Blood pressure test

[hopeishere]

I saw a cardiologist recently all fine but he said my BP was high. I've health anxiety but have plucked up the nerve to get it checked tomorrow (as per his instructions). I KNOW it's going to be high!!

I'm overweight but don't smoke, drink much, walk the dog every day and have an ok diet.

What are they likely to do? Get me to monitor it for a bit and then decide?

Anyone?

Probably either readings taken regularly over several days or a 24 hour monitor

I have my own monitor and test myself at home regularly because I know how my BP goes up in any medical setting.

The monitors aren’t expensive and can save a lot of anxiety.

I suffer from white coat syndrome and mine is always high because of my health anxiety. Ive had a 24 hour monitor twice both times came back as normal. Sometimes they have made me sit outside to calm down and taken again. Its fun when your brain decides to go nope we not doing this.

Can you get a monitor? MyDH kept getting high readings at the GP but was really fit. We bought one and tested regularly and it was fine. GP was happy to accept photos of our monitor and said it was white coat syndrome.

I'd ask for the 24 hr monitor, mine goes sky high whenever I even see a machine coming near me! I'm even pretty stressed during the 24 hr monitor one but it gives a better idea at least especially during sleeping hours, although how they think anyone can sleep with that thing going off every hour I don't know lol. I have a monitor at home but you can't kind of surprise yourself with it so if I know I should be checking it it's already gone up!

Once monitored for a while the first step seems to be Amlodipine tablets at either 5mg or 10mg daily.

Thanks everyone! I'm worried the monitor will make me worse about it. I was the same re the cardiac investigations and they were all fine.

So it was 147/77 so lower than I expected but still in the high range. The nurse is going to let the GP know and they will be in touch.

You could possibly bring that down with lifestyle changes. Did they take 3 readings?

Yes they did. First was high and then it came down. Am googling today and will suggest at home monitoring and lifestyle first.

It was at the end of a busy day rushing between work / home / work dinner!

You could reduce your BP by losing a bit of weight, (easier said than done ) 5-10% can make quite a difference when your BP is ‘borderline.
Also reducing salt and alcohol.
Michael Mosley’s ‘Just One Thing’ radio programme this morning on Radio 4, (I think it’s available on BBC Sounds/podcast), was about the ‘Plank’ exercise that research has shown to have an really impressive results in lowering BP - so that might be worth a try. I’m in the same position as you, always up when in a medical setting and just about OK when not, even on 24 hour reading, so am keeping an eye on it.

As top number is high, bottom okay, it's likely to be white coat syndrome I reckon. Get them to take it manually and you'll probably find it lower (mine is 20 lower top and bottom done manually). Then lose 10% weight, exercise, reduce caffeine, manage stress etc. Also measure at home twice daily fir a week or get 24 hiur monitor if still high. Or treat if you think it contributes to symptoms (treating my BP has stopped my migraines, didn't realise that was the cause until I started meds).

I’d also suggest getting your own monitor. I have white coat syndrome (work in healthcare 🙄) and really hated the 24 hour monitor. The readings were actually not too bad (with low diastolic, as yours is) but I ended up taking it off about 3am as it was giving me horrific nightmares 🙄🙄. Brains are so stupid sometimes.

Also, try upping your exercise to raise your heart rate. Dog walking, unless you’re trotting along at dog pace or tackling big hills, is probably not quite enough.

I just had cardio appointment as well and my bp was high but I have awful white coat syndrome. Work myself into a proper state whenever I have a doctors appointment so readings are usually high.
Doc was going to arrange a 24 hour monitor as I didn’t have a monitor at home but I’m getting one from the GP practice for a week instead. The actual thought of a 24 hour monitor firing up every 30 mins and every hour during the night is enough to raise my blood pressure.