High BP and Perimenopause

[iloveblue]

Hi there

I am almost 45 and have what I assume are Perimenopause symptoms for a few years now. These include irregular periods (have one every other month), periods of hot flushes, sore eyes, dry mouth, up and down moods.
I spoke to a great GP a while ago who sent me for some blood tests which all came back normal, but she was happy to prescribe HRT from symptoms.
However, I had to have my Blood pressure checked before they would give me the prescription and it was high.
I had to monitor it myself for two weeks and go back in. It was still high and I was prescribed BP medication without having a consultation with the doctor. I havn't taken the medication as I want to try and deal with it in other ways first - losing weight, looking for a less stressful job etc, but I can't have HRT whilst it is high..

I've had another round of hormones blood tests and have been asked to make an appointment for a GP telephone consult, so I assume something has shown up in the results.

I have never had high BP before - even when pregnant. I have done some brief research and it appears it can be linked to menopause and hormonal changes.

Has anyone had anything similar? And if so, did you manage to lower it?

Bloody pressure can be effected by so much...when you take your bp make sure you have just eaten or drink. Do exercise, got you legs crossed. Use the same arm. No talking. Relax and keep arm down. Do it in the same position i.e. standing, sitting or laying. Do it at the same time each day

@iloveblue To take your BP you need to avoid eating or drinking for a few mins before taking it, sit down and be quiet (don't chat to anyone), rest your arm on a table so that your forearm is supported (some people put a cushion on the table and put their arm on that), as it should be level with your heart.

Take 3 readings, with about 5 mins between each and choose the middle reading (so ignore the highest and lowest.)

There is a Blood Pressure charity and they have info on diet and lifestyle.
Take daily exercise- walking for at least 30 mins- eat more fruit, veg and fibre, cut down on booze and not too much salt.

www.bloodpressureuk.org/

www.bloodpressureuk.org/your-blood-pressure/how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure/

Most HRT now doesn't raise BP- the tablet form can cause blood clots (rarely) but the transdermal types don't.

Nice little pics here of how to measure your BP at home!

www.bloodpressureuk.org/your-blood-pressure/how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home/how-to-measure-your-blood-pressure-at-home/

How high was high? 141? 150? 180?

@cestlavielife it's high 140s, low 150s, occasionally low 160s

I have a home monitor and always take 3 readings at a time from the same arm.
I am a teacher and have just had half term break - I really should have taken some readings during the holiday to see if that made any difference. I will next time.

I'm pretty active during the week as I walk to to and from the train station to work (about 1 hour in total) and I'm a teacher so mostly on my feet.
I am overweight though, so that is my first port of call.

@JinglingXmasbells That's interesting what you say about HRT not affecting BP. I will see what the GP says when I speak to her.

www.newsonhealth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/High-blood-pressure-1.pdf

@iloveblue Info here on it which confirms you can use HRT and that some types even lower BP.

Many GPs are out of date and equate HRT with The Pill, which is a very different form of hormone compared to modern hrt.

Hi OP. I've been on a low dose medication for high BP for around five years - it cut it down to around 120/130 over 80 and GP was happy.

Around eighteen months ago I decided to really up my exercise routine (I was doing around three 30 minutes per week plus walking) to around five longer routines pw plus weights. Since then BP has come down to between 100 and 110/70. I don't know if I even still need the tablets although I suspect my GP would say "why change when it's working so well" which seems reasonable!

So my personal experience is - yes, exercise does work but you may well need to do significantly more than you expected to really make a difference. I wish I'd known years ago.

If it helps these are the people I use for workouts

teambodyproject.com/dashboard/

I pay £90 a year for full membership but they have a decent free membership offer which you can use to try it out - they're very good (and unusual!!) in not hassling you to upgrade if you find that the free option gives you enough.

Thank you @HPFA, I will look into it.

You can definitely have HRT and treat high blood pressure at the same time. It’s outdated to believe that HRT affects blood pressure- most of the modern types don’t.