Is this high blood pressure?

[Merlin22]

If your blood pressure readings are high .... what should you do at home.... sit and relax or just do normal things (gardening etc).

My Phatmacist says these are high?

Monday144/96 and

Tuesday 148/95

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hello Merlin22

If you're recording BP figures like this on a regular basis, you should consult your GP to be checked out and get medication and/or advice on lifestyle changes to reduce your blood pressure. Below is a link to the NHS page on the subject:-

nhs.uk/conditions/high-bloo...

[Merlin22 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Update

The doctor pharmacists has been in touch and increased my Ramipril to a night time dose of 5.0 (day time is staying at 2.5)

I’ve read all replies and I’d like to thank you all.... (my father died aged 56 of a heart attack).

Hence why I’ve now joined your forum for advice.

After Tuesday I’ve altered my eating and I’m giving up bread and increased my walking to 6mile....

I’ve purchased a Omeron? Blood pressure monitor and I’ve been asked to take readings twice a day until my next visit with my GP in two weeks time.

Thank You (and everyone) who’s kindness and advice has been given, its very much appreciated.

I’ll update in a week.

Thank You all.

[tunybgur in reply to Merlin22]

Surprised your doc prescribed extra Ramipril, see extract below from NHS website:

Medicines for high blood pressure

Several types of medicine can be used to help control high blood pressure.

Many people need to take a combination of different medicines.

if you're under 55 years of age – you'll usually be offered an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin-2 receptor blocker (ARB)

if you're aged 55 or older, or you're any age and of African or Caribbean origin – you'll usually be offered a calcium channel blocker.

The reason apparently why over 55's don't respond so well to ACE inhibitors are because we make less renin which is what they react with, so don't expect too much from these....

I stopped my ramipril some time ago and it had little or no effect on my BP....I'm 72.

Good luck

[Jack2019]

If you are over 60 years 150/90 is acceptable and expected. My cardiologist confirmed this to me after a lengthy discussion.

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Jack2019]

Hello Jack2019. If you have a look at the link I posted the NHS says high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher (or 150/90mmHg or higher if you're over the age of 80)

[Jack2019 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

I am in my sixties and live in Canada. maybe the tolerence to what is considered a problem is a little different or perhaps it depends on coexisting heart related issues.

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Jack2019]

I didn't realise you lived in Canada, perhaps the medics there have a different criteria for what they regard as hypertension, certainly the NHS has been qualifying a reading of more than 140/90 as such for quite a long time, unless the patient is over 80.

[Kasmi in reply to Jack2019]

Thank you, Jack, that's good news. ❤️

[Hidden]

Those readings are indeed higher than they should be if they’re a genuine reflection of what your body is doing. When I had a spell of slightly high bp readings, my GP instructed me to take one, wait a minute without moving or doing anything, take another, and then average the two, and do this at least twice a day. My second reading was invariably a fair bit lower than my first, and although I was getting the odd properly high result, my overall daily average was below 135/90, which is the point at which they start considering you may have a problem. As for what you should do, if you’re routinely getting those results, it’s go and speak to your GP to get appropriate lifestyle advice (if required) and perhaps some medication. High blood pressure is a silent killer due to the risk of heart attack and stroke if left undiagnosed/untreated, and whilst not that high presently, it’s enough that you should take action if the results are consistently in that range.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum! I agree totally with SpiritoftheFloyd . You need to intact your GP as a matter of urgency particularly as your profile says you have previously had a heart attack. Let us know what they say.

[leach234]

My blood pressure was 190/90 40 days ago. I dropped my salt intake down to 200-500 mg daily, cut out alcohol, started eating only fresh foods, no canned goods or junk food, Breakfast is oatmeal with fruit or salt free toast, lunch is a yogurt and an apple. Dinner is fish or chicken, a potato or rice, and a leafy green vegetable. Dessert is an apple or an orange. Started walking 7-10 miles daily. Today my blood pressure was 110/65 and my weight went from 175 lbs to 158 lbs (I am 5’8” tall). My cardiologist says only 1 in 25 of his patients has my initiative. DO YOU?

[Ianc2 in reply to leach234]

Congratulations on your strength of mind and willingness to make meaningful changes to your eating patterns and lifestyle. Unfortunately your cardiologist is correct. Great swathes of the food industry prosper by pushing extremely unhealthy food with extensive marketing budgets which makes changing attitudes almost impossible. It takes a lot of persuasion to get people to change their habits of a lifetime.

[Meme50 in reply to leach234]

That is amazing! I am going to try your method. Don’t you get hungry though?

[leach234 in reply to Meme50]

I do get hungry. So I eat an apple, a banana, or an orange.

[Mikedabike]

I don't know if this may help now that you say you have purchased a blood pressure monitor. I was informed by a nurse friend of mine that to get true blood pressure readings, one should take at least 3 different readings for an average, one should also test both arms, not just one side, and in addition one should take readings seated, then also when standing. I must admit that I had never been instructed to do this, or ever thought of doing this. However once she mentioned this to me, it did seem to make perfect sense.

[MikeBB]

I noticed that during both my visits to the joys of cardiology, my blood pressure was taken first thing in the morning. Generally in fact before I was even fully awake and I'd not even had a chance to sit up in bed! These days I check my bp before I've got out of bed.

[leach234]

When you take your blood pressure make sure your arm is at the same height as your heart.

[Merlin22 in reply to leach234]

Thanks for that advice I will do tomorrow’s reading as you advice

[funnyfennel]

Hi, not trying to compete (!) but mine was 199/113 when it was first discovered .........took a few trys at BP pills and now its right down to 130/85... but I suppose you should get some pills . Good luck

[Merlin22 in reply to funnyfennel]

Lol... no it’s definitely not a competitive sport... I think we know what the winner receives!

At moment just trying to “help myself go In the right direction” so diet and but more exercise, just never know If your doin the completely correct procedure.... rest or excercise?

[funnyfennel in reply to Merlin22]

Yes, I suppose it depends what is the cause. They didn't seem to worry about that with me, just pills to bring it down. ??? Expect you are receiving treatment are you ?x

[leach234]

I have pretty much cut all fat from my diet.

[Merlin22]

I just take my drugs as prescribed .... it was only a routine (picking up a prescription) that I had a blood pressure check....

I take

Atenolol 25mg take one per day

Also aka as a (Beta Blocker)?

Ramipril 2.5mg take two per day

(medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and diabetic kidney disease.[1] Also used to prevent cardiovascular disease in those at high risk)?

Simvastatin 40mg take one at night.

statin class of medications and works by decreasing the manufacture of cholesterol by the liver.[1]

Allopurinol 300mg take one per day

Used to control Gout.

[leach234]

Not quite sure what you are trying to say. Obviously I will get to a point where I’m no longer burning fat and my weight will stabilize. 43 years ago when I was in High School I weighed 145 so I won’t be able to go lower than that weight.

[leach234]

There are healthy fats such as nuts, dark chocolate, avocados, fatty fish, whole eggs, virgin olive oil, and yogurt.

I’m currently using olive oil on my salads and eating a lot of fresh salmon and tuna. Both fatty fish. I also eat a yogurt daily. I think the biggest concern to lower your blood pressure if you want to keep the same weight would be to reduce your salt intake. Keep it between 200-500 mg daily.