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Original poster

My dad's high blood pressure, he has been admited to hospital today!! Any advice? Sorry may be long.

37 replies

GoodGollyMissMolly · 27/10/2007 15:17

My dad will be 58 next month. Last week he was diagnosed as having high blood pressure, hypertension I think they called it, he had been having some problems with his heart rate for a few weeks before.

He went to hospital for some tests, the doctor told him to stop drinking alcohol, he never was a big drinker anyway, but stopped all the same. He hasn't had a drink for 17 weeks.
He has always had a healthy diet, getting more than double his 5 a day. It is very rare that he would eat takeaways and such, he would occasionaly, but no longer. He doesn't smoke, never has done and works out at the gym 4-5 days a week and has done all of his adult life.
He has even cut out coffee and tea and only drinks herbal or fruit infusuions.
The doctors cant seem to recommend what else he should do apart from going on medication, which he really doesn't want to do but understands that he is going to have to.

My mum has just called me to tell me that he has had a bad night with heart pallpitations and such and called the doctor this morning who recommended he go to A&E. The hospital have decided to admit him.
My dad has only ever been in hospital once before, for an ear operation to repair a perforated ear drum!!
He is such a health consious person and is a very young 58, he looks like he is in his mid 40's.

I suppose what I am asking is if anyone else has had a similar situation or can anyone recommend anything that my dad can do that he isn't currently doing.

Last week his BP was, I think he said, 200/150, but I may have written it down wrong!!!

I am so worried about my dad, I am due to have his first grandchild on the 12/11 and dad is going to be my other birthing partner, with DH of course. God he is so looking forward to it, he will hate to miss it. But I know that isn't the issue.

Thank you for reading this far, sorry it's so long, I just need to get it off my chest, as DH is out at the minute.

OP posts:
Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 27/10/2007 15:27

Bump

OP posts:
CantSleepWontSleep · 27/10/2007 15:34

Stress can send blood pressure sky high. Is it likely that he's stressed about something, perhaps at work (assuming that he still works)?

foxinsocks · 27/10/2007 15:37

could it be something that runs in his family?

I'm sure they will help get it under control in hospital - at least he can have all sorts of tests done now rather than having to go back and forth to the GP.

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 27/10/2007 15:39

Thank you for replying CantSleepWontSleep; He is self employed so I suppose he could be stressed about work in general, he doesn't seem stressed, but maybe this is his bodys way of dealing with any stress.

My brother and do have a business together and my bro has taken on the majority of the work for a few months now to help releive any pressure on dad.

I really dont know what to think, my mum is climbing the walls with worry!!

OP posts:
fruitymum · 27/10/2007 15:39

Your dad probably has essential hypertension - which is very common and has no identifiable cause. It is necessary to treated with medication , which alot of people are reluctant to take initially . It sounds like your dad has looked after himself well - what does he do to relax?
Please try not to worry.

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 27/10/2007 15:42

Your right Foxinsocks, I suppose he is in the right place at the minute. As far as I'm aware it doesn't run in the family, My grandad (dad's dad) is 85 and still going strong. dad has family who have lived well in to their 100's (Grandad is from Poland)

It's just such a worry isn't it, esp with him being so healthy.

Thanks I feel better just talking about it.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 27/10/2007 15:44

my dad's been hospitalised in such a fashion for his hypertension a few times.

one time, it was because the pharmacy switched him to generic medications without his knowledge.

well, they didn't work as effectively and he fained in the street!

my dad's in his 70s now and he does now struggle to control his condition even with meds.

it may take a few days for them to get it back under control and then he'll need to have it monitored a while so they can see if the meds he has to take daily are working.

he's done well to stay off meds, but in all honesty, this disease tends to worsen with age and at this point he really does need to be on medication, as from what you've stated he's made all the lifestyle changes he can to help his condition.

hope he gets better soon!

i'm hypertensive myself but so far am controlling it with lifestyle.

my sister is only 40 and on meds for hypertension, we just have a really strong history of it on my dad's side of the family.

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 27/10/2007 15:46

fruitymum, thats kind of a releif knowing that it can be common, and I suppose if medication will help then he will have to take it, or he can inccur the wrath of my mum

He likes to play snooker and billiards to wind down, he and my mum often go for a relaxing walk down on the sea front.
That makes them sound so old, doesn't it !!!!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 27/10/2007 15:46

stress can affect blood pressure, but keep in mind that clinical hypertensio is a disease ad although minimising 'stress' can help, if you have geniune hypertension it can and does often require medication.

it's a myth to assume that a person who has hypertension who retires to a sunny beach will be free of their disease.

CantSleepWontSleep · 27/10/2007 15:46

Ah yes, being self-employed can be stressful sometimes (dh currently suffering from high bp due (we think) to stress over his current contract). It's great that your brother is able to step into the breech. What a lovely close family you are . I'm sure that your dad wouldn't want you to worry too much about him.

foxinsocks · 27/10/2007 15:47

yes, set your mum on him wrt the medication. That will keep him in line.

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 27/10/2007 15:49

Expat at your dads pharmacy, how awful.

I suppose dad just doesn't want to admit that he is getting to an age where he would need to take medication for hypertension. Like I have said he is a very young 58 in mind as well as body!!
But I suppose this will make him sit up and realise that he really needs to be on the meds to get it under control.

does anyone know if he will have to be on for life or just until his BP is under control?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 27/10/2007 15:49

once he is on meds, he needs to wear a medicalert bracelet or necklace and perhaps carry a card in his wallet with that he is on and the dosage.

clinical hypertension is a serious disease which needs to be treated as such, particularly because it can predispose one to the development of coronary artery disease and heart attack, hence it's moniker 'the silent killer'.

expatinscotland · 27/10/2007 15:52

i know, good. it was truly terrifying because he was taken to hospital by ambulance. it was only when my mum brought the actual bottles of medication in - he gets them by mail order every 90 days - that the doctors realised he was given generics.

it took 4 days to stablise him.

now he has to be extra careful reading labels.

he does have heart disease now - he had hypertension from the age of 43 - and is on a total of 9 different medication.

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 27/10/2007 15:54

Thanks everyone, I feel a little better now.

I've just spoken to him and he has asked me to bring him a fruit salad up to him when I go see him. So at least his appitite hasn't been affected

DH should be back any minute now so will pop out to sainsburys get him his fruit and a couple of magazines/book and go and see him.

Thank you all for your support.

OP posts:
Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 27/10/2007 15:56

God that must have been so scary Expat, what an awful experience.

I will get him one of those braclet things, that is a really good idea. can you get them from a chemist?

OP posts:
fruitymum · 28/10/2007 20:59

He will need meds for life, but may be changed in dose or type as he goes along - 'til the right combination is found for him.

SpacePuppy · 28/10/2007 21:09

Essential hypertension runs in my family and it is something that should be taken seriously, they often call it the silent killer as it often goes undetected. The short of the long is if it is left untreated it can lead to strokes or heart attacks. Read through this, it might give you more insight into your dad's situation.

mother3 · 28/10/2007 21:30

it is part of ageing but with medical care he will be fine lucky it was spotted .is he over weight as this can add to the prob.sure he will be fine and looking forward to his new grand child.not fun getting old but with care he will be fine.i am sure he will need to take the meds always from now but thats a small price 2 pay if its makes him better.
good luck and enjoy your new baby.!!

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 28/10/2007 21:50

Thanks everyone for all of the replies. Dad was released from the hospital today, they had been monitoring him overnight. His BP has stabalised to more of a normal level so they have put him on a small dosage of medication.
They have also had to put him on a small dosage of betablockers as his heartbeat was quite irregular.

He has got an appointment for an echo cardiogram tomorrow morning just to check his heart and I think they will be monitoring him from now on.

He seems very well within himself and has taken some time off work, at the insistance of my mum (I dont think he dare do any other, lol)

Thank you all for your advice and info I really appreciate it.

xx

OP posts:
EmsMum · 28/10/2007 22:02

Only just saw this... my DH is quite badly hypertensive. There are quite a lot of different causes and they don't all respond to the same meds. He also has atrial fibrillation from time to time so is on quite a drug cocktail!

I don't see any mention in the thread about salt/sodium ... depending on what sort of hypertension it is, cutting that right back can be VERY helpful. I'm suprised it wasnt suggested. Makes quite a difference to DH.

Also plenty of exercise, mainly of the brisk walking/swimmig type helps.

expatinscotland · 28/10/2007 22:03

i'm so glad he's feeling better, good!

Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 28/10/2007 22:06

Hi EmsMum, I will mention about cutting salt out of his diet, thank you.

He already works out at the gym 4-5 times a week, which always includes a swim afterwards, so he is pretty fit. He has always worked out physically so this has never been a prob with him IYSWIM.

The doc apparently said to him that it could be 'Old Age' and is just one of those things. He has now resigned himself to the fact that he will be on meds for the rest of his life.

OP posts:
Original poster
GoodGollyMissMolly · 28/10/2007 22:07

Thanks Expat

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 28/10/2007 22:08

hypertension generally worsens with age, as do most conditions like this, unfortunately.