Blood pressure readings?

[soupyspoon]

Just noticed on the NHS website that they seem to say that anything over 120/80 could be problematic or WTTE

Over 140/90 they consider high

Ive had mine measured over the years higher than that, and they say things like 'yeah thats not a problem'

In fact Im not sure Ive had a reading under 120/80? I have had high blood pressure in the past for sure, up in the 180/110 mark, even then no actual action, just take the medication (which I was at the time)

I’ve also never had a great reading, even on low dose medication I am around 140/80, at GP my readings do seem to be higher, but I do check at home and GP is happy with this. My DH has always had the perfect BP reading of 120/80 but 2 weeks after testing still had a heart attack and needed a triple heart bypass and is now on 2 BP medications and BP is still the same. I have found that over time medication doesn’t work as well, so I’ve changed a couple of times.

Thats a bit of a worry, good BP but then has a heart attack?

I was assuming that if my BP was ok it would indicate this wouldnt happen

I average out at about 135-140 over 73-78. Classed as a bit high, but I'm not dead yet, nor have I had any health issues related to high blood pressure.

When I go to the GP it's like around 165-175 over 90-95, and they're like But it's white coat syndrome (that really is a thing!!!) And it's a false/artificially high reading.

So I got a blood pressure machine and took my own readings at home (Only cost £20 from Boots.) I do 3 readings twice a day and take the mean number (average) for that day. Then I do that every day for a fortnight, and take the mean number overall, then I get my reading.

It's ALWAYS much lower than when I'm at the GP. My last 'average reading' that I gave them last week, was 131 over 70. (131/70.) Nowhere near the 177/97 that I got when my blood pressure was taken in the surgery some months back/last year!

I do this every 3-4 months by the way... (The readings at home.)

.

If you look on the nhs website, it gives you two different figures for ‘normal range’, one for when you’re at home and one for when you’re at the gp. This is because your bp will naturally be higher in the situation of a doctors appointment.

My dh is currently doing a bp diary as he’s just started on meds. It states that he needs to have a result of 135/85 or lower for it to be a controlled bp.

High blood pressure is one heart attack risk factor, but there are plenty of others including genetics/family history and age. Looking at it the other way round, having high blood pressure doesn’t mean you are doomed to have a heart attack (not saying it’s a good thing, but it’s not an automatic outcome).

I’ve found GPs to be somewhat inconsistent over this, BP of 150/90 with one has them sending you off to monitor it for a week with a view to increasing meds, same or even slightly higher reading with another and they aren’t remotely bothered. Have had reading above 180/100 once which they were concerned about but hadn’t been taking meds consistently at time due to many reasons, quickly resolved with regular use. I always take mine at home for a couple of readings before seeing GP as it is always higher when there

Yes I remember a check in pre op with a nurse, a week before the op, she tested me and it was 160/90, and I said oh thats bad, and she said 'no Im happy with that'

I cant fathom it out.

Absolutely, had a similar pre op recently, BP was way up, she said, I’m not even going to bother mentioning that to the anaesthetist

If its over 90 should you be on meds? And if so how long does that take to bring it down?

Is that question to me? I cant remember if I was on meds at the time, but I have had readings like that on medication anyway.

@soupyspoon thanks so I don't need to fear a heart attack right now 😱

Actually Ive remembered what operation it was for now, and yes I was on medication at the time. Then when I had the op apparently during the aftermath of the op when you come out and come round my blood pressure was through the roof and wouldnt come down and they wouldnt take me back to the ward until it did, they gave me so much medication that it plummeted and I was taken back to the day ward to recover and promptly fainted, but not before I had taken a bite of a rich tea biscuit which was clutched in my hand as I fell on the floor

The nurse said she had never known anyone with such a vice like grip on a biscuit!!!

#smug

Fuck OP! That's bloody high. Please get this sorted.

Mine is 100/60.

What is high?

I dont have high BP

I'm menopausal and haven't had my blood pressure read since 2018, when I was going through chemo.
It was always normal.
Last week I was persuaded to go to the doctors for the first time since pre covid, due to a toxic neighbour and increased stress/anxiety.
My blood pressure reading was 229/129!!!
I was shocked, I hadn't been feeling right for a couple of weeks and thought maybe it may be a bit high, but nowhere near that level!
I was put on meds immediately and, 6 days later, it's hovering around 145/89 which is still high but so much better than it was.
The doctor did say stress, anxiety and insomnia probably had a lot to do with it, aswell as age...I'm 57.
It's been a wake up call for me, that anyone can get high BP and just not be aware of it.

You'd think that having high blood pressure would be a good thing, as it would flush out all the cholesterol rather like an expensive powerflush does on a central heating system.

So perhaps my doctor and plumber could get together and discuss this matter and get back to me.

(Meanwhile I'll keep taking the tablets.)

Gp’s now prefer home bp measurements as they can be lower ..

Mine is that I am already on two meds but trying to bring it down .

🤣
Just keep taking the meds