Anyone know about HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

MrsWho · 2007-05-18T18:33:44+00:00

I was dizzy/overheating at tthe gym last week and they advised I saw Nurse/GP about my blood pressure as we suspected it was low. BUT saw someone on Monday and the best of 3 was 134/100 and she recommended going back today and having it done again. This am it was 142/100 (best of 3) The Nurse wanted me to see Gp but I couldn't make the only available appointment at lunch time) and now have one for next Friday teatime. I am now worrying which won't help any suggestions for causes/slef help? TIA

MissGolightly · 18/05/2007 19:37

Poor you. I take it you're not pregnant...? That's a different kettle of fish.

Otherwise this website has some useful information

popsycal · 18/05/2007 19:38

i know lots about it - only in the capacity that i had it through 2 pregnancies and still suffer from it....

what would you like to know?

nickytwotimes · 18/05/2007 19:38

you should see your gp who will probably want to monitor it for a while. as for causes, it could be bad luck, an infection, lifestyle... gp will go over all this. worrying won't help, but is unlikely to be the cause. also, it might be just a temporary thing - eg:infection. even a cold can raise it. there is also the well known "white coat" syndrome. people's bp goes up when they go to get it checked!

foxinsocks · 18/05/2007 19:39

they may try you on lifestyle changes first (I don't know the protocol but dh's blood pressure was a similar level) - so upping your fruit and veg and very importantly, reducing the amount of salt you consume (whether by adding it to your food or hidden salt in things like bread). Remember to check the labels of the foods you eat.

Also, regular exercise.

I think dh had to do both those things for a certain time period and get his blood pressure re measured.

nailopish · 18/05/2007 19:40

142/100 IS HIGH
not low

Original poster

MrsWho · 18/05/2007 19:40

had low blood pressure when I was preg and assumed that would be the problem now .

Anything I can do to help it?
Any ideas what actually could be causing it?

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MissGolightly · 18/05/2007 19:40

I think she knows that Nailpolish. She THOUGHT it was low but it wasn't.

Original poster

MrsWho · 18/05/2007 19:42

I said HIGH Nailpolish

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nailopish · 18/05/2007 19:42

oh sorry

not very sensible tonight

MissGolightly · 18/05/2007 19:43

It does go up as you age - plus pregnancy (usually) lowers it. So it might be just genetic.

You could ask your GP to give you a 24 hour monitor as that can give a better indicator of the full picture. If you are stressed it goes up, and of course going to the GP and worrying about your BP is stressful. A 24 monitor helps rule out whitecoat hypertension.

foxinsocks · 18/05/2007 19:44

less salt
regular exercise

GP may do additional tests like cholesterol etc. to try and get a full picture

nailopish · 18/05/2007 19:46

high bp - if you have it checked anothe few time s and it remains high they will prob refer you to a renal dr who will send uou for uss scans and the rest
the kidneyus control bp so the furst suspect os the kidney

but

the main cause ofr high bp in folks aged 30-40 or threabouts is unknown and you will prob be put on antihypertensives and the cause iwll never be known - tabs will keep it down and thatll be that

or

it is stress

any history of high bp in family?

foxinsocks · 18/05/2007 19:46

are you a smoker?

popsycal · 18/05/2007 19:46

It is the bottom number that is the worry. That is the one that doesnt change much as a result of anxiety etc. When my bottom number reached 100 like yours in pregnancy, they pretty much whipped the baby out. You don't mention whether you are pregnant...you musn't be or you would have been sent to midwife....

Anyway - some lifestyle things. Drink less alcohol, eat less salt (check food labels as well as not adding it to food), stop smoking if you smoke, try to lose weight if weight is an issue.

I am a really low risk group for high blood pressure - none of the above apply to me, but my 'normal' pre-preg bottom number was 75 to 80. When pregnant, it regularly rocketed to 100 and beyond. Since I had ds2 over 2 years ago, it has stayed around 90 ish with occasional flcutuations.

Oh yes - cholestrol. Need to lower that too.

At our practice, what happens is they take 3 readings on different days. When all three are high, a whole procedure kicks in with a variety of blood tests and an ECG (I think that is what it is) to check your heart.

hth

popsycal · 18/05/2007 19:46

It is the bottom number that is the worry. That is the one that doesnt change much as a result of anxiety etc. When my bottom number reached 100 like yours in pregnancy, they pretty much whipped the baby out. You don't mention whether you are pregnant...you musn't be or you would have been sent to midwife....

Anyway - some lifestyle things. Drink less alcohol, eat less salt (check food labels as well as not adding it to food), stop smoking if you smoke, try to lose weight if weight is an issue.

I am a really low risk group for high blood pressure - none of the above apply to me, but my 'normal' pre-preg bottom number was 75 to 80. When pregnant, it regularly rocketed to 100 and beyond. Since I had ds2 over 2 years ago, it has stayed around 90 ish with occasional flcutuations.

Oh yes - cholestrol. Need to lower that too.

At our practice, what happens is they take 3 readings on different days. When all three are high, a whole procedure kicks in with a variety of blood tests and an ECG (I think that is what it is) to check your heart.

hth

Original poster

MrsWho · 18/05/2007 19:46

Good website thanks missgolightly (like the name too!)

I eat masses of fruit and veg, never add salt, don't drink , do go to the gym (but now gym have told me not to) and get a lot of exercise at work.

I am overweight , though its about a stone rather than massively.

I do also get stressed about the Drs and also I was fitting it in enroute to work and the first time they were running very late and I was going to be late for work. So we thought that had made it worse.

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foxinsocks · 18/05/2007 19:47

or very overweight?

Mercy · 18/05/2007 19:47

It's the second figure which is high (the 100).

There are several factors which can increase high blood pressure. Quite often the cause is unknown tbh.

Exercise, limiting salt intake, increasing fruit&veg intake, losing weight, reducing stress are the usual ideas suggested. But it isn't always the case.

Do you have a family history of high BP, or cholesterol etc?

foxinsocks · 18/05/2007 19:47

does it run in the family? that's another biggy

nailopish · 18/05/2007 19:48

mrswho

they will suggest a '24 hr tape'

basicaly you wear a bp cuff for 24 hrs and it measures bp every 20mins or so for 24 hrs so they get acurate readings of you r bp at rest, at work, when asleep etc

popsycal · 18/05/2007 19:48

ah forgot to add the family thing...

Mercy · 18/05/2007 19:49

haha, load of crossed posts!

Age is a factor too (has someone mentioned that one )

dinny · 18/05/2007 19:49

what about alcohol? does that have a big effect?

Original poster

MrsWho · 18/05/2007 19:51

I am 28 if that is at all relevant.

My mam has high BP but mainly due to stress of my Grandparents and noone else does have high BP (although Very big family history of strokes)

Don't smoke either

Am stressed though has got worse as this week has gone on so Mons can't really account for that

She also advised me not to take Ibrufen prior to BP taken and I had awful ear/headache this am

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Original poster

MrsWho · 18/05/2007 19:53

When I was preg (last time my Bp was taken ) it tended to be 110/75 is at the highest so this was quite a shock

I also have a lot of migraines though they have been happening for about 15 years so don't think they are linked

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