High Blood pressure and natural treatment

[purplerain58]

hello, I went for my 5 year health check at GP's last week. Nurse looked at the blood pressure and thought the machine was not reading properly! left it and did another check later but got same reading, Syst: 210!!!! Panic. and totally unexpected. I am 60 (just) am relatively fit, have a 2 physical jobs, which involves lifting and generally being active, Have an allotment and walk a very acitive dog every day- I don't hang about! never been out of breath or anything like that. The day I went to the Drs I had not slept well for a couple of nights. I have seen my business ( I am self employed) take a nose dive since Christmas and had to take the decision with business partner to close the premises and we have had to (we are ceramicists/sculptors) try to re locate, finding something within our new budget hasn't been easy, also my husband was diagnosed with heart failure last year, I am now the main earner , so self employed and on a zero hrs contract with local council ( by choice) although he has a state pension! ha ha. So lots going on. The Dr saw me in the afternoon of the first test and got the same result. and basically just gave me a prescription for lisinopril said there wasn't anything I could do about it as I wasn't over weight and I was just unlucky. I am reluctant to start medication so I borrowed a blood pressure monitor and have taken readings in the morning since then, my lowest reading has been 143/99 not great but a long way off 210. My question is has anyone else had similar experience and have they been able to bring their blood pressure down naturally. My only real vice is cake and choc! I do have a sweet tooth but have already cut out this and have cut down on salt. I am pesco/ vegan so don't do dairy I do eat eggs (not often) My readings have come down over 4 days. I have been through the menopause without really noticing but wonder if that is anything to do with the blood pressure hike (thyroid??) Any help advise or thoughts, success stories welcome. Thanks.

[Philippa_BHF]

Hi purplerain58,

I'm sorry you had that episode at the surgery.

It is reassuring to see that your blood pressure readings are better at home though. The initial high readings could have been to do with the recent stresses/sleeplessness you've had as well as what could have been a bit of ' white coat syndrome'. It might be an idea to write the home recordings down over a week or so and then see your GP again( taking the monitor with you to compare). Also inform him that these readings are without taking the medication. It is great that you are taking regular exercise -keep that up!If the readings stay on the higher side of normal you could request a 24 hour blood pressure monitor to give a more accurate result, but it could be that you may still need to start on a low dose of medication at some point. High blood pressure is one of those risk factors that have a habit of literally creeping up on us without warning or symptoms and it's much easier to control that now it's been picked up.

I hope I've helped.

Take Care,

Philippa

[marypw]

My BP can go through the roof when measured by a doctor or nurse. I recommend you ask for a 24 hour monitor - I found it horrendous for sleeping, but the result was reassuring.

When you measure at home make sure you are really rested and tell the GP they are the best you can get. Mine was quite happy with that.

[ACC107 in reply to marypw]

I had a 24 hour monitor on last week but for some reason i was very stressed with it on for the full 24 hours and didn`t get any sleep at all so the results will not be a true reading because when i do my bp at home with my own monitor it`s totally different than having it done at doctors or hospital, it must be the white coat syndrome. Got to see gp on Thurs to discuss it.

[ACC107 in reply to ACC107]

So after being on lisinapril for high blood pressure for the last 8 year's looks like it was for nothing, not had any meds for nearly 5 weeks and the results from the 24hr monitor came back as normal bp, i thought it would have be very high but doctor says it's fine and don't want me to take anything and come back in 12 months, makes me wonder how many more people have been mis-diagnosed the same way because of white coat syndrome.

Really pleased with the outcome but not happy with the trouble i've been through for the last 3 months mainly because of being on Bisoprolol and like i say, i didn't even need it.

[Bevlainda]

Hope u feel better I am pesto vegan too have a machine to monitor which shows BP is up and down

Not medicating presently as no final diagnosis

Hope u found premises I’m putting a studio into back garden as an artist jewellery maker agree that studio space is too expensive

Try ETSY to sell and if you can mass produce small items there is another few options

Blessings BevStar

[purplerain58]

Thanks for your message. Yes we found a lovely little place. Yes i do Etsy but haven't had time to keep my stocks up at the moment. Good luck with your studio building. Best wishes.

[Ridi]

Had a very similar experience but having a hard time with surgery practise .Me personally I'm already frustrated with being sent round the houses and even though I'm tired and fatigued every day I intend to carry on regardless loosing weight and keeping active .I'm proud that I don't smoke or drink and like you I have a sweet tooth so it's not easy but going from 11st to 9st this year is a major achievement , my diet now is basically plant based no processed ,sugar,wheat or dairy.

Hope this assists you and my age is 61.