Higher BP

[peterallison]

I went to see the neurologist last week, and as I was new to the hospital, they took basic tests, eg weight and BP. High BP was the initial cause of my Ataxia, back in 2010 , (diagnosed 2014). anyway, it was the highest its been for a long time (175/?) and I had a few headaches, and worry set in, as you would expect. Went to the Dr, where they have a machine anyone can use... 165, made an app and was given one the next day. Panic was averted as my BP was a normal ( for me) 124/?/60. The doc explained messing around with my BP meds was difficult, as it could drop rapidly, so best left alone...

This is just a warning, ignore your BP at your peril, just keep and eye on it, even if it takes an unnecessary visit to the GP

[DeniseLB]

Hi Peter,

My BP goes up if I have to enter a doctors surgery and worse a hospital and for me I found out that a hormone imbalance can have a dramatic effect too. I don't take any medication and I will not. Because I do have a doctor phobia, we worked out how to at least get an accurate reading for me, we do three over half an hour and normally I get a cup of tea!

I am not for a second saying that people may well need medication as I have a friend that ended up having a stroke. There is no way that he could continue without his medication.

I think that far too many doctors hand out pills for BP without fully testing the person involved, There are often other causes that do effect how high or low your BP rate will go and also the heart rate and pulse. My mum had a fall back in 2017 due to being on the wrong BP tablets and it took them until her death this year to admit it.

I actually think these home testing kits are a good idea as you can test yourself when relaxed.

Denise xx

[peterallison in reply to DeniseLB]

its called, or so the doc said...."white coat syndrome

[PatsyIpswich]

yes people do generalise too much about blood pressure when there are so many things that can affect it. A GP once explained to me that you need to consider family health history too.

[peterallison in reply to PatsyIpswich]

I agree, family health is a thing, but if it is, I am doomed.... I lost my mum at 48 from heart disease, and my dad (86) last year, with cancer. I have had only 7 days off work since 1978, never been ill, apart from the odd cold, so brilliant health until 2010, go figure. And have looked into family health on both sides, and long story short, maternal grandparents lived until their 60's, paternal, until their 80/90's, and both sets had good health. And the issue gets even more complicated, mum/dad smoked( as I do since 1977) from an early age, paternal granddad worked down at the coalface from 14, until he retired. So all in all and by the law of averages, I (59 3/4) should be a lot worse than I am

[PatsyIpswich in reply to peterallison]

yes it is all relative [no pun intended] .. I do feel that I have done myself a good turn in living a reasonably healthy lifestyle for last 70+years. My ataxia is comparatively [compared to others I have met] mild. I may have inhaled too much hair lacquer in the 1950/60's !!

[murcia]

I've had F/A for 40 years never had trouble with B/P hope it stays that way,always normal,but never say never.