How can I reduce my high blood pressure?

[PomegranatePunch]

Hi, at a recent GP appt (about something else) I had very high BP (200+/100+) so GP suggested I buy a machine for home and test for a week.
I've now done this but it's still fairly high - typically 176/75.

I'd be grateful for any tips on how others have dealt with this.
How is high BP treated by the NHS (tablets? what are they?)? What can I do to help reduce this? I'm assuming I need to lose weight and move around more- what else?

TIA

Yes, lose weight (if you have some to lose!) eat healthily and take exercise. Did the doctor not talk about ways to lower blood pressure before going on tablets?

In addition to lose weight and exercise more

Reduce salt
No alcohol
Get good bedtime routine
Avoid stress ( that always make me laugh as advice it's usually impossible to do anything about

As above and try to find time each day for relaxation.

Intense cardio of 30 min a day will bring it right down very quickly

I've not been back to GP since doing the week-long BP measurements. It wasn't my GP as this particular one is a specialist in something else, so I have to email her the results of my readings. I've not had any conversation about medication as yet.

As above, but also yoga has been proved to help lower blood pressure. I think the study suggested 4 times a week, but anything's going to help I would think.

Sell /give away dc if you have any. Get rid of any dp /dh or pets... See those readings fall op
.
Same boat here but have tablets..

Just had email from Freecycle declining my ad for 4 teenagers.... ..

Salt is the really big thing. Check for it in foods that you buy and don't add any. Use herbs and spices.

@Sunnydaysareuponus 😂

@PinkLazyApple have you any recommendations for intense cardio?
I have a back problem and I just cannot do squats as within a few days my back gives out!

and thanks for all the replies, it's very much appreciated

I wouldn't recommend intense cardio until you have been seen properly. I have chronic hypertension and it's since been discovered as a result I have an aneurysm, therefore intense cardio would only make it worse. Moderate exercise, longer not harder is better. Brisk walking is great for heart health.

If your average blood pressure readings are that high, then they should be looking at medications to lower it too. I would also ask to them to do the 24 hour monitoring.

The 75 is great, it's the 175 that needs to be lower. My cardiologist gave me the target of 125/75 maximum but I can only get there with medication, and it's taken the combination of two medicines to reach it. Exercise and losing weight did nothing to lower my blood pressure.

Reduce salt and drink loads more water. My husband just did this and it massively lowered his BP.

I don't think you should do intense cardio except under doctors orders.

Salt and booze as the two immediate starting points.

Has the gp
Asked you to submit your readings. You should be making another appointment.

My DP swears meditation lowered his.

@rose69 just submitted my readings this morning so should hear back soon.

Cut out salt
Drink more water
Go back to GP and ask about stations. Don't be fobbed off by the cheap one Simvastatin. It makes a lot of people ill but GP's always prescribe it first as it's cheap.

Those are statins, primarily used to lower cholesterol. There are more effective medications to improve blood pressure.

Sorry I'm getting muddled. I have both. I have Dozosossin for blood pressure.

They might start you off on something like Amlodipine, but it’s important that both you and the GP take steps to reduce your BP.

Obviously if appropriate you need to lose weight, stop smoking, reduce alcohol intake and exercise more.
I am a very fit, gym-going, slim healthy eater but I have a family history of high BP and for at least a decade have taken drugs to keep it down.
They call it 'essential hypertension' when it has no known cause.
Thanks to the meds I haven't died horribly young due to a stroke or heart attack like my grandparents, so please don't think using drugs is a failure and be grateful to modern medicine. I am!
You may, as I did, have to go through a number of different meds before you find the one, or combination, that does the trick.
Good luck, wishing you well :-)

Nurse here.
Drink more water, less stress. To start with.

You really need to see a doctor about this before self diagnosing. Some patients have a different baseline blood pressure so the usual 'perfect' 120/80 is not their perfect.

Do not use statins!
Beta blockers like metoprolol are mostly used to lower hypertension/ high BP. Meds for high blood pressure usually end in -lol

I’m just going through this, started about a month ago. You might not like how I’ve been resolving it.

I have cut out all additional salt.
stopped all fizzy pop
stick to one coffee in the morning , no other coffee throughout the day
drastically reduced alcohol to about half a bottle of wine a week
went low carb
drink lots of water.
go to the gym six days out of seven, as a sedentary lifestyle is also a significant cause. I mix daily between strength and cardio.

i am doing the readings again now, they are still a bit high but it seems close to healthy range. I’d a low dose of medication and am currently off it to take the readings.

so reduce your salt, caffeine and booze, healthy eat and exercise, you need to get your heart rate up, loose weight if you’re over weight.

and once you get back to normal. You need to stay there. Lifestyle can reduce this, if you cannot manage it via lifestyle due to whatever factors, you will likely be on medication for an indefinite period.