High blood pressure success stories please -

[franglais123]

My DH has been monitoring his BP at home for a few days and it’s around 150/90 - he has booked a GP appointment for BP and bloods for Monday. They may well say he needs meds or find an underlying issue but has anyone had any luck with lifestyle changes after having those kind of readings? Or if you’re on meds because of those readings, do you feel ok on them? I’m trying not to show I’m worried but I am! He’s late 40s, exercises semi-regularly but could definitely drink less and lose a bit of weight.

Never had any problems with the meds, and don’t know anyone who has

Weight loss, exercise, stress management, not too much salt, not too much alcohol all do reduce it naturally for sure - quite a lot of people do all that and can come off them - saying that for some people it’s genetic and from your 50s on more people just do need meds.

I think he’s stressed but hides it as he doesn’t want to worry me but I’m sure that doesn’t help!
Good to know the meds don’t have negative side effects for you @theduchessofspork - I appreciate your reply.

Ah yes - men often aren’t great at talking. It might be worth contacting Mind / The Men’s Health Forum / ManUp etc for resources on male mental health that might help him open up - that definitely makes a difference to stress

I don’t think he would unfortunately but you never know, he might be forced into action after his doctor’s appointment.

I run the hypertension clinic where I work.

He’s quite young so losing weight and getting out for a fast paced 20-30 min walk will have quite a good effect on his BP. I tell my patients to do this as walking is cheap, easy for most and it’s also really good way to destress.

Alcohol is terrible for blood pressure so reducing that will help too. I suggest just swapping to a non alcoholic drink in between every alcoholic one so it doesn’t feel such a shock so to speak.

Google DASH diet too. Yoga and tai chi are also very good for reducing BP.

Unfortunately most people don’t do any of these and go on meds. The ones that have though have been able to reduce their BP and also feel so much better generally.

Quit caffiene. I was diagnosed with high BP (170/110) ten years ago at 30 something and it was my several litres of pepsi a day doing it! That and cigarettes.

I now keep fit, avoid caffiene and nicotine and, although medicated, my BP is under control.

Thanks both. Really helpful and reassuring. @alwaysbreaks I’ve actually screen shot your post and sent it to my DH!

Hopefully it will help. These are 2 good websites for information:

High blood pressure (Hypertension) - BHF
Blood Pressure UK

Caffeine will also cause a spike in blood pressure for around 15 minutes, always take your blood pressure when you haven't had any. So many sit down with a coffee in the morning and then take their BP.

I think it depends on the cause of the high BP. Certainly it is possible for many people to lower it with lifestyle changes, especially as DHs isn’t terribly high, so he has wriggle room to see if changing diet, exercise etc, makes an impact.

Mine was discovered in my 20s. I’m now in my 60s and whether I’ve been at my optimum BMI or over, whatever changes I’ve made to lifestyle, weight etc, doesn’t seem to make any difference. Stress definitely pushes mine up further though.

ive been on 4 different drugs for it since diagnosis and apart from initially when I was given one that made me cough and had to change it, I’ve not felt any bad effects from them. Mine was so high I would probably have had a stroke or heart attack without medication.

My DH has chronic high blood pressure and has been on meds for a very long time, including a mixture of BP tablets and anti-anxiety to try to bring it down. He’s been feeling terrible for a long time (absolutely no theory at all that this is caused by any meds) which he thinks is due to these is plus omeprezole for heartburn which he’s also been on forever and which are proven to be terrible for you.

Anyway he’s had a renewed determination this year (I think because some of his friends are very ill and we have a young son) and a combination of less alcohol, no sugar, fasting, small changes in cooking, and drinking apple cider vinegar daily has seen him be able to scrap all of his tablets, bar his statin as he has an hereditary condition which means he will all ways have to take a statin. He rarely gets heartburn now.

His blood pressure is stable for the first time in forever. He’s lost a stone, he feels more alert and his brain fog is gone and his joints ache less. He’s on his feet all day at work so doesn’t really do additional exercise but that’s his goal for next year.

Im absolutely and honestly amazed and really quite proud of him for all of the research he has carried out, and sticking to it too. He thinks refined sugar is the root of much of his problems.

Anyway, sorry I rambled, but I just wanted to say that my DH has been on meds for BP for a very long time - 20s even - without even being particularly unhealthy or overweight, and he’s been fine. But the older he’s got the worse he’s felt so he’s tried something new, and it’s helped him. So I think you don’t need to worry so much so long as it’s under control in one way or another!

Thanks so much for your lovely replies and wow @Abouttimemum that’s amazing about your partner!

Hi OP.
My MIL (early 50s)had similar although her readings were higher.

Because of how high they were she was initially put on meds but 18 months later she's now maintaining normal levels of BP without.

Key things she did:

Lost some weight - healthier diet and lots of walking
Hungry reduced alcohol intake
Pilates
Key one - changing her job! She had a high level, stressful job before and now is in a different role with more support and a better work life balance.

All the best to your hubby

I am on three different meds for BP ( I have something called malignant hypertension)
But when I start or change my meds I take them at bedtime for the first few weeks - this seems to reduce any side affects. Tbh the worse tablet I was put on was the statin!