Blood Pressure Frustration

[AutumnTraveler]

Originally Posted by nitram

OP your BP numbers are in the high normal range. Not to be worried about. Your BP changes from minute to minute with daily activites, stress etal. Your doctor should know this.
Check this BP site out for your BP range rating and what it means.
Blood Pressure Chart - Normal Blood Pressure Range

Just seeing this now. Great chart! I feel a lot better about.

[AutumnTraveler]

Originally Posted by tarragon

Do you snore? Sleep apnea can make for a case of stubborn high blood pressure.

I am fairly certain that I suffered from sleep apnea. I found myself waking up not breathing and gasping for air many times over the previous years. Very scary. However, since losing weight (I now lost about 20 lbs - weight is 143-147 at 5'5"), I have not had any sleep apnea episodes for many months. I am feeling a lot better now. I have not taken my BP in a long while. I think focus on it so much was not mentally healthy.

The major contributors to my high BP are...

High sodium (burgers, fries, soda)
High Fructose Corn Syrup (soda, Ketchup)
Stress
Lack of sleep

My diet is much better. I eat a lot less and healthier. Sodium intake is much lower. I haven't had soda in perhaps 10 months.

I need to handle stress and sleep better. Some major changes will be taking place in my life over the next two months - but focused on a better lifestyle. Hopefully I can get back to a better sleep routine.

I appreciate all of the feedback from this forum. Excellent posts!

[Ceece]

My BP is always on the high side when I go to the Dr but when I was in the hospital a few years back I was monitored continuously and it was fine. I've had it taken a couple times this month (various Dr's for various reasons) and it was always high. As an experiment I took half a Xanax before going to one appt, it was completely normal. Xanax will not lower BP but it removes the "white coat" syndrome apparently.

[Beth56]

My doctor told me the latest evidence shows that spiking blood pressure, even the white coat syndrome kind, can do damage and take years off your life. And spiking is most likely happening when you don't know it.

I also take Xanax and it does not help with the spiking. Maybe for some, but not me.