How the hell can I get my blood pressure down?

[Bryonyshcmyony]

Measured today and itwas 136/97 so too high for them to give me my HRT prescription. I have to measure it twice daily for a week and send it to them.

I am a stone overweight (was almost 2 stone but I've lost 11lbs low carbing).

I have horses that I muck out daily plus constantly out pushing a barrow around, so no cardio but active

My dsis has MH probs and is calling me 10 x a day atm and that's very upsetting STRESS
Job likely to go kaput before Xmas STRESS
Four teens currently at home I love them all dearly but have absolutely no time to myself STRESS

I drink quite a lot of coffee and drink a bottle of wine a week.

Argh. Any tips?!

@30degreesandmeltinghere

Sell off the dc..... Instant results...

Omg genius

That would do it

@Tigerstripe20

My blood pressure was really high and the more the GP talked about it the worse I got. I was extremely stressed due to a work situation which had gone on for two years Worried about my Dad as he gets depressed and my mum always calls me to chat about it ! Drinking Overweight

So I applied for another job and got it, and the whole weight of two years of crap fell away ( I literally used sit in the car and cry in a layby on the way home )
Talked to my Dad a bit more and although he still gets down he's better
Quit drinking , I did start again but not wine or beer only clear spirits and less than 3 on a weekend.
Lost a bit of weight
Bought my own BP machine on the advice of my Dr and use it when I am relaxed not stressed about being in the surgery ( pre-pandemic )

I was given Ramipril and took it for a week, it frightened the life out of me I thought I was going to die coughing, so I stopped it the Drs didn't seem at all bothered when I told them .

I believe all of my results were caused by stress in some form or another

Lovely story thank you

Reduce your meat and dairy intake, a family member introduced a lot more whole foods plant based meals and managed to reverse her high blood pressure when she was ready to be put on medication.

May I suggest you have some healing?

was that a one-off BP test because thats not THAT high, especially if youre under stress. Could they give you BP meds such as ramipril alongside the HRT? Have you tried taking baby aspirin?

OK so I will go for a granny jog tomorrow
No alcohol
Might try a day without coffee [cry]
My dsis has some medical appts tomorrow so hopefully she won't need to ring me

You are all amazing thannk you for advice

Take up a calming hobby - I took up crochet for this reason. It mimics meditation but is productive - I detest mindfulness and meditation.

Exercise and lower carb as you know.

Sleep

Stop taking the calls from your sister

Don’t blame the salt for what the sugar did.

thesaltfix.com/

Low carb with plenty of salt.

Also not really that high if one off - what were your readings over the week.

Mine is around 150/105 uncontrolled.

Will you be taking the blood pressure at home?

If you are then: sit down, put the bond on ready (but not pumped up) - and sit calmly and doing something relaxing, watching a quiet unstressful programme and take your blood pressure after 15-30 mins of relaxing.

@Merryoldgoat

Take up a calming hobby - I took up crochet for this reason. It mimics meditation but is productive - I detest mindfulness and meditation.

Exercise and lower carb as you know.

Sleep

Stop taking the calls from your sister

You are so right something like crochet would be good. Sadly I broke my wrist last year and I am not sure it wouldn't be too stiff BUT I have remembered I have a tiny cross stitch bookmark kit which I might try and do to see how my wrist holds up.

Sometimes I do turn my phone off but I feel terrible doing it as she really needs me

@Gladioli23

Will you be taking the blood pressure at home?

If you are then: sit down, put the bond on ready (but not pumped up) - and sit calmly and doing something relaxing, watching a quiet unstressful programme and take your blood pressure after 15-30 mins of relaxing.

Great tip thanks

@Cazzovuoi

Don’t blame the salt for what the sugar did.

thesaltfix.com/

Low carb with plenty of salt.

That;s how I have been eating for the past 6 weeks, it working well as far as the weight goes but I am worried that the salt is affecting my BP

I have palpitations also

I have White Coat Syndrome. Been on HRT for 6 years so when it comes to the checks I always do my blood pressure at home and take pics.

I had been waiting for about 16 months between getting referred to the HRT clinic before my recent appointment. I was so stressed by the day my blood pressure was sky high but had been normal in the am. Wearing a mask also makes mine worse.

Another tip when you're taking it at home. Make sure your arm is level with your heart and don't watch the screen! Both make mine higher.

Walking is supposed to be really good at lowering BP too.

Also I seem to remember the NICE guideline for prescribing HRT don't rule out high BP. Might be worth a check but you probably want to do something about it anyway.

@Ouch44

I have White Coat Syndrome. Been on HRT for 6 years so when it comes to the checks I always do my blood pressure at home and take pics.

I had been waiting for about 16 months between getting referred to the HRT clinic before my recent appointment. I was so stressed by the day my blood pressure was sky high but had been normal in the am. Wearing a mask also makes mine worse.

Another tip when you're taking it at home. Make sure your arm is level with your heart and don't watch the screen! Both make mine higher.

Walking is supposed to be really good at lowering BP too.

Also I seem to remember the NICE guideline for prescribing HRT don't rule out high BP. Might be worth a check but you probably want to do something about it anyway.

Yes I was so stressed. I do want to do something about it and don't really want HRT if it is going to affect my BP. I have a few pills left but might stop them and see if that helps

@Bryonyshcmyony make sure you’re taking electrolytes. They’re essential and will part your palpitations.

cut out coffee and re-test. Mine goes up a lot with coffee. Ensure you are sitting quietly and that your back and feet are supported, your arm must not be higher than your heart.
Have you done a 24 hr monitor?

As well as the other stuff here I found walking daily really makes a difference.

The one thing that really made a difference with me was getting a new manager at work, which may not be an option for you... (I knew it wasn't a good working relationship, but I was shocked at what a difference it did make.)

Diet and CV exercise also count, though.

@Babygotblueyes

As well as the other stuff here I found walking daily really makes a difference.

How far did you need to walk and how long did it take to make a difference?

I had an accident and major surgery. I have high blood pressure (180/90) but don't want to take BP Meds, they make me feel like death. Tried various ones.

I'm a low Carbing vegetarian who doesn't use salt.

I walk about 4000-5000 steps a day plus normal daily life adds up to about 8000 steps a day. I'm building up but can't do much more yet following the surgery.

I drink 1-2 coffees a day & loads of water.

@AlmostSummer21

I had to go through loads of drugs until I found the right combination - I’d persevere as BP that high is really not great.

Take a 400mg magnesium supplement at night, we use up magnesium very quickly when stressed, and you need it to relax.

@beigebrownblue

Its a simple thing, but always always have a bottle of water near you or a glass. Drinking water helps with lots of things and most people don't drink enough.

what evidence do you have to suggest most people don't drink enough?

Hey OP - so, my blood pressure has always been on the low side, always. I go to the healthcare person for my pre-HRT check up - cos, you know, perimenopause is shit - and lo and fucking behold my blood pressure is now a bit high. And I "activated the mandatory hyper-tension protocol" . FFS. Exact same thing happened to my DM. I read online that menopause can actually increase blood pressure as hormonal changes makes the walls of the the blood vessels less elastic, so pressure increases. Bloody typical.

My poor DM had a terrible time and was refused HRT by the GP until a consultant insisted she have it prescribed as her quality of life was so poor. So that"s want I have to look forward to.

Know what works a treat for high blood pressure? Medication!

Being female is a fucking sack of shit. There, I've said it.

@NotTheMrMenAgain

Hey OP - so, my blood pressure has always been on the low side, always. I go to the healthcare person for my pre-HRT check up - cos, you know, perimenopause is shit - and lo and fucking behold my blood pressure is now a bit high. And I "activated the mandatory hyper-tension protocol" . FFS. Exact same thing happened to my DM. I read online that menopause can actually increase blood pressure as hormonal changes makes the walls of the the blood vessels less elastic, so pressure increases. Bloody typical.

My poor DM had a terrible time and was refused HRT by the GP until a consultant insisted she have it prescribed as her quality of life was so poor. So that"s want I have to look forward to.

Know what works a treat for high blood pressure? Medication!

Being female is a fucking sack of shit. There, I've said it.

Well you made me laugh so thank you