High blood pressure

[NooNooHead]

My DH is just doing some readings for high blood pressure as he's been having a few symptoms over the past few months. We had a trip to A&E last year and hd got checked out but was told it's high, but not critically high.

However, I've seen the various readings he's had over the last few days and one was 178/110! Other readings were averaging 155-168 so not as high.

I'm guessing this is stage 2 hypertension but I'm not a doctor so clearly need proper advice. I also took my blood pressure and it was 140/89 so now I'm worried about having high blood pressure too...!

Hopefully he will call the doctor tomorrow and ask their advice.

Make sure he does get a GP appointment ASAP.
How old are you both? BMI? Diet? Exercise? Smokers? What was the trip to A and E for?

The trip to A&E was for chest pain and health had a good assessment there by the A&E consultant who said it was high but not drop down dead high.😳

He is 56,I'm 44 so we're not in our youth but not ancient either. 3 DC who do stress him out quite a bit, and he does have a sleep apnea too which probably doesn't help.

We're slightly overweight so could probably both lose a stone, and exercise more. I should probably try HRT and see if that helps.

Non-smokers, pretty healthy diet with the occasional treats.

What are your actual BMIs? Do you carry most of your fat round your abdomens? You'd be amazed at how dramatically weight loss can lower blood pressure and associated CV risks. I would make an GP attp urgently and in the meantime have a good read about lowering BP together and commit to some lifestyle changes. It will get worst if left untreated. Start small. What do you actually eat in a day? Do you eat a lot of salty foods? Can you both commit to getting a certain number of steps in a day and build up from there?

I wouldn't worry about the single high reading as it's common to have anomalous readings, but those average readings aren't healthy and I would definitely get both of you checked out (not a medic but as a PT have been trained in what to look out for when taking blood pressure readings and when to get a GP involved).

I'm not sure of my BMI but I have put on weight around my waist in the past few years of perimenopause. I'm a size 12 but my BMI is probaby high as my weight for my height isn’t great (I'm 5'2).

I've lost a stone over the past few months but could definitely lose another. My health has been dreadful over the past decade after I had a head injury and post concussion syndrome before being injured by off label psychotropic drugs that gave me a movement disorder 😞 I actually used to run quite a bit a few years ago but stopped since having my youngest daughter as I feel so tired and ill with perimenopause symptoms.

DH could definitely do something witj exercise and losing a bit of weight, but it's finding real time to dedicate to it. (Not that I'm making an excuse, it's just hard to find time with 3 kids and full time work )

I would go back to have a chat with those average readings he should be put on some medication even if it’s a short time especially with those symptoms. Speaking from personal experience of my v close friend. She was sent from GP surgery to A and E and is now regularly checked and medication adjusted.

Forgot to say she had a 24 hr bp monitor done too. I’d ask for something like that to get a full picture

Thanks all. I'm feeling a bit worried to be honest, as I'd be absolutely lost and devastated if anything happened to my DH. It's definitely something to take seriously and get on top of.

Sometimes we need a bit of a wake up call. It'll take a bit of effort, but lifestyle changes combined with BP meds etc is the best way to go for long term health. Definitely make an appointment for yourself too and get some bloods done if poss. HRT worked wonders for me and also helps reduce CV risks and cholesterol etc. It's also helped me shift some weight and given me my energy back so I can train and run more effectively again.

I'd go back for a chat too. I saw the nurse first with a week's worth of average readings but then saw a GP who adjusted the medication the nurse had given me. I've lost weight but still got a stone or so to go...it does help!

When he (or yourself) takes his BP is he doing it three times? It’s a good idea to do so, and then record the lowest of the three. I’d suggest he see his GP asap, especially if he’s having symptoms and it’s been going on for a few months. The longer hypertension goes on the more damage it can do. None of us like the idea of taking medication, but sometimes we need to in order to keep us well. If he’s able to focus more on his lifestyle going forward, then he may be able to stop taking them in the future possibly.

Does he use a CPAP machine for his sleep apnoea? Do you know when he last had routine blood tests at his GPs? If it’s been a while then he ought to ask them to also test his HbA1c to make sure he doesn’t have diabetes, as his age, sex, apnoea and hypertension put him at greater risk of developing diabetes. Sorry to add another worry, but better to check earlier than later. Hopefully not, but always good to double check.

Your own BP is just below the threshold for hypertension, so worth monitoring, but I wouldn’t worry too much, just check it from time to time to keep an eye on it. It’s definitely worth seeing your practice nurse or doctor regarding your peri though, I struggled on with it for a couple of years (didn’t want to bother them at the height of covid etc) and couldn’t believe the difference it made when I finally saw her and started on HRT. Good luck op.

We're doing it twice a day - at 9am and 9pm with two readings at each time.

I'm going to see the doctor next week regarding my Hb1AC blood test as I'm at greater risk of type 2 after 3 pregnancies with gestational diabetes (all controlled with diet alone).

Dh had a medical checkup a couple of week ago and was mostly fine with everything including diabetes. It's the hypertension that's the main worry at the moment, especially given his age and how he isn't someone who's the best at being calm sometimes. But we know that being proactive, getting on top of weight and exercise etc plus eating better will all help hopefully, alongside any necessary medication.

I'm finding getting older hard to be honest. I have had times when I've despaired at my body is so hard to deal with (and I've had my movement disorder symptoms exacerbated by seemingly innocuous substances like antifungal creams etc, so I'm quite anxious about anything else i need to take, HRT etc).

So now having someone else's health problems to worry about isn't really good as it will probably increase my anxiety too 😕

No, he tried the CPAP machine and found it dreadful, really hard to get on with.

I tried it out of interest too and it felt like someone holding their hand over your mouth while you try and breathe out - goodness knows how you're meant to sleep well with that effect!

I think if it's that high at home, he needs to prioritise seeing the GP asap.

Have a look at the NHS page on blood pressure, I think it says something the same as above.

His BP is too high. He needs to see a GP pretty swiftly. Yours is also on the high side.
I've been prescribed meds for mine, which is now holding steady at a much healthier level. It's called a ',silent killer' as high BP is often symptomless but damaging.

Send dh to gp. He can ask about a 24 hour bp monitor. Gp can discuss meds for bp with him.

Think I’d be onto 111 and get emergency care, he needs bp medication and yo get it under control. It’s really easy to lower with medication.

We're going to call the GP and submit the readings for tomorrow (we were told by the doctor to do them).

I've got to admit, I get quite stressed easily about a lot so it wouldn't surprise me if they tell me that I need to monitor mine too!

I went to see my practice nurse after various tests, due to dizziness and fatigue and she asked why no one had checked my BP. Readings were similar to your DH and she wouldn't let me leave without medication. I did explain to her how stressful things were, and that the gym I go to had flagged BP as an issue, and that I had been supposed to complete a form for the GP last year monitoring BP.

The medication helped a lot until I went onto HRT (which increases BP) so now I am starting with diet again. I have found that what helps is
Dash diet (reduced mine enormously)
Yoga (somatic yoga was helpful, it can be very easy yoga)

My DH was like you, very worried about me. He has been brilliant at making sure I have a bit of down time (not easy when kids are younger I appreciate).

Try not to get overly stressed about it, there is a lot that can be done to improve your situation and as I said, sometimes we need a bit of a kick up the arse. Just make sure you both get properly assessed by the GP and have a good read up on lowering BP through lifestyle factors 🙂

Thank you 😊 Yes, you're right - stress about it won't help! And absolutely, we can find ways to help and hopefully monitoring it will lower readings.

I'm not going to worry about it all day until I've heard what the GP says tomorrow.

When did he try the CPAP, there are different settings - he needs to start at a low pressure when awake if he can’t tolerate it straight away. The sleep clinic should have covered this with him. Presumably he no longer drives? There are different types too that he could try. Sleep apnea can cause high BP, can he ask for a referral back to the sleep clinic?

Ooh now you have me worried about driving (which he still does!) Should he not drive now then?! 😳

No, I don't remember the hospital telling him to change settings etc - they didn't seem that great helping us to use it to be honest.

It depends on whether he’s tired in the day- the sleep clinic should have gone through this too - they do sound rubbish! Quite often a licence is revoked until sleep apnea is under control. You have to self report to the DVLA if they don’t. If he’s seeing the GP about his BP then you could ask them.

is he using the correct BP cuff for his size? A cuff that's too small for an overweight person will tend to over-read. If the OSA's untreated then he needs to discuss that if he hasn't already as it'll eventually cause BP & other heart problems. Getting to a normal weight may improve both issues though.