What might my GP suggest after four days of blood pressure readings?

[Nets888]

I've submitted 4 days of bp readings to my GP and the average is 136/80. Some were higher like 155/85, lowest 122/75. I had to note down the lowest readings.

I've a bp phobia so these 4 days were so stressful for me. I hate taking my bp, even at home it's always high. At the doctors, it even went as high as 170/80!

So what will the doctor suggest now?

Well they look perfectly fine to me although I'm not a doctor, most people would be pretty happy with those readings, not sure why you're worried?

Medication ime.
If you are overweight, losing weight can help lower it.
But I'd guess they would suggest meds.

Are they all resting readings? The average is only slightly raised so nothing might need to be done but untreated hbp isn't good. Ime they prescribe even if it's borderline high..maybe due to family history

Why medication? 135/80 is pretty good. What age are you OP?

Your doctor might suggest lifestyle measures with further monitoring, or might suggest medication to help lower the blood pressure. There’s more information here https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings

I doubt they'd do anything if you have a phobia of blood pressure monitoring and are still getting an average of 136/85. It means your typical BP is likely to be very normal.

I’m not sure it’s high enough for medication. They might suggest wearing a 24 hour monitor. How would you feel about that?

I'm not too keen on a 24 hr monitor. It's not going to work as last time I wore one I had palpitations all through the 24 hr. It was that stressful. I couldn't sleep as well. The phobia is real.

I know my bp is high due to anxiety but also don't want to put it down to high in case it is high. Like I mentioned above, I took a reading when I was completely calm (very, very rarely I'm calm) and it was 122/75 with a heart rate of 73. All my submitted readings, my hr is over 90+.

dh's blood pressure shows quite a diurnal rhythm so typically higher in the mornings and lower during daytime so your fluctuating readings may be down to just this. Your average is slightly high - they may suggest medication or first more likely diet and lifestyle changes e.g. reduce salt (processed foods), caffeine and do more exercise.

How old are you, OP? Are you a healthy weight? How much do you drink? What exercise do you do?

I get the BP reading anxiety.
my doctor told me to sit in a chair for a few minutes and do controlled breathing.

she calls it ‘smell the roses and blow out the candle’ 😂
basically, in through the nose and out through the mouth. It’s amazingly affective. Keep this going through your test.
I say this as someone with high BP but will go sky high if I didn’t do this.
other wise known as ‘white coat’ syndrome.

I'm 55. My BMI is 22 and I walk 10000+ steps a day.

I do try the slow and deep breathing but doesn't work. Just too anxious.

To get the best possible BP reading, make sure you haven’t been drinking coffee for a good while beforehand, make sure your bladder is empty, fix the cuff into the correct position, sit really still for a few minutes, breathe slowly for a while, put your arm into position next to your heart with palm upwards. And then hit the button. It can make a huge difference.

I have tried everything, nothing works.

To get the best possible BP reading, make sure you haven’t been drinking coffee for a good while beforehand, make sure your bladder is empty, fix the cuff into the correct position, sit really still for a few minutes, breathe slowly for a while, put your arm into position next to your heart with palm upwards. And then hit the button. It can make a huge difference.

Apologies for posting twice. It seemed to be showing as not posted!

These are not high readings though.

I take me readings lying down because I feel calmer this way. I compare against sitting up, some are similar to lying down, a few slightly higher (could be due to more anxious sitting up).

When I had to stay overnight at the hospital, my bp was taken regularly lying down.

So not sure if it's accurate if bp is taken lying down?

I'd ask GP for a short course of Propranolol, a beta blocker that's used for anxiety. It is not addictive and you could see if your BP returns to normal whilst you are taking it. Beta blockers block adrenaline and different formulas are used for BP control.

Higher er than ideal but given anxiety nothing to be alarmed about. I’d focus on 122!
Lay off ‘bad ‘ foods and eat loads of fruit.
Do not go on statins if you can help it.

Have a look at this. It’s a tool that GPs often use to calculate risk re cholesterol and Bp.

i was told I had a 1/10 risk of heart attack in 10 years which sounded alarming. I entered the recommended level and it went to 1/12.

At which point I stopped worrying

@Papster can you send the link please to calculate the risk?

I have no fix for you OP but just wanted to post a message of solidarity!

I too have terrible anxiety around BP. It's on my medical notes that I have white coat syndrome - but only around BP monitoring; needles etc I'm all fine. My anxiety stems from cancer treatment several years ago now. At one reading my bottom number was over 100 - I was so stressed - they panicked and that fear has stayed with me. My BP was actually fine - it was just that moment. It was awful.

All the advice of smelling roses, deep breaths, calming music is rubbish and makes no difference to me anyway! If your weight is within healthy range and cholesterol and bloods are within healthy range too then you really shouldn't be on any medication for it.

I had knee surgery 18 months ago and was absolutely panicking about BP rather than the surgery. It was all fine - BP and the knee.

I think the poster might be referring to Q risk score. You can do it online, google it.

Think about the propranolol that I mentioned earlier, ask GP if it would be useful for you.

These are really not high readings.

No, not off the scale at all. It looks to me like the severe anxiety needs to be addressed though, it sounds awful for OP.