Blood pressure!

[iamnotgoingback]

I have to deal with a really difficult person in my life, and whenever i see them - say, once or twice a week - my blood pressure goes through the roof - from around 120 over 90 to 150 over 120. I am 49. Normally my pulse is 65, and whenever i see this person it is about 85 for the whole time i see them. Would this worry you?! I am a bit overweight (by about half a stone, probably) but losing weight. I am worried I am upping my chances of getting a heart attack. But wondering if I am being paranoid. And if not, what on earth I can do about it?

I don't really think you have anything to worry about. Blood pressure is regulated by the autonomous nervous system - the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems - "fight or flight". So when you're in the company of this difficult person, your sympathetic system comes into play, and raises your BP ready to fight, and the parasympathetic system calms you down once that person has gone. All quite normal!
Your blood pressure isn't a static thing, it varies all through the day, being lowest in the morning and rising throughout the day, and being under stress will always raise it. I assume you are taking BP readings straight after these events? Provided your BP returns to your normal levels I wouldn't worry.

Thank you for your answer, nan. I haven't taken my own blood pressure, but have had it taken a couple of times by coincidence when they were around (one time I was in hospital and they were visiting me, and the nurse laughed and said she'd be back to test it again after they had gone and indeed it did go down as soon as they had left!) and other times I am guessing, partly because of how I feel and partly because of my pulse - I have tested my pulse when they have been around. I was worrying because I had read that high blood pressure for stressful events can cause problems, if the stressful events are regular, even if it goes down in between. But it sounds like you disagree with that!

Well, normal heart rate can be anything between 60 and 100, so you are well within that range, I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.

Thank you for your reassurance. My heart rate is and has always been around 65 so that is my norm which might make a difference, but anyway, thanks for answering, worrying isn't going to help for sure so I will try to stop that.

nan another question, if you don't mind. Are you a doctor perchance?! I have read that a heart rate over 75 in a woman over 50 indicates that she is more likely to suffer early from a heart attack or stroke. Do you think that that is wrong or misleading? Thank you!

PS I have always done a lot of sport, gave up when dc were young, have just started running again (with dc...) if that makes a difference

Thank you very much

iamnotgoingback, no I'm not a doctor, I should have given a disclaimer! But having lost my husband to heart failure some years ago, and had a few worries about my own heart (perfectly OK, thanks!) I have had an interest in such things, but just layman's knowledge, so don't take my word as gospel.
If you look at this site, it gives a chart of heart rates, and you will see that your HR of 65 is excellent, and 75 is average (I don't know where you read about a heart attack risk?) and by keeping fit and active you are doing the best for your heart.
Incidentally, if you have a cardiac treadmill stress test, they aim to get your HR to 220 minus your age - I had one about 6 years ago, which took my HR up to 165! So I think your worries are needless.

Thanks again. I think i need to stop worrying and instead focus on not letting this person stress me out! I am sorry to hear about your husband

No problems !