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General health

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Original poster

DH's blood pressure is sky high

109 replies

Carbuncula · 07/11/2021 13:10

DH is 50 and a bit overweight (as am I, we do try) but is otherwise a fit and active person - always on the go, very busy and physically strong.

He's so quite a tense angry person, has been as long as I've known him - when he's super tense he complains of headaches and a jittery sensation in his chest. He's been to the GP for it in the past, had some beta blockers but declared them useless and stopped taking them. He does drink alcohol - up to 6 units, 4 or 5 nights out of 7, but doesn't binge drink and doesn't smoke. Diet not great obviously but we walk a lot together.

I'd had a couple of slightly raised blood pressure readings recently so I invested in a UK approved home blood pressure monitor to keep track of it for a while. On a whim I laughingly suggested that we do his, as he's not had it measured by a doctor for about 10 years - the first reading was 205/120, which I assumed had to be an error! Left it 3 mins and did it again, it was 190/110.

I've been fairly cool about it with him and just suggested we try it in the morning when we've just woken up, when you should do it, but that reading is through the roof surely? He says he has a headache and I'm trying to keep him relaxed, but he's never really been able to - he doesn't sleep well either.

I don't want to scare him, he hates anything medical. I suggested if it's still high over the next few mornings I'll make him an appointment, and he has accepted that, but for certain he will scoff at any suggestion that it might be important.

Can a reading so crazily high be a one off?

OP posts:

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 07/11/2021 13:13

That is high, yes. He may well need medication from his GP to bring it down so the first step is for him to make an appointment with the GP or practice nurse.

MatildaIThink · 07/11/2021 13:13

Get him to a hospital, he urgently needs to be on medication. That is not a little but high, that blood pressure is pretty much a medical emergency.

Original poster

Carbuncula · 07/11/2021 13:23

Oh man, he's terrible with anything medical.

It read mine as 119/76, which is better than my previous average readings of 125/96 so I've no reason to believe the monitor is defective.

I think we have a nice quiet day, I'll do it again in the morning and then get him an appointment. I hope he doesn't have a bloody aneurysm while I'm trying not to spook him.

Thanks for commenting.

OP posts:

SeaToSki · 07/11/2021 13:24

I copied this from heart.org

Very high blood pressure = hypertensive

There are two types of hypertensive crises—both require immediate attention as early evaluation of organ function is critical to determine an appropriate course of action.

Hypertensive Urgency

If your blood pressure is 180/120 or greater, wait about five minutes and try again. If the second reading is just as high and you are not experiencing any other associated symptoms of target organ damage such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, change in vision, or difficulty speaking, this would be considered a hypertensive urgency. Your healthcare provider may just have you adjust or add medications, but rarely requires hospitalization.

Hypertensive Emergency

If your blood pressure reading is 180/120 or greater and you are experiencing any other associated symptoms of target organ damage such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, change in vision, or difficulty speaking then this would be considered a hypertensive emergency. Do not wait to see if your pressure comes down on its own, Call 999.

So the question is, has it been that high for ages and he has just got used to it, or has it recently gone up that high. I think he needs an urgent appointment with the GP on Monday morning at the absolute least, and if he starts feeling chest pain, or blurred vision etc then A and E immediately

The problem with very high blood pressure is that it literally starts to rip apart your blood vessels inside your body. Its like putting high pressure water through a fabric hose, eventually it will blow apart. When that happens inside your organs like the liver, kidneys, eyes, heart, lungs etc you can just imagine the damage it can do.

Luckily there are pills he can take that will bring it down very quickly and then it is manageable going forward.

Ask him if he has life insurance and a will sorted and if he wants to be resuscitated and tube fed if he goes into a coma. That might focus his mind a little.

CornishGem1975 · 07/11/2021 13:25

I was hospitalised immediately when mine hit 190/110, kept in for 3 days while they got it under control with medication. There were no warning signs before this. It just rocketed. It's never really gone back to normal.

SeaToSki · 07/11/2021 13:25

If he is still scoffing, say well you google it then. See if he likes what he reads

lazylinguist · 07/11/2021 13:29

That is dangerously high. He needs to make some lifestyle changes (lose weight, cut down on alcohol and salt), but with numbers like that he can't wait for lifestyle changes to take effect, he needs to see the gp as a matter of urgency, otherwise he's a prime candidate for heart attack or stroke.

Sexnotgender · 07/11/2021 13:30

That’s very high!

Original poster

Carbuncula · 07/11/2021 13:30

Thanks @SeaToSki, he doesn't have any other symptoms other than a mild headache so hopefully I can call the GP out of his earshot tomorrow and get him in to be checked over and on some medication.

A few hours ago we were none the wiser, he even said "This is a bad idea" as I was doing it. I said knowledge is power!

He's laying back on the sofa chatting on the phone. I'm worried now. I did get life insurance for him.

OP posts:

muldersspeedos · 07/11/2021 13:40

Why would you make an appointment without his knowledge and then expect him to attend? Don't infantilise him, he needs to take responsibility for his own health. If he doesn't see the need to see a GP then I'd leave him to it. He'll end up having a heart attack or a stroke with a BP like that. The amount of men we had in our cardiology ward like your husband was so frustrating. They'd ignored their body warning them for years that it was under too much pressure then acted all surprised when they ended up needing coronary catheterisation. And it's always their wives who end up running round after them worried sick about another heart attack or stroke. You can take a horse to water...

SeaToSki · 07/11/2021 13:42

Fingers crossed you can get him to the GP on Monday. Be prepared for them to have a small panic attack when they see his readings. If I were you I would start writing his readings down, the time you took them, whether he was standing, sitting or lying down and if he had been at rest or walking, chatting, doing stairs in the half hour before. I would keep it to yourself for now and then give it to the GP when he is seen.

Immaculatemisconception · 07/11/2021 13:44

@MatildaIThink

Get him to a hospital, he urgently needs to be on medication. That is not a little but high, that blood pressure is pretty much a medical emergency.

It's not a hospital matter. He needs to see the GP asap.

Bagelsandbrie · 07/11/2021 13:44

That is a medical emergency to be honest, especially if he’s complaining of a headache as well.

Bagelsandbrie · 07/11/2021 13:46

@muldersspeedos

Yep this.

If he won’t willingly go and see the Gp I’d bet he won’t take any medication offered to him either…..

MatildaIThink · 07/11/2021 13:50

@Immaculatemisconception
It is a hospital matter, with a blood pressure as high as his he would be admitted and medicated urgently to bring his blood pressure down.

Hbh17 · 07/11/2021 13:52

If I was your husband in this situation, I would just refuse to attend any appointment that you made for me without my knowledge or consent.

Immaculatemisconception · 07/11/2021 13:53

[quote MatildaIThink]@Immaculatemisconception
It is a hospital matter, with a blood pressure as high as his he would be admitted and medicated urgently to bring his blood pressure down.[/quote]
Okay, then he should call 111.

starrynight21 · 07/11/2021 13:59

He is a grown man - stop pussyfooting around him and get him an appointment. Tell him to Google it if he doesn't think it's important. He could have a stroke or a heart attack while he is burying his head in the sand.

Deux · 07/11/2021 14:00

Oh my days. He really needs to accept this is really serious. Ask him if he wants to have a massive heart attack? Die maybe? Be permanently disabled?

In your shoes and if my DH was being recalcitrant, I would phone 111 and see what they say.

Headaches are a classic sign of high BP.

Justwalkyourfineassoutthedoor · 07/11/2021 14:04

You need to call 111 and get him seen today, do not leave it until tomorrow morning.
When my blood pressure was that high I was sent to hospital and put on the High Dependency Ward for 4 days until they could get it under control.

inigomontoyahwillcox · 07/11/2021 14:05

A friend of my DH's ended up in hospital recently and was diagnosed with severe kidney damage due to high blood pressure - he had no idea. Your DH needs to see someone ASAP.

A few notes on taking a BP at home - just to make sure you're taking it correctly:

https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/media/bpuk/docs/CheckingBPathomeA4_web.pdf

inigomontoyahwillcox · 07/11/2021 14:07

*NB he had suffered from headaches for a few years leading up to the hypertensive crisis

Original poster

Carbuncula · 07/11/2021 14:08

We've spoken about it, he is happy to see the GP in the morning and I'll do another reading before then. I'll come back after that and update but for now I'm out.

OP posts:

Deux · 07/11/2021 14:10

I meant to say in my previous message that my DH only found out about his high BP after suffering from headaches. His BP was high though not as high as your DH.

Original poster

Carbuncula · 07/11/2021 14:11

Oh thanks @inigomontoyahwillcox, just read that - I don't think we really did it at the optimum time and he was rabbiting throughout, so we're going to start over tomorrow.

OP posts:

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