Blood pressure not lower 😞

[Gertieblue]

I've lost nearly 5 stone, from a BMI of 40 to 28. Still a way to go. I was really hoping this would reduce my high blood pressure, but after testing for a few days, it's averaging 114/83. I know this is fine, but it's pretty normal for me even pre weight loss as I'm taking 7.5 ramipril. Some readings still have diastolic in the 90s! I'm 42 of that's relevant.

I was really hoping it would be lower and I could suggest reducing meds. I know sometimes it's genetic etc., but because I was so big before, I really thought weight loss would help! Has anyone else found their blood pressure stubborn despite weight loss? Thank you for reading.

Yep. In fact, I was put on BP meds a few months into MJ!

I have now lost 107lbs, still on the meds and my bp is simply normal🤷‍♀️

Exactly the same for me! I started at BMI 27, with high blood pressure. I have got down to BMI 23 and it hasn't really made much difference, especially to the second number. I had really hoped that I'd be able to come off the meds... I'm not sure how much lower to try going...?

How are they checking your blood pressure, machine or by ear? Do you feel as though your blood pressure is the same or does it feel lower? For instance, if you bend down to get something from the bottom drawer do you go a bit light-headed when you stand up?

I'm asking because my DB was put on blood pressure medication but felt terrible on it. It turned out that they had only been checking by machine, when they checked with a stethoscope his blood pressure was really low so they took him off the medication completely and he's now normal. What happens with some people is muscle tremor that the machine can mistake for a pulse, so if you think it should be lower than the readings that you're getting ask them to check by hand.

If you feel fine and they have done a manual pressure check then perhaps it is factors other than your weight that affect your blood pressure. There are plenty of people who have always been thin that need to take medication for their blood pressure.

Mime dropped from 145/92 to 98/72 within weeks, 7 months later I checked it today its 106/82. I was prediabetic though so high pressure is obviously linked and the mounjaro will be working its magic on my previously low insulin levels to correct it.

I've never had my blood pressure checked manually - only ever with a machine. Having said that, I do feel fine. No light headedness or anything, so the machine is probably correct.

Yes, that sounds really similar! It puts it in perspective for me though that your starting BMI was lower than mine is now with 5 stone lost! I need to keep losing (but it's so slow now), but I doubt my BP will drop any further.

Although my BP has reduced since taking MJ & losing almost 5 stone, I still need medication, & will for the rest of my life. But I have gone from needing 3 drugs a day, to 2, & those doses are reduced. My BMI has gone from 34.2 down to 22.1. Unfortunately though hypertension runs in both sides of my family, but with my 2 medications I’m getting normal readings & my BP seems stable so I’m happy. Do you have a family history of hypertension, strokes, heart attacks? Your BP readings are nice & normal so that’s good, & your body must be so much more healthier now. Lots of thin people have hypertension, it’s not all weight related, although obesity is a cause for some people, and some people like me being obese made my hypertension very difficult to control, it was crazily high, & now it’s manageable.

That's a good way of looking at it, thank you. You're right - it is under control and that's good enough. Deep down I know I will always take the medication, and if I didn't, I'd be constantly anxious that it was creeping up and would have to check it constantly (if that makes any sense). I feel safer on the medication.

There's also high blood pressure on both sides of my family. My very slim nanna took BP meds all her adult life, and both grandparents on the other side had triple heart bypasses so I'm guessing they had problems too.

I'll just keep taking the tablets and trying to lose a bit more weight 😊.

I’m the same, I was so hoping to come off at least one medication as I’m on 3 but it’s still averaging 129/75 - 135/82 with only 11lbs to go until I’m in the healthy BMI range.

You can get at home wrist cuff machines, my dad has diabetes and high blood pressure and had 2 so gave me one. It works the same by inflating air to tighten the wrist strap to measure BP. Quite accurate as when I started mounjaro and would feel faint and dizzy and my BP was low. I had to come off ashwagandha which also lowers BP. Mounjaro also lowers sugars which can cause similar symptoms and eating often helps resolve this.