Blood pressure
Discussion
My mate had a hypertension crisis, got me thinking.
I'm 40, 16 stone, 5 9, so obese. Smoke sometimes like 10 a month, drink about 10 pints a month. Excercise regularly, lost 3 stone this year. Drink a load of caffeine products.
I checked mine was 140/85, looking online it says I have hypertension, according to latest Harvard guidelines.
Should I be worried.?
I'm 40, 16 stone, 5 9, so obese. Smoke sometimes like 10 a month, drink about 10 pints a month. Excercise regularly, lost 3 stone this year. Drink a load of caffeine products.
I checked mine was 140/85, looking online it says I have hypertension, according to latest Harvard guidelines.
Should I be worried.?
I too recently had a bad episode, I knew it was high and hard started doing something about it, then lost my way, lot of stress, lot of drinking and it got very high. Saw my GP and they started me on pills. Also working on the lifestyle stuff as well.
I had an ECG and some blood tests which were all ok thank good.
I wouldnt worry, but I would go an see a doctor. You at the stage where its a little high but not really bad, they might start you on medication, or you might be able to deal with it with some changes. I was reticent about the meds, but it has brought it down a lot and I have had 0 side effects.
I had an ECG and some blood tests which were all ok thank good.
I wouldnt worry, but I would go an see a doctor. You at the stage where its a little high but not really bad, they might start you on medication, or you might be able to deal with it with some changes. I was reticent about the meds, but it has brought it down a lot and I have had 0 side effects.
Golfgtimk28v said:
My mate had a hypertension crisis, got me thinking.
I'm 40, 16 stone, 5 9, so obese. Smoke sometimes like 10 a month, drink about 10 pints a month. Excercise regularly, lost 3 stone this year. Drink a load of caffeine products.
I checked mine was 140/85, looking online it says I have hypertension, according to latest Harvard guidelines.
Should I be worried.?
I believe salt and caffeine play a part in raising blood pressure, so switching to decaf and reducing salt should help. i think ideally it should be 120/80. The numbers relate to two different functions, it worth reading up about them.I'm 40, 16 stone, 5 9, so obese. Smoke sometimes like 10 a month, drink about 10 pints a month. Excercise regularly, lost 3 stone this year. Drink a load of caffeine products.
I checked mine was 140/85, looking online it says I have hypertension, according to latest Harvard guidelines.
Should I be worried.?
also a BP machine can be had for about £25 or so, worth investing in one
Yes I bought one ages ago, never use it, will start to.
Is it true you shouldn't use it more than twice on the same arm as it burst blood vessels?
More worried for my mate really he was very high, single dad. Drinks a lot. Obese as well. I do wonder if men don't really check it regularly?
Is it true you shouldn't use it more than twice on the same arm as it burst blood vessels?
More worried for my mate really he was very high, single dad. Drinks a lot. Obese as well. I do wonder if men don't really check it regularly?
Hi
Yes you should be worried, thats high. High blood pressure is the precursor to many chronic illnesses - Diabetes etc and an indicator of risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Main thing you can do is lose weight. I had similar numbers and was on blood pressure pills, but after losing 10Kg I had to stop them as my heart rate was too low :-)
GP advised that there was a direct correlation between each Kg of excess weight and the increase in blood pressure, however I cannot recall the actual number he quoted to me
Yes you should be worried, thats high. High blood pressure is the precursor to many chronic illnesses - Diabetes etc and an indicator of risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Main thing you can do is lose weight. I had similar numbers and was on blood pressure pills, but after losing 10Kg I had to stop them as my heart rate was too low :-)
GP advised that there was a direct correlation between each Kg of excess weight and the increase in blood pressure, however I cannot recall the actual number he quoted to me
I'm going through it now and I'm only 33.
used to be 120kg (5ft 8) then got my act together and dropped, but carried on dropping down to 68kg, have been sitting at around 80-85kg for a couple of years cutting down to 79kg for Jiu Jitsu competitions. This last 2 years have been mad with a house move and then baby on the way. Currently about 97kg.
Doctor has put me on 2mg tablets which for ages seem to do the trick but past few nights haven't been sleeping again (similar to before the tablets). This probably isn't helped by a 5 month old screaming either.
Currently raining my food in again to make a start and then will hit the swimming/cycling etc again. Had a few tests which all seem fine, just waiting on a 24 hour urine test to come back, I'm the kind of drinker that will go a few weeks without then binge for a few days.
used to be 120kg (5ft 8) then got my act together and dropped, but carried on dropping down to 68kg, have been sitting at around 80-85kg for a couple of years cutting down to 79kg for Jiu Jitsu competitions. This last 2 years have been mad with a house move and then baby on the way. Currently about 97kg.
Doctor has put me on 2mg tablets which for ages seem to do the trick but past few nights haven't been sleeping again (similar to before the tablets). This probably isn't helped by a 5 month old screaming either.
Currently raining my food in again to make a start and then will hit the swimming/cycling etc again. Had a few tests which all seem fine, just waiting on a 24 hour urine test to come back, I'm the kind of drinker that will go a few weeks without then binge for a few days.
Golfgtimk28v said:
Should I be worried.?
Stage 1 hypertension, but not the end of your world. A lot depends on when you took the reading. First thing in the morning before coffee or getting dressed is best. This will show the constant pressure in your blood vessels overnight. Do this three mornings on the trot and take an average.You are undeniably overweight though.
Golfgtimk28v said:
Just so surprised you feel no issues until it is too late I guess.
Thats the problem with things like high BP, Diabetes etc, many people feel 'normal' and when the symptoms rise to the surface its just too late and the damage is done.Everyone knows this, but ill say it again, lose the weight and increase the exercise, your body (and family) will thanks you for it in later years.
I'm 5'11" & 13-1/2 stone. Has a TIA in 2010 when my blood pressure was around 145/80. Put on meds & it was in the 90s/60s for years but in the last year has risen to an average of 105/70. No heart problems since & a recent MRI showed my heart function had actually improved over the scan 3 years ago. I'm 76 & currently on 4 meds.
I reduced my weekly alcohol from around 15 units to 0-3 & only drink 1 or 2 cups of (decaff) coffee a day. Not losing weight though.
I reduced my weekly alcohol from around 15 units to 0-3 & only drink 1 or 2 cups of (decaff) coffee a day. Not losing weight though.
Edited by Glosphil on Saturday 20th May 15:09
Golfgtimk28v said:
Yes that is patent.
Not many fatties can do 2 hard hours of cardio , 1350 calories burnt, probably not even thin people, so doesn't worry me too much, it is a marathon not a race, changes for a life time.
The longer you take to bring your weight down the longer your heart is exposed to the ill-effects of your excess weight. No attempts at justification/rationalisation will change that I'm afraid.Not many fatties can do 2 hard hours of cardio , 1350 calories burnt, probably not even thin people, so doesn't worry me too much, it is a marathon not a race, changes for a life time.
That isn't really that high. My doctor reckoned that until fairly recently anything under 160/90 was regarded as acceptable, now 140/80 is the borderline. Mine at the time was 190/110 which admittedly bothered her a bit.
Pills got it down to around 127/75. Then losing a few stone got it down to 112/63 with a reduced pill dosage.
Losing a bit of weight will shift it.
Pills got it down to around 127/75. Then losing a few stone got it down to 112/63 with a reduced pill dosage.
Losing a bit of weight will shift it.
popeyewhite said:
The longer you take to bring your weight down the longer your heart is exposed to the ill-effects of your excess weight. No attempts at justification/rationalisation will change that I'm afraid.
You obviously miss the fact changes are taking place, but I think 3 stone in 6 months is quick enough for most people. Losing weight through progression is backed by scientists all over the world.I honestly not sure why you commented the posters are obviously addressing making changes .
pteron said:
Drinking is the big one for me - I track my BP regularly and booze adds 10-15mmHg to my Systolic and 5-10mmHg to my Diastolic.
Optimally you want to be under 120/75
Not necessarily. Everyone is different some will naturally be higher than others. Optimally you want to be under 120/75
As has been mentioned above monitor it over the week at different times of the day. I’m on the higher side of normal and have had the 24 hr thing twice. Docs are fine with it I just keep it monitored. Trouble is I have white coat hypertension so it will rocket when the docs do it perfectly find at 120-130/70-80 the rest of the time.
Keep they weight down exercise up eat healthily etc…
Sure, it'd really a good idea to lose weight, drink less, stop smoking, watch your diet.
But that might not be the "solution". At the start of Covid, I was unfit, 100Kg (5'10") so obese etc... My Pressures were similar to yours.
Over the lockdown I exercised regularly, lost weight, improved fitness etc, and have kept with it, I'm now 78Kg. No, don't smoke, and don't drink too much. No tea/coffee either... and my pressures now? About the same.
Ie. that's just what it is, and if I want to reduce it it's meds time.
But that might not be the "solution". At the start of Covid, I was unfit, 100Kg (5'10") so obese etc... My Pressures were similar to yours.
Over the lockdown I exercised regularly, lost weight, improved fitness etc, and have kept with it, I'm now 78Kg. No, don't smoke, and don't drink too much. No tea/coffee either... and my pressures now? About the same.
Ie. that's just what it is, and if I want to reduce it it's meds time.
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