Blood pressure high, how urgently should I see a doctor

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I have high blood pressure (one of the many lovely side effects of chemo 4 years ago). I take 2x ramipril daily.

I've been getting headachy etc and so took BP today and it's 141/101. I will, take it again tomorrow but the first appointment I could get at the docs is 31st Jan.

Anybody know if I need to try and see someone sooner?

Yes you should, you don't want any headaches or to feel rotten. Do you have out of hours service you could ring. When did you take your bp, and where was it taken. Have you repeated it, when do you take your ramipril. Sorry for questions. Hope you feel ok.

No hurry. That BP won't cause a headache, more likely the pain of a headache put the BP up.

Please don't go to out of hours!

Dr all this not until 31st, it's the weekend, why do you say not to contact out of hours

I'd monitor for a week or so, at least one reading every day....I have a machine now as every time I go they suck their breath in at my BP but since I am very DoctorAverse it's hardly surprising I might be a bit tense.

anyway in order for it not to be on my records I did mine for a fortnight and took the readings in I had 57 once as a low number! :o

So in your situation that's what I would do...maybe keep that appointment just in case, but if you don't get anymore rogue results then you can cancel it.

If it stays around that level then 31st is fine. Always check 3 times and count the lowest one only. Unlikely to give you a headache at that level.

Take a few more readings - hot drinks, pain, rushing around and stress can all affect your BP readings. If it's consistently that high, I'd ring your surgery Monday morning and explain - it's not something I'd panic about but you shouldn't leave for another 10 days.

I wasn't thinking of out of hours, more to take time off work next week and try for an emergency appointment.

I take 1 ramipril in the morning and 1 at night. Took it at about 4pm but have just eaten so will wait until tomorrow.

I thought the headsaches were a symptom as it was those that alerted the docs to it in the first place.

Appreciate the replies.

I know some people like to take a bp before and after meds . Take care.

Dr all this not until 31st, it's the weekend, why do you say not to contact out of hours

because it's not an emergency

The headache/BP thing is a bit of an urban myth unless your BP is up at say the 220/120 level. pain puts BP up so the association is usually the other way round - you get a headache and it puts your BP up temporarily as you're in pain

In the meantime, you can help it by treating the headache with paracetamol, avoiding caffeine and salty foods, relaxing and maybe a nice hot bath.

No 31st is fine. It’s not at a level that is likely to cause problems except in the longer term. Headache is, as already mentioned, probably stress related and causing slightly raised blood pressure.

You haven't been taking any cold /flu remedies have you? They can cause blood pressure to rise. Dh recently was very poorly with infected sinuses and had been taking lemsip capsules regularly, his blood pressure was similar to yours, his doc gave him an extra 2.5mg of Ramipril but as soon as he stopped the lemsip it dropped back to normal.

Out of hours usually cover evening and weekend calls when Dr surgeries are closed, bit like 111.

Yes but OOH aren't going to do anything for a bit particularly high BP and they are snowed under already.

Sorry that should say not particularly high

Actually, I think it is high to need to be seen - because it's the reading whilst on medication, and is a rise on the level at which the medication had previously held it.

I would try resting over the weekend, and see what that does.

If continuing high, then yes I'd see if I could get in to GP on an urgent appointment.

It needs sorting but it isn't urgent. As a GP who does phone triage, if you ran me with that I'd put you in our next available nurse appt and if that was a week or do away I wouldn't be worried.

Nurse here saying it's not urgent. Take your BP two or three times a day at varying times and take the record to the next available appt. Readings will vary. In the absence of other co-morbidities such as diabetes, renal problems etc we aim for 150/90.

Thanks.

I've just taken it again and it's 143/100. I have been poorly with this coldy thing (but no lemsip) so I'll keep an eye on it and go to docs on 31st.

Thanks all