can.

I started at about the same age. Mine is generally ok in the summer but then gets high in the winter, even on meds. Illness doesn't help either.

I too have had high blood pressure and high cholesterol since my 30s and was put on medication in my 40s. That's my natural rate I can't do anything about it.

Having naturally high BP doesn't mean there is something wrong with your heart and it's going to pack in any minute, it just means you have a slightly higher risk factor, which is why you take the meds.

Now in my 60s I don't worry about it too all, I keep fit and eat well. Having an undiagnosed heart condition is a far bigger problem.

I take BP and cholesterol meds due to hereditary high BP and cholesterol, and am healthy enough that I’ve donated a kidney. The work up was very very thorough including a 24-hour blood pressure test, CT scans, cardio stress test, about a million blood and urine tests.

I’ve had no issues since donating - I just continue taking my meds and trying to eat well and exercise.

In case it helps, when on BP meds my BP is typically around 75/120. What is yours OP? Is your doctor happy with it? That’s really what matters.

@Thisistemporary I have been on high blood pressure medication since my mid-30s. Mine never went back to normal after pre-eclampsia.
My understanding is that having untreated and undiagnosed high blood pressure is a much bigger risk that being on medication.
Certainly having this identified early has meant that I am now in a better state than my father at a similar age. In his case a high blood pressure diagnosis wasn't made until he had severe health problems.

Have you had your cholesterol and glucose levels checked? The combination of either/both of these being high along with hypertension is something to be avoided. I'd also consider HRT as this may protect your heart too. Keep up the exercise as this well help keep your blood vessels healthy.

I wouldn't worry too much about a few years of hypertension which is now being treated but maybe speak with your GP who can hopefully reassure you and arrange other tests if necessary.

I went on them at 32 (!) and got cardiology to do checks but they came back saying it's just one of those things. I sorta accepted I'd be on them for life!

It doesn't impact me tbh. I take the pills at night and sometimes get a bit of POTS but really it's better than dropping dead from a stroke or heart attack!

I have no excuse - I smoked, drank and caffiened my 20s away, now I try and abstain from all three!

Cholesterol is 5.0, with HDL at 1.7 and LDL at 3.3. Annoyingly this has gone up in the last year from 2.0 HDL and 2.6 LDL. Again don’t know why this is as I have been very health conscious over the past year.

Not sure about glucose, what’s the name of the test for that?

Not sure about glucose, what’s the name of the test for that?

HbA1c

I've been on them since my mid 40s - I'm on 4 different tablets! both my parents had high BP from a young age. It's strongly genetic. With the tablets, my BP is normal and that massively reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks - neither of my parents had those either. Take the meds, they're there to reduce your risk and keep you well.

HbA1c was 37 which looks like the high end of the normal range.

They also tested Renal, kidney, thyroid, full blood count and they were fine. Serum triglycerides were 0.8 which seems to be normal too.

My bp before medication averaged 148/92 over a week, though there were a lot of spikes to the 160’s. I tried to get the 24 hour monitoring but it was taking forever and eventually they agreed to medication without it.

I assume you mean 120/75 rather than the other way round?

I now take them after shockingly high blood pressure during a hospital stay (mostly white coat syndrome) but they have worked well bringing my normal 140/95 to a consistent 115/80 ish which I'm really happy with. I started on 10mg of Amlodipine which was way too much (I was getting readings of 78/59 and horrific ankle swelling.

I do much better on 5mg of amlodipine and 2.5 of bisoprolol.

Also went on at a similar age now mid 50s. Last 5 readings I keep being told it's the best ever..

I'm still a it overweight but working on it slowly but surely.

Doh - that will teach me to type while distracted. Yes 120/75.

You are on blood pressure medication which means it is MUCH less likely you will suffer a heart attack or stroke.

I hadn't been to the doc for around 15 years when I just had a heart attack, at 53. Was put on medication and have been fine ever since, am now 61. My blood pressure (medicated) is 125/70 which makes it much less likely I will have another heart attack.

The medication really is designed to bring BP back to normal, and usually works.

I've been on meds for hypertension since I was 35. I'm pretty certain that there is a genetic factor involved,as my mum had it,both my older brothers and both my grandparents on my DM's side. All diagnosed relatively young (late 30s/early 40s). The consultant I initially saw at the hospital when I was first diagnosed kept saying it was because I was overweight,but if that was the case,why did it affect both my brothers and my DM who were not remotely overweight? Also,I have lost 7 stone in weight since I was first diagnosed and it has not made one iota of difference to my BP! I'm just grateful that I've not (yet) got diabetes or high cholesterol!