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i'm 35 and always have had pretty much perfect blood pressure every time i've had it taken.a few months back i was at the store and felt dizzy and just not feeling good.anyway i go to one of those machines in the store that take your blood pressure and mine was 150/92.well a few weeks later i did it again and it was 140/90.what causes the initial stages of high blood pressure and what can you usually do to stop it?
Those machines in the store are notoriously inaccurate. Buy a good BP guage and check it once a week or daily before you jump to conclusions or better yet if the dizziness persists, see a doctor.
i'm 35 and always have had pretty much perfect blood pressure every time i've had it taken.a few months back i was at the store and felt dizzy and just not feeling good.anyway i go to one of those machines in the store that take your blood pressure and mine was 150/92.well a few weeks later i did it again and it was 140/90.what causes the initial stages of high blood pressure and what can you usually do to stop it?
Listen to grannynancy!
As far as reducing the risk of high blood pressure: maintain a normal weight, exercise (preferably daily), and cut back on sodium (read product labels.) Do not smoke! You may do all those things and eventually need medication. There are genetic factors involved, too, and unfortunately we do not get to choose our ancestors!
Your blood pressure should be taken after you have been resting quietly for about 10 minutes. The cuff should be the right size for your arm, and the cuff should be positioned at heart level. If you buy a cuff, do not get the cheapest one you can find. Have someone in your doctor's office show you how to use it. It is best to check the reading with your device against the reading with the doctor's device to make sure yours is calibrated properly, especially if you get a digital one. If there is a question about the diagnosis, it is possible to wear a monitor for 24 hours so multiple readings can be obtained while you go about your daily activities.
Normal blood pressure varies with time of day and activity. Stress releases chemicals which make it go up, and for some people, just going in a doctor's office can be stressful enough to do it, producing "white coat hypertension." So do not check your blood pressure right after you have wasted half a day on the telephone with customer service for your cell phone carrier!
Your doctor will not make a diagnosis of high blood pressure based on one reading. If several measurements are elevated, s/he may recommend medication. Most people end up taking only one pill a day. The cause of the most common form of high blood pressure --- essential hypertension --- is unknown. Your doctor will want to do some basic tests to make sure there is no underlying problem that can make your pressure go up and check to make sure there is no organ damage, such as to the kidneys.
Controlling high blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. High blood pressure has been called the "silent killer" because it can cause organ damage without any symptoms from the elevated pressure itself.. You have to measure it to know what it is.
As far as reducing the risk of high blood pressure: maintain a normal weight, exercise (preferably daily), and cut back on sodium (read product labels.) Do not smoke! You may do all those things and eventually need medication. There are genetic factors involved, too, and unfortunately we do not get to choose our ancestors!
Your blood pressure should be taken after you have been resting quietly for about 10 minutes. The cuff should be the right size for your arm, and the cuff should be positioned at heart level. If you buy a cuff, do not get the cheapest one you can find. Have someone in your doctor's office show you how to use it. It is best to check the reading with your device against the reading with the doctor's device to make sure yours is calibrated properly, especially if you get a digital one. If there is a question about the diagnosis, it is possible to wear a monitor for 24 hours so multiple readings can be obtained while you go about your daily activities.
Normal blood pressure varies with time of day and activity. Stress releases chemicals which make it go up, and for some people, just going in a doctor's office can be stressful enough to do it, producing "white coat hypertension." So do not check your blood pressure right after you have wasted half a day on the telephone with customer service for your cell phone carrier!
Your doctor will not make a diagnosis of high blood pressure based on one reading. If several measurements are elevated, s/he may recommend medication. Most people end up taking only one pill a day. The cause of the most common form of high blood pressure --- essential hypertension --- is unknown. Your doctor will want to do some basic tests to make sure there is no underlying problem that can make your pressure go up and check to make sure there is no organ damage, such as to the kidneys.
Controlling high blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. High blood pressure has been called the "silent killer" because it can cause organ damage without any symptoms from the elevated pressure itself.. You have to measure it to know what it is.
Seems like good advice. I'm 43 and always had great BP (in the 118/75 range) until last year. I would measure it at the store and it was coming up in the 140/80 area. I weigh what I should, am a near vegetarian, run 2 miles 5 times per week, work out, don't smoke, and my blood work showed everything to be great, near perfect cholesterol. I went to the dr. and he first said, "why would YOU be here for high BP?" He measured it at about 138/80, and diagnosed me with elevated BP and put me on fish oil, potassium, red rice yeast, and flaxseed oil. I've been doing that for about 9 months and a couple times I measured it at the store since starting the supplements and it was in the low 130s, maybe once in the 120s. Now I'm consistently getting about 143/90! What the hell? The only thing I can possibly think of that's doing this is that I'm home full time with our 2 year old twin boys. Could my kids be killing me? Can stress really raise your blood pressure? I think I'll go back to the dr. I hate the thought of having to take pills for the rest of my life to control this, but strokes are what kills everyone in my family (in their 80s usually) and I'd like to make it into my 90s, so I need to control this.
it just happens! I know it's frustrating, I have been dealing with it as well. they just told me it's probably the way I am wired. However they are eferring me to a kidney specialst, which I think is a waste of time at this point. I am sure they won't find anything.
Seems like good advice. I'm 43 and always had great BP (in the 118/75 range) until last year. I would measure it at the store and it was coming up in the 140/80 area. I weigh what I should, am a near vegetarian, run 2 miles 5 times per week, work out, don't smoke, and my blood work showed everything to be great, near perfect cholesterol. I went to the dr. and he first said, "why would YOU be here for high BP?" He measured it at about 138/80, and diagnosed me with elevated BP and put me on fish oil, potassium, red rice yeast, and flaxseed oil. I've been doing that for about 9 months and a couple times I measured it at the store since starting the supplements and it was in the low 130s, maybe once in the 120s. Now I'm consistently getting about 143/90! What the hell? The only thing I can possibly think of that's doing this is that I'm home full time with our 2 year old twin boys. Could my kids be killing me? Can stress really raise your blood pressure? I think I'll go back to the dr. I hate the thought of having to take pills for the rest of my life to control this, but strokes are what kills everyone in my family (in their 80s usually) and I'd like to make it into my 90s, so I need to control this.
That's when my pressure went up, after I had my kids. One id 2 and the other is 4. Some days I swear they drive it up to 250/150!!
Seems like good advice. I'm 43 and always had great BP (in the 118/75 range) until last year. I would measure it at the store and it was coming up in the 140/80 area. I weigh what I should, am a near vegetarian, run 2 miles 5 times per week, work out, don't smoke, and my blood work showed everything to be great, near perfect cholesterol. I went to the dr. and he first said, "why would YOU be here for high BP?" He measured it at about 138/80, and diagnosed me with elevated BP and put me on fish oil, potassium, red rice yeast, and flaxseed oil. I've been doing that for about 9 months and a couple times I measured it at the store since starting the supplements and it was in the low 130s, maybe once in the 120s. Now I'm consistently getting about 143/90! What the hell? The only thing I can possibly think of that's doing this is that I'm home full time with our 2 year old twin boys. Could my kids be killing me? Can stress really raise your blood pressure? I think I'll go back to the dr. I hate the thought of having to take pills for the rest of my life to control this, but strokes are what kills everyone in my family (in their 80s usually) and I'd like to make it into my 90s, so I need to control this.
First of all, stop using the store machines. They are often wildly inaccurate. Get your own cuff and measure it at home (see my previous post).
You are doing everything right as far as diet and exercise are concerned. Your sodium intake is probably OK from the way you describe your diet, but that is one thing to watch.
You say you hate the idea of taking pills for your BP, but don't you think your family members who had strokes would have wanted the option do do something to prevent what happened to them? Antihypertensive meds work and they are cheap.
Edited to add: don't take your pressure while the twins are driving you crazy! Take it after you have been sitting quietly for 10 to 15 minutes, not after you've been running around doing errands or right after a run. Blood pressure is not a constant static number. It will vary during the day, and, yes, stress will make it go up. You are interested in the average pressure. An occasional elevated value is likely not significant.
Last edited by suzy_q2010; 09-09-2010 at 11:23 AM..
Reason: add additional thought
First of all, stop using the store machines. They are often wildly inaccurate. Get your own cuff and measure it at home (see my previous post).
You are doing everything right as far as diet and exercise are concerned. Your sodium intake is probably OK from the way you describe your diet, but that is one thing to watch.
You say you hate the idea of taking pills for your BP, but don't you think your family members who had strokes would have wanted the option do do something to prevent what happened to them? Antihypertensive meds work and they are cheap.
Edited to add: don't take your pressure while the twins are driving you crazy! Take it after you have been sitting quietly for 10 to 15 minutes, not after you've been running around doing errands or right after a run. Blood pressure is not a constant static number. It will vary during the day, and, yes, stress will make it go up. You are interested in the average pressure. An occasional elevated value is likely not significant.
I'm no big salt user. I've been doing most of the cooking, and I don't add salt to anything. The boys will eat canned veggies, so I get the sodium free kind, and try to do just plain steamed veggies as often as possible. Never salt on meat, and meat isn't a daily thing for us - only fish and poultry.
I measured my BP twice in the past 3 days, and both times the boys were with me. I'll look into the home cuff devices. I saw one the other day on Dr. Oz that looked easy to use. Of course I'd take the pills if it will extend my life. I asked the dr. about that and he seemed to think my BP wasn't high enough to need the medication, but my personal opinion is that I'd rather take the pills and get it back down into the 1-teens, considering the stroke risk in my family.
I was recently diagnosed with High blood pressure.....but it was no shock....it is inherited. I thought I would be the one kid that didnt get it because I am 34 and my siblings were diagnosed at earlier ages. I tried to get around it but I gained some weight and I think that is part of the problem to...I do not have any motivation to loose the weight but the thought of taking pills everyday for the rest of my life is somewhat motivating...
Seems like good advice. I'm 43 and always had great BP (in the 118/75 range) until last year. I would measure it at the store and it was coming up in the 140/80 area. I weigh what I should, am a near vegetarian, run 2 miles 5 times per week, work out, don't smoke, and my blood work showed everything to be great, near perfect cholesterol. I went to the dr. and he first said, "why would YOU be here for high BP?" He measured it at about 138/80, and diagnosed me with elevated BP and put me on fish oil, potassium, red rice yeast, and flaxseed oil. I've been doing that for about 9 months and a couple times I measured it at the store since starting the supplements and it was in the low 130s, maybe once in the 120s. Now I'm consistently getting about 143/90! What the hell? The only thing I can possibly think of that's doing this is that I'm home full time with our 2 year old twin boys. Could my kids be killing me? Can stress really raise your blood pressure? I think I'll go back to the dr. I hate the thought of having to take pills for the rest of my life to control this, but strokes are what kills everyone in my family (in their 80s usually) and I'd like to make it into my 90s, so I need to control this.
Yes, stress can (will)raise your BP and keep it there. While you might not feel stressed raising twin 2 yr old boys will stress your body in a very silent way. Just the nature of things really about being a parent.
Be that as it may learn ways to control your stress with yoga,tai chi etc. so that you can manage this silent stress of being a parent.
Oh yes, learn early not to take ANY backtalk or crap from these boys or they will eat you alive. My wife & I raised 4 boys and not one of them will risk back talking or telling mom no! We love them all but it's a tough love.
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We love them all but it's a tough love.
