So I went to the doctor and they told me I have high blood pressure. It's a grand total of 140/90. I am upset (probably not helping) because I have high blood pressure when everything is going well.
I'm losing weight, I am fitter than I was two years ago...by far, I exercise for a minimum 30 minutes a day (usually and hour and a half every other day), I dont eat red meat or pork, I rarely eat poultry and seafood and for the most part...the closest I get to fried food are egg whites cooked in Pam...and my blood pressure is high? What in the world is going on? My blood pressure was PERFECT when I barely worked out, ate fried and fast foods on a weekly basis...all of that and my blood pressure was perfect! Does anyone have a clue to what is going on...the doctor just wants to put me on a pill, but I want to know if there is an alternative before I do that.
Keep doing what you are doing...losing weight.Unless you have a family history of high bp,it will probably go back to being normal once you get lower.Don't rush to medication..it's a lifetime thing.My dr gave me lots of time before meds to lose the weight and get it under control.Sadly mine is family history.
If you don't know already, I would ask your family if they have a history of high blood pressure.
I would think that if you start the medication and then keep up your GREAT routine eventually the doctor would wean you off the meds. I caution against having high blood pressure too long without bringing it down. My father's had major kidney damage because he went so long without treating his high blood pressure.
If you are so upset and the thought of medication... maybe go get a second opinion. Then you may have more options.
I'm in the same boat as you. I went to the doctor yesterday and she told me my blood pressure was 160/100. I don't know whether it was from me being completely stressed out in the morning trying to find something to wear AND getting lost on the way to the office because it was a new doctor, but she said when I come back in a couple of weeks and it's still high, she's gonna put me on medication. High blood pressure is rampant in my family, so that also contributes to it. Normally when I take my blood pressue it'd be like 143/50, which is still considered high, but 100?! I'm also weary of taking the medication, but seeing how my father is on dialysis now after years and years of uncontrolled high blood pressure, I don't want to go too long with it being uncontrolled and high.
Thank you all for your input! I will make sure that I don't go too long with high blood pressure. I know it can do a lot of damage and that is the LAST thing I need in my life. Most of my distress comes from thinking that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing and instead of going down, my bp is going up! I'm finding it frustrating. Don't get me wrong, if it is still high the next time I get it checked, I will take the medication, but that won't stop me from being confused about what I'm doing wrong.
Virgo., I'm sorry to hear your dad is on dialysis. I have been there with my dad and it sure is tough!! But hopefully your dad can get a kidney transplant and be ok!!!
My Father has had a kidney now for 5 and a half years and lives a very normal life!!!
I will be thinking of you!!!
UNiversity Princess- I can understand your confusion and nervousness
A suggestion - try taking your blood pressure at one of the drug store machines when you aren't stressed, in pain, etc. For me, a Dr. blood pressure reading is NEVER accurate - doctors creep me out and it raises BP due to stress. Under the drug store machines, I'm always normal, but in the doctor's office, when I'm usually also in pain (I have a joint problem and have to go when my knee pops out, so its usually pretty painful) and very stressed, its high. So you want to get a baseline reading at a non-stressful time to verify the Dr. results. I remember panicking when I was told I had high BP at the doctor's office, and it turned out to be just a consequence of being in pain and stressed.
Medication isn't normally used for one high reading, for exactly the reasons above. Keep doing what you're doing, and get it rechecked in a non-stressful situation. If its still high, you might consider the medication, but definitely do a recheck first.
To actually be diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure) you need 3 high/elevated readings on 3 different occassions. (wow nursing school DOES come in handy! haha) Maybe your blood pressure is normally only slightly higher or closer to normal on a different occassion. Try getting it checked a few other times- maybe when you haven't been out walking around a lot or stressed out. Maybe it's not as high as you think.
I've checked my b/p with the machines they have at work and I've been kinda high...and then checked it again when I've been sitting and I've been in the low end of the normal range.
Try not to get too upset...keep up the exercise, you are doing great so far with the weight loss...and the b/p will keep lowering if you keep it up!
p.s. I think doctors usually want their patients with high blood pressure to try a lifestyle change before putting them on medications...ask him/her about that. Maybe he considers what you've been doing lately a lifestyle change with no drop in blood pressure
LOL, that's the thing...I changed my lifestyle and it went up! Something is NOT right. I've had it checked three times and it was high all three times.
Well if you keep up what you are doing, the worst thing that will happen is you'll go on meds for awhile until you are at a healthy weight with a lower b/p...and you'll go off the meds
Hey there. I was diagnosed with a high BP about 9 months ago. I had topped out with my weight about then. even slightly over weight by BP was Low usually around 99/65. but with the excess weight gain it sent my BP through the roof. I forgot to take my BP pill one day last week and woke up at about 1am with a severe headache so I had my hubby take my bp and it was 146/102 with my pulse at 107. and this was after being asleep for about 3 hours. So I am still needing my BP meds. I hope with the loss of about 25 or 30 more pounds the need will go away.
Just keep doing what you are doing and hopefully you'll beable to avoid meds completely!
Sharon
I figure that I will take the meds since I've done everything else that I could possibly do to get it down and it hasn't worked and then maybe once I get down to the weight that I want to be or something it will FINALLY get back to normal!
It's crazy, last time I got my cholestorol levels checked last year I had last 50lbs and it actually went up!!
As for blood presssure, I was recently in the hospital and as they constantly take your vital signs I realized that my blood pressure is actually fairly low. At the hospital I even went a bit shocky when my bp dropped to 100/50.
High blood pressure?!? ME?
