Anyone sorted very high blood pressure without medication?

[LivLL]

Being of a certain age I've been requested to do a BP survey by my GP surgery online.

I have a decent home measurement device and my readings are higher than I'm happy with and the GP has now asked me to take measurements for 7 days morning and night.

I try not to take any pills or potions if I can avoid it and am just wondering if anyone on here has had success in reducing their blood pressure without taking pills all the time. GP is suggesting this would be the first step getting my BP under control.

I'm carrying too much weight and had already started on the journey to becoming fighting fit again, cutting coffee could help but I really don't drink much anyway, I get decent but broken sleep and I'm not particularly stressed I don't think.

Would losing that weight over several months be enough?

[Dave Hedgehog]

Yes and no

losing weight and getting fit can reduce BP, especially if its a lot of weight

however its also possible to be an ideal weight and active/fit and to have high blood pressure. My best friends dad at school was as lean as a rake, worked on the tools all day and ran half marathons in a decent time and had chronicly high blood pressure unmedicated

see a doc IMO

[LivLL]

Thanks Dave, now the GP has me on their list there’s no escaping anyway.

Just looking for people’s experiences losing weight to control BP.

[grumbledoak]

I didn't have that much weight to lose. Cutting out all alcohol and nearly all carbs made a difference.

[BoRED S2upid]

How high are we talking?

[baconsarney]

2017 I did my first Stoptober (alcohol free), and managed 5 weeks. I also lost nearly 2 stone, but the biggy was my blood pressure dropped significantly to a tad below 120/80. The major difference I think was due largely to diet I followed Michael Mosley's blood sugar diet and included fasting days twice a week. Pretty much a Mediterranean diet it was superb, and I rarely felt hungry. I kept a spreadsheet and added BP and weight every morning, converting the data to a graph was fun too

[Burrow01]

I was on blood pressure meds for a while, and it got to the point where the GP was thinking of increasing the dose / changing the meds

He mentioned that losing weight would also drop my blood pressure, and specified an amount per Kg (cannot recall what it was now)

My BMi at the time was 34, weight 103Kg (178cm)

I lost 10Kg and had to come off of the meds as they were now reducing my blood pressure to the level that I nearly fainted, and my heart rate had dropped to 33

Weight went back on during lockdown, blood pressure went up accordingly. I am now back down and blood pressure has dropped again.

So for me its directly related to being over weight

[anonymous-user]

Interesting subject for me as I had a blood test today and am keeping a blood pressure diary. The reason for this is my mum has recently got a blood pressure monitor so I had a go, I was very worried to see 155/90. One change I did instantly make was to cut out all added salt, I don't add any salt to any food anymore.

I did a blood pressure diary before Christmas and the highest results I had were 158/78 and 151/88, the best result was 117/67. One thing I will say is that this was a very stressful period for me due to work and trying to sort out a mortgage before the offer date expired.

I am now doing another diary this week and the results tend to go like this

1st reading)133/77
2nd reading) 127/76
3rd reading)124/67

Worst reading I have had so far this week was a 138/80

this morning I did

1st reading)116/67
2nd reading)117/72
3rd reading)120/68

No idea why it is all over the place and if this is normal and anything to worry about. I have a call next week to discuss the results of my diary so I guess I will find out then!

[Tye Green]

AFAIK Blood pressure pills are generally considered pretty safe compared with other meds.

BTW - my pressure was over 230/140 before they urgently put me on pills though I was perfectly ok before the pills and don't have any side effects at all as a result of taking them (Amlodipine / Doxazocin / Ramipril).

[Vasco]

Joey Deacon said:

Interesting subject for me as I had a blood test today and am keeping a blood pressure diary. The reason for this is my mum has recently got a blood pressure monitor so I had a go, I was very worried to see 155/90. One change I did instantly make was to cut out all added salt, I don't add any salt to any food anymore.

I did a blood pressure diary before Christmas and the highest results I had were 158/78 and 151/88, the best result was 117/67. One thing I will say is that this was a very stressful period for me due to work and trying to sort out a mortgage before the offer date expired.

I am now doing another diary this week and the results tend to go like this

1st reading)133/77
2nd reading) 127/76
3rd reading)124/67

Worst reading I have had so far this week was a 138/80

this morning I did

1st reading)116/67
2nd reading)117/72
3rd reading)120/68

No idea why it is all over the place and if this is normal and anything to worry about. I have a call next week to discuss the results of my diary so I guess I will find out then!

Nothing to worry about there. Readings will be fairly erratic day by day/hour by hour - the important bit is the average high/low over weeks. Your readings are fine.

[Collectingbrass]

For those who are actively monitoring their blood pressure I can recommend https://aktiia.com/uk/blood-pressure-monitor as a wearable device.

Now if someone could return the favour and point me in the direction of the desire to loose weight and the imeptus to do it that would be great, thanks.

[BoRED S2upid]

Vasco said:

Joey Deacon said:

Interesting subject for me as I had a blood test today and am keeping a blood pressure diary. The reason for this is my mum has recently got a blood pressure monitor so I had a go, I was very worried to see 155/90. One change I did instantly make was to cut out all added salt, I don't add any salt to any food anymore.

I did a blood pressure diary before Christmas and the highest results I had were 158/78 and 151/88, the best result was 117/67. One thing I will say is that this was a very stressful period for me due to work and trying to sort out a mortgage before the offer date expired.

I am now doing another diary this week and the results tend to go like this

1st reading)133/77
2nd reading) 127/76
3rd reading)124/67

Worst reading I have had so far this week was a 138/80

this morning I did

1st reading)116/67
2nd reading)117/72
3rd reading)120/68

No idea why it is all over the place and if this is normal and anything to worry about. I have a call next week to discuss the results of my diary so I guess I will find out then!

Nothing to worry about there. Readings will be fairly erratic day by day/hour by hour - the important bit is the average high/low over weeks. Your readings are fine.

Definitely nothing to worry about there.

[Vasco]

Collectingbrass said:

For those who are actively monitoring their blood pressure I can recommend https://aktiia.com/uk/blood-pressure-monitor as a wearable device.

Now if someone could return the favour and point me in the direction of the desire to loose weight and the imeptus to do it that would be great, thanks.

It's quite easy really - you lose weight or you may die.

Really easy......

[mikal83]

I have found that salt is a bd. I am on Lisinopril, Amplodine and Simvastatin. I am not a porker at 6ft 1 and 195kg, reasonably fit....mid 60's BUT my BP varies between 145/90 during the day and in bed am 120/80. Booze is my downfall. trying to cut it back!!!! If I have a shedfull of salted peanuts, or something way too salty, I'll wake up at 3 am with my heart pounding!!! Scares the bejesus out of me. .............

[Still Mulling]

Collectingbrass said:

For those who are actively monitoring their blood pressure I can recommend https://aktiia.com/uk/blood-pressure-monitor as a wearable device.

Now if someone could return the favour and point me in the direction of the desire to loose weight and the imeptus to do it that would be great, thanks.

Another vote for Aktiia.

Find a consistent time of day that you can take readings. Exercise and eating both increase it. Drops overnight. I suggest sitting for at least two minutes in the seat in which you'll take your readings before doing the test. And do it three times in a row.

[Vasco]

Still Mulling said:

Collectingbrass said:

For those who are actively monitoring their blood pressure I can recommend https://aktiia.com/uk/blood-pressure-monitor as a wearable device.

Now if someone could return the favour and point me in the direction of the desire to loose weight and the imeptus to do it that would be great, thanks.

Another vote for Aktiia.

Find a consistent time of day that you can take readings. Exercise and eating both increase it. Drops overnight. I suggest sitting for at least two minutes in the seat in which you'll take your readings before doing the test. And do it three times in a row.

.....and if you start feeling anxious it will register higher. You can reduce this by getting engrossed in other (static) issues at the same time - listening to music, TV, reading a book, checking internet sites etc

[Badda]

mikal83 said:

I have found that salt is a bd. I am on Lisinopril, Amplodine and Simvastatin. I am not a porker at 6ft 1 and 195kg, reasonably fit....mid 60's BUT my BP varies between 145/90 during the day and in bed am 120/80. Booze is my downfall. trying to cut it back!!!! If I have a shedfull of salted peanuts, or something way too salty, I'll wake up at 3 am with my heart pounding!!! Scares the bejesus out of me. .............

Typo on the weight I assume?

[Still Mulling]

Vasco said:

Still Mulling said:

Collectingbrass said:

For those who are actively monitoring their blood pressure I can recommend https://aktiia.com/uk/blood-pressure-monitor as a wearable device.

Now if someone could return the favour and point me in the direction of the desire to loose weight and the imeptus to do it that would be great, thanks.

Another vote for Aktiia.

Find a consistent time of day that you can take readings. Exercise and eating both increase it. Drops overnight. I suggest sitting for at least two minutes in the seat in which you'll take your readings before doing the test. And do it three times in a row.

.....and if you start feeling anxious it will register higher. You can reduce this by getting engrossed in other (static) issues at the same time - listening to music, TV, reading a book, checking internet sites etc

Good shout! The more still the better, so perhaps not browsing though? (I’ve found tiny movements affect my Aktiia calibration!)

[Sticks.]

My systolic has jumped though the distolic is still OK. I'm 60, a stone or so overweight, doing dry January, and exercising but have to say I'm not feeling very chilled. Going to continue checking it for another week or so then see the Dr. But like the OP not keen to be on indefinite pills.

ETA, one thing to add to the list of smoking, weight, alcohol, exercise and salt, is hydration. Not sure how much difference it makes.

Edited by Sticks. on Friday 13th January 18:39

[Steamer]

Still Mulling said:

Vasco said:

Still Mulling said:

Collectingbrass said:

For those who are actively monitoring their blood pressure I can recommend https://aktiia.com/uk/blood-pressure-monitor as a wearable device.

Now if someone could return the favour and point me in the direction of the desire to loose weight and the imeptus to do it that would be great, thanks.

Another vote for Aktiia.

Find a consistent time of day that you can take readings. Exercise and eating both increase it. Drops overnight. I suggest sitting for at least two minutes in the seat in which you'll take your readings before doing the test. And do it three times in a row.

.....and if you start feeling anxious it will register higher. You can reduce this by getting engrossed in other (static) issues at the same time - listening to music, TV, reading a book, checking internet sites etc

Good shout! The more still the better, so perhaps not browsing though? (I’ve found tiny movements affect my Aktiia calibration!)

"white coat blood pressure syndrome"

Even if you know you are going for a blood pressure test the drive there can stress you out.. having to wear a monitor.. likewise. Trying to calm yourself before going in to see the doc... its a b'stard