Blood pressure high
Discussion
Had to collect some medication for a throat infection.
Whilst in the pharmacy they did a blood pressure check.
They seemed alarmed and said my blood pressure was around 138 over 90
They said the top number wasn’t to bad but the lower was a concern.
I’ve been home and my blood pressure is now most likely far higher from worrying about this.
38 years old and I’m around 6’1 17 stone currently
Gym 3/4 hiit classes, run 4 times a week and strength training 3 times a week.
Last weekend I ran a half marathon.
At the start of feb I had an awful cold/ flu bug and was wiped out for two weeks and spent another 2 weeks recovering. Just about over the worst and back to normal but do wonder if that’s played a part.
Pharmacist advised going back at a different time of day to check again then 24 hour monitoring. They seemed alarmed which has worried me. Perhaps I’m overthinking.
Whilst in the pharmacy they did a blood pressure check.
They seemed alarmed and said my blood pressure was around 138 over 90
They said the top number wasn’t to bad but the lower was a concern.
I’ve been home and my blood pressure is now most likely far higher from worrying about this.
38 years old and I’m around 6’1 17 stone currently
Gym 3/4 hiit classes, run 4 times a week and strength training 3 times a week.
Last weekend I ran a half marathon.
At the start of feb I had an awful cold/ flu bug and was wiped out for two weeks and spent another 2 weeks recovering. Just about over the worst and back to normal but do wonder if that’s played a part.
Pharmacist advised going back at a different time of day to check again then 24 hour monitoring. They seemed alarmed which has worried me. Perhaps I’m overthinking.
I wouldn’t be taking their reading as gospel…. Too many variables that could cause a duff reading. I doubt you were sitting correctly, relaxed and had given yourself time to calm down! You sound a big guy, did they use a big cuff or the one they use for everyone?
I’d go to the nurse at the gp and tet some readings of get your own monitor and do it at home!!
130/90 isn’t disastrous either! Scare mongering
I’d go to the nurse at the gp and tet some readings of get your own monitor and do it at home!!
130/90 isn’t disastrous either! Scare mongering
Did he try to sell you a blood pressure monitor?
Make an appointment to see your doctor and talk about it. Get a history of readings. Try lifestyle changes before pills.
super7 said:
...
130/90 isn’t disastrous either! Scare mongering
^^^ that. These are not alarming numbers. 180/120 would be alarming. 120/80 is considered the upper limit of normal. 130/90 isn’t disastrous either! Scare mongering
Make an appointment to see your doctor and talk about it. Get a history of readings. Try lifestyle changes before pills.
Regular monitoring to see if there’s an actual issue or not is where to start for sure.
But if the numbers are routinely higher than advised and if lifestyle changes are not indicated (booze, diet etc? doesn’t sound like lack of exercise!) then there’s plenty of medications that can tweak the numbers and reduce your risks long term.
But if the numbers are routinely higher than advised and if lifestyle changes are not indicated (booze, diet etc? doesn’t sound like lack of exercise!) then there’s plenty of medications that can tweak the numbers and reduce your risks long term.
grumbledoak said:
Did he try to sell you a blood pressure monitor?
Make an appointment to see your doctor and talk about it. Get a history of readings. Try lifestyle changes before pills.
I hear that 120/80 is upper limit which would suggest the lower limit might be 100/60 or 110/70. Does anyone have those sort of numbers? My BP for reference with pills is in the 135/85 range.super7 said:
...
130/90 isn’t disastrous either! Scare mongering
^^^ that. These are not alarming numbers. 180/120 would be alarming. 120/80 is considered the upper limit of normal. 130/90 isn’t disastrous either! Scare mongering
Make an appointment to see your doctor and talk about it. Get a history of readings. Try lifestyle changes before pills.
grumbledoak said:
Did he try to sell you a blood pressure monitor?
Make an appointment to see your doctor and talk about it. Get a history of readings. Try lifestyle changes before pills.
Yup, those numbers aren’t scary..super7 said:
...
130/90 isn’t disastrous either! Scare mongering
^^^ that. These are not alarming numbers. 180/120 would be alarming. 120/80 is considered the upper limit of normal. 130/90 isn’t disastrous either! Scare mongering
Make an appointment to see your doctor and talk about it. Get a history of readings. Try lifestyle changes before pills.
Get an arm BP monitor, rather than a wrist one - I understand the wrist ones are less accurate.
Also: measure 2 or even 3 times, with a couple of minutes between: you will likely find the numbers drop a little.
I’m on some meds for it (amlodipine and candesartan), & mine is often around 130-140/80-90 - doc isn’t overly concerned.
120/80 is ideal, but blood pressure is a very misunderstood thing….
I can see you look very active - do you feel comfortable with your weight, or would it perhaps help to drop a little?
It’s maybe a little wake-up call to check your lifestyle and make some minor tweaks if you can.
Stressing less with work will likely help: if that is possible.
My wise old Dad used to tell me not to worry about things - if there is something that is an issue and you can do something about it, then do it….otherwise why worry!!
Fit and active but diet is probably 75% clean a bit of junk / cake now an again. In fairness past 2/3 weeks probably been the worst its been in a while.
Alcohol - I don't drink.
I have a large black coffee from Costa most mornings. Is that maybe to much caffeine?
Was planning to try and drop a bit of weight.
I have really been feeling quite rough since having that flu bug I'm half putting it down to the strain from that and recovering.
I was saying to the Mrs last night when I went into the pharmacy I said oh right I feel fine blood pressure wasn't something I was worried about. The pharmacist said yes often people don't know and then just go to sleep one night and then thats it.
Mrs said no wonder I was a bit panicked.
Alcohol - I don't drink.
I have a large black coffee from Costa most mornings. Is that maybe to much caffeine?
Was planning to try and drop a bit of weight.
I have really been feeling quite rough since having that flu bug I'm half putting it down to the strain from that and recovering.
I was saying to the Mrs last night when I went into the pharmacy I said oh right I feel fine blood pressure wasn't something I was worried about. The pharmacist said yes often people don't know and then just go to sleep one night and then thats it.
Mrs said no wonder I was a bit panicked.
worsy said:
I hear that 120/80 is upper limit which would suggest the lower limit might be 100/60 or 110/70. Does anyone have those sort of numbers? My BP for reference with pills is in the 135/85 range.
I think anything less than 90 systolic and/or 60 diastolic is regarded as too low.maz8062 said:
Don’t f
k about with it; it’s a silent killer. Best to book an appointment with your GP and go from there. 17 stone is too heavy for your height - you’ll need to shed a fair bit and I’d advise checking your cholesterol levels while you’re at it.
Take it seriously.
Get it in perspective though. When I had a routine GP check after successfully avoiding doctors for 20 odd years, my BP of 190/110 did cause some consternation and it's probably very lucky I got it checked when I did but I had no ill effects.k about with it; it’s a silent killer. Best to book an appointment with your GP and go from there. 17 stone is too heavy for your height - you’ll need to shed a fair bit and I’d advise checking your cholesterol levels while you’re at it. Take it seriously.
Yes, lose a bit of weight, and this in itself will probably bring your pressure down. But don't lose sleep over it. At one time the upper limit for a private pilots medical was 160/100.
Blood pressure is a silent killer - get it checked.
As a 20 yr old student I enrolled in a gym, it was a good gym, owned and run by a sports scientist.
I thought my cardio vasc fitness was good, did a ton of cyling, pulse in the 50’s. My blood pressure was found to be a bit higher than it should be. So he wouldnt let me use the gym until i had seen the gp. This was in the 1980’s when an acceptable blood pressure was 100 plus your age. No meds from gp, suggested low salt diet
Over the next 20 years bp checked many times and always hovered in the slightly high, but no treatment category.
Then failed a canadian immigration medical with 145/90.
Been on meds since then, now well controlled
As a 20 yr old student I enrolled in a gym, it was a good gym, owned and run by a sports scientist.
I thought my cardio vasc fitness was good, did a ton of cyling, pulse in the 50’s. My blood pressure was found to be a bit higher than it should be. So he wouldnt let me use the gym until i had seen the gp. This was in the 1980’s when an acceptable blood pressure was 100 plus your age. No meds from gp, suggested low salt diet
Over the next 20 years bp checked many times and always hovered in the slightly high, but no treatment category.
Then failed a canadian immigration medical with 145/90.
Been on meds since then, now well controlled
With my cancer treatment I take my PB a lot.
It can be more than 170 systolic one day, 99 systolic (after red wine) the next.
I take Losartan Potassium to try to control it.
We use an OMRON wrist device, these are less than £30 on Amazon.
We have on order the same OMRON bicep cuff machine that our GP uses, which is more accurate.
If you take five consecutive readings, three times a day, properly at rest, you will get a good idea what is going on.
Cardiologists use 24 hour halter studies where you wear the whole device and it takes readings automatically every quarter of an hour or so.
Obviously not so good if you are a light sleeper.
BP is something you really need to keep on top of. It is a barometer for other conditions and, as has been noted, is known as the silent killer.
It can give you heart failure and kidney failure.
It can be more than 170 systolic one day, 99 systolic (after red wine) the next.
I take Losartan Potassium to try to control it.
We use an OMRON wrist device, these are less than £30 on Amazon.
We have on order the same OMRON bicep cuff machine that our GP uses, which is more accurate.
If you take five consecutive readings, three times a day, properly at rest, you will get a good idea what is going on.
Cardiologists use 24 hour halter studies where you wear the whole device and it takes readings automatically every quarter of an hour or so.
Obviously not so good if you are a light sleeper.
BP is something you really need to keep on top of. It is a barometer for other conditions and, as has been noted, is known as the silent killer.
It can give you heart failure and kidney failure.
I got told to visit a Doctor after a routine blood pressure check at work. They lent me a monitor and told me to take morning and evening readings for a week. All high. I bought my own monitor and I've not been in the "normal" bracket on any reading since December. My second reading is over 100 a lot.
I joined the gym to do cardio. I've eliminated added salt, reduced takeaways and my alcohol consumption. I'm taking blood pressure support supplements with magnesium and potassium as well as omega 3. Tried to reduce it myself but it's not working. I'm waiting to hear back from my Doctor about an appointment. I suspect medication is the next step.
I joined the gym to do cardio. I've eliminated added salt, reduced takeaways and my alcohol consumption. I'm taking blood pressure support supplements with magnesium and potassium as well as omega 3. Tried to reduce it myself but it's not working. I'm waiting to hear back from my Doctor about an appointment. I suspect medication is the next step.
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