High blood pressure- what now?

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Just been diagnosed after having a mobile monitor on. I’m relatively young, but it was elevated the whole time. Getting some tablets on prescription when I can get to the pharmacy.

What now? I was horrified to read they could cause tiredness- that’s one of the symptoms I had and want to improve.

my iron is low, but within ok. I am overweight, but it’s just not shifting. Any words or wisdom?

Which one are they giving you?

Well they never make me tired.

I just carried on as normal when my blood pressure was discovered, apart from taking tablets

I’ve just started on high blood pressure meds (Candesartan). They’ve been very very effective at reducing my high blood pressure quickly.

Initially I did feel groggy in the mornings (I take them just before I go to bed) but that seems to be easing off and I don’t expect it to be a long term issue. I don’t have general tiredness throughout the day and the whole thing has so far been very easy.

I suspect that treating your iron levels will be helpful to focus on in terms of resolving tiredness issues.

I can’t remember the name - she sent it straight to the pharmacy on Friday, but I haven’t had the chance to pick it up before tomorrow. She mentioned that if the side effects were too much (tiredness/ dizziness) to start with half the dosage and build up.

I felt less tired than when my BP was high.

It takes time for your body to adjust to new meds so give it time not just a few days.

Your GP needs to help you with advice for weight loss to help your BP
It’s not good enough to stuff you with pills and not help you address the root cause. Many people struggle with weight loss but it is possible, depending on why you are overweight to begin with.

Yes - I’m working on building up my iron stores, but it’s been a long process.

It's hit me hard. High blood pressure and strokes run in my family, but I thought it was a problem for the future.

I’ve already decided to go and ask for help with this outright.

Good for you. You can do it 💪🏻💪🏻 get family and friends onside to support you

Just FYI - there are different types, and people may find it easier to get on with one or another type. GP should be able to work with you to find the best one for you.

DH is now on tablets to reduce his blood pressure. The one lifestyle change that has made a huge difference was to cut down caffeine.

He is as thin as a lat so it isn't weight related.

Thank you for this advice. I turned to cola to beat the snacking (I know not great at all, but it seemed like diet cola was better than the biscuits. I didn’t think it could be that bad.

Cutting down on salt has helped my mum. She uses MFP to track it and tries to keep below 6g a day. This also means cutting back on processed foods which is good as well.
Edited to add, this helped fairly quickly although she is overweight and hasn't lost a large amount of weight yet.

Drinking a glass of beetroot juice everyday can help to reduce your blood pressure (but it tastes horrendous!)

Make sure your cholesterol and blood sugar has also been checked. Big risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Cut down alcohol. Absolutely no smoking.

I find less salt, cutting caffeine and eating really a lot of fruit and veg helps.

It's hit me hard. High blood pressure and strokes run in my family, but I thought it was a problem for the future.

Look at it as a positive. This being picked up early means you'll hopefully avoid a stroke. Especially when you get down to a healthy weight - which you will as you'll want to avoid diabetes.

And ditch the cola!

Two simple things you can do immediately that have made an incredible difference to my husband, who didn't then have to take the meds - a helpful nurse told him that there's something in coke zero that she has noticed anecdotally seems to raise BP, he was drinking coke zero as a 'healthier' alternative to coke so he ditched that. Also Michael Mosley's 2tblsp flaxseed a day proven to lower BP. I think he has other 'just one things' about BP too so worth checking out. Best of luck. Exercise no doubt always helpful.

I had to go through several BP meds before finding someting that suited, I got dizzyness and horrendous swollen ankles

I was terribly overweight and the meds didnt bring down my levels that much, it was still high

Beetroot I think makes a huge difference, by sheer coincidence I'd had quite a large beetroot salad just before an appointment one day and my levels were really low! I didnt make the connection until later

Im on candasarten now but do admit I keep forgetting to take them, this thread has remindeded me

Wow, didn't know that about beetroot, I'm a big fan!

OP have you had bloods to check your thyroid? It is quite common for anemia and low B12 to link to thyroid issues and you mention snacking and weight - again can be side effects of hyper or hypo thyroid. I am on beta blockers, propranonol for mine which is slightly calming the anxiety a hyperthyroid is famous for but the most noticeable is the drop in heart rate which was regularly jumping to 130 when I was sitting.

I had high blood pressure at a routine check, a year ago. I was annoyed because mine had always been 115/70, and it had gone to 140/100.

They didn't give me any pills, but I decided to get it down myself if I could.

I've switched to eating porridge and fruit for breakfast, cut out butter, cheese and cream, stopped eating crisps/cheesy cheddars etc, to cut the amount of salt I ate, and I switched to decafe.

That worked for me. Back to normal. There are lots of things you can do to help yourself.

The tablets are Valsartan (Diovan). Can't start taking them until Friday because I've got a lot of driving to do and can’t risk side effects like dizziness. I feel like I need to be taking them though.

I have sub-clinical hypothyroidism, but it fluctuates. When it was nearer 7, she talked about a low dose of treatment, but then it dropped to nearer 3 (and has been in-between), so she’s monitoring it.

I also have low folic acid, which can be linked (this really surprised me).

I'm so tired and just feel off. This is not my normal dr and she won’t be around forever, but for the first time, I feel listened to and she's finding things out.

I'm concerned that I might not be able to take ibuprofen etc. because I have lower back problems.

My BP was averaging 140-150 over 90-110 round the clock. Getting up to c.180. 'Down' to 130 after sleeping.