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?

I recently had a 24 hr monitor and it stressed the life out of me! My sister, a gp, told me to do three readings a day and do 3 readings each time. Turns out my BP is perfect despite crazy readings at times. The important thing she said was that if a person has high BP, they can't lower it so if I'm getting some low readings by second and third attempt, then I don't have a BP problem but an anxiety problem.

@fantam I do have beta blockers at home but I'm not keen on taking them if I can avoid it.

@MyAutumnCrow I did get some high ones like the one at the doctor where it was 170/80 and some at home 150/85 and over. I just noted the best ones to sumbit (after many readings where I tried so hard to stay calm).

@Sunshineismyfavourite you are so like me! I'm not worry about anything medical, needles, etc, only bp! My anxiety stems from a nurse gasping that my bp is extremely high (it wasn't, it was only 140/80) and that I had to see a doctor immediately! From then on my bp phobia started. I really do regret seeing that nurse.

@Grammarninja yes that's what I'm thinking, if I get readings such as 122/75 then surely I don't have high bp. But what I worry about is the high bp I get from anxiety.

Is there any particular reason you won't take the beta blockers? Propranolol is a mild one and can be taken in very small up to very high doses. Honestly, if your anxiety is stopping you taking something that works for anxiety (and is not addictive or dangerous), then you have an anxiety problem not a BP problem. But I think you know this now anyway.

If you can make yourself take the Beta Blockers, and then take your bp after a few days on them, you will get your answer if your bp is normal.

It is spiking out of anxiety, like the white coat syndrome. Which you know already. I can't think of any other advice. I have white coat myself BTW which led to a few hairy moments of panic in the medic taking it!

@fantam I have to wean off beta blockers because they were giving me very bad palpitations.

Your BMI shows you are not overweight and the blood pressure readings are really not that high.
And meds may well be ACE inhibitors rather than beta blockers.

After a lifetime of normal to low BP, I have had very high blood pressure of late (around 190/130) and have developed an utter phobia around having it tested as a result. I can be calm until they put the cuff on and I develop palpitations, sweaty palms and can't breathe.

I now take medication to control it, hopefully only for the short-term, and my BP readings are normal again. Even when I panic!

I really empathise with this. I also have white coat syndrome and panic with BP even though I’ve never actually had high BP. I had to go for a pre op recently and was so anxious that the alarms went off as my BP was through the roof. The lovely nurse just sat and chatted with me for a while and then just put the cuff on while she was chatting and it was perfectly normal. It’s really annoying. Your BP doesn’t seem bad at all.

I could be wrong but I don't think they would have been beta blockers. They are prescribed to lower the heart rate and are given in cases of rhythm disturbance/palpitations/Afib etc. and can also be used for blood pressure control. So have a look at those tabs.

If they don't have an "olol" at the end of the name of it, they are not beta blockers. Examples are bisoprolol, propranolol, metoprolol. I'd be very surprised if they caused palpitations. However on first use they can cause little flutters as your system gets used to them, but that's rare and passes quickly.

@fantam I was on Propranolol for a year that was causing my palpitations. I was then changed to Bisoprolol which I weaned off later.

Ah ok, so it was the beta blockers. It is very unusual to get palpitations from a med that is designed to stop them! I wouldn't give up on them, maybe the dosage needs to be tweaked as it might have been too high and slowed your heart down too far which can cause skipped beats to be much more noticeable. Such skipped beats (ectopics) are generally harmless. Has any medic checked the dosage etc. for you?

@fantam I was discharged from the cardiologist and it was them that weaned me off beta blocker.

@Papster how high cholesterol have to be that you have to start statins?

Are you usually quite anxious or is it only when the BP cuff goes on?

Mine was 160/120 and I'm now on low dose BP meds which has dropped it down. GP was aiming for 140/85.

Why would you suggest not going on statins? My cholesterol levels dropped by two thirds when I started taking them. (Family history of high levels which don’t respond to lifestyle changes).

I did some consumer research for an oat company.
I was struck by the number of people taking them who reported adverse side effects.
My doctor offered me them and when I said I would rather not, he said it was practice policy but privately he agreed with me.
They're very good for brining down dangerously high levels.
But if it’s a marginal difference the downsides might outweigh benefits.
Up to you

Fair enough. I’ve had no adverse side effects so it’s all benefits, but I appreciate that mightn’t be so for everyone.

I've had a similar, if not slightly higher BP for years now. Periodically I raise it with the GP. I've had a 24 hour monitor and several times done twice daily readings for a week. I wouldn't mind trying a bit of medication as it worries me. But every time I've been told to simply follow all the NHS tips for lowering BP, all of which i do already anyway. So ime the doctors won't say anything more than this.

I think they are happy with average of 135 can’t remember what the other figure is but you don’t sound a million miles away

they advise exercise , weight ,diet and reduce salt

Do you have any other symptoms besides anxiety? Is your GP monitoring your BP because of your anxiety or for an existing condition?

Do you/they think your anxiety/BP is menopause-related?

Have you ever tried yoga, meditation or breathwork classes, OP? It may help to slow your breathing down and get you out of fight or flight mode.

What's normal for you is important with BP. Mine is on the low side so readings like the OP's would be a concern.