Dear 5Blue - came across this thread while searching for 'DASH diet'.
I'll share my experience if that helps - warning: long post!
I have had excellent blood pressure for the last 20 years, come what may (weight gain, stress, little exercise, poor diet). GP records have an impressive printout on a single page with a bar chart showing this.
Last November, had a stinking headache - a migraine, second in my life. Nothing much turns on that except that it revealed what apparently was (very) high blood pressure. Sufficiently so that the doctor also did an ECG (which also shared some irregularities). She wasn't sure whether the blood pressure was high because I was in pain or whether I had 'white coat syndrome' (where blood pressure soars when taken in a medical setting).
So to cut a long story short, painkillers were prescribed which got rid of the headache - and I was referred to a blood pressure expert (who heads up the unit at one of London's main teaching hospitals) who I saw in December.
Turns out the best reading that got be got in clinic was 180 / 120 and was diagnosed there and then with 'hypertensive crisis'. It was all a bit odd because I felt fine; also had no idea my blood pressure was that high.
I asked whether this was due to weight gain (er, have put on 4 stone), poor diet, lack of exercise, stress etc - and was told that whilst, yes, these factors could include blood pressure, they would not by themselves take blood pressure to that level. And, further, that at levels that high, the imperative was to treat the blood pressure rather than look for a cause (that could be done when blood pressure was under control). So I was put on two / three blood pressure medications, one a combined blood pressure medication, and the other a beta blocker. Blood pressure came down to healthy levels within a few hours, and the beta blocker was discontinued. The thrust of this all was treat then investigate.
Turns out that in c.90% of cases, no identifiable cause for blood pressure can be found.
Various tests and scans were done for two reasons - 1) to see if any damage were done to the major organs because of high blood pressure, and 2) to see if I had 'secondary' hypertension (ie where high blood pressure is caused by an underlying medical condition.
First set of tests = minor heart damage, which will correct over time now blood pressure is normal (sounds alarming - honestly isn't though).
Second type of tests, well, the final test,actually revealed a cause for the high blood pressure - ie a malfunctioning left kidney. And have now had a procedure to remove the affected part of the kidney - and my blood pressure is down to acceptable levels without medication.
I am going to move to a healthier life style to try to maintain a healthy blood pressure without medication - hence looking up 'DASH diet' on Mumsnet. Like you, I also have the genetic cards stacked against me with high blood pressure in the family.
Did also have that 24 hour monitoring you mention. And that will be repeated in a few months' time. Have also been having to do blood pressure monitoring at home (purchased a c.£30 blood pressure monitor - cuff one - from Boots).
I assume the blood pressure has been brought down to acceptable levels with the medication? and, if so, well there should be no real cause for alarm. With healthy living and lifestyle changes, it may be possible to reduce your medication over time - and your GP / consultant should always aim to keep you on the lowest possible dose consistent with keeping your blood pressure to acceptable levels.
This post is long and detailed - but PM me if you have any queries!
