First Post in here, I suffer from high blood pressure in which I am currently taking medication for. I first found out my condition about 4 years ago when i was just having an health check up after I went to see my doctor over chest pain around my heart. My first reading was very high 218/123, my doctor was going to ring me an ambulance but I was fine and accepted ramipril as a mediction at the time, I was put on the highest strength of ramipril but this didn't agree with me, my doctor tried ECGs and different stuff with me as they normally would do but never sent me fro an MRI. After a little while I made some lifestyle changes in where I lost 3st and was eating healthy so I never went back to doctors over my blood pressure because my symptoms had gone and I felt great.
Any fast forward to this year and I went to doctors over another issue and my doctor had a bot of a go at me for not going back over my blood pressure, he took my blood pressure again and my reading was 180/109, I have read that this is severe hypertension. Anyway my doctor give me a years supply of some tablet that I have to take every morning, I also have to go for blood pressure tests every month after lockdown, I am starting to get chest pains again and when I have been to my doctors for blood pressure tests, the lowest that have read baring in mind I have took my medication is 158/107, my doctor is refusing to send me for an MRI to get checked out also my uncle died this year aged just 47 of an aneurism so this as scared me even more. Is there anything I can do to ivories my doctor? Also I would anyone know if I would be considered for PIP with the condition I have.
Thankyou
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Snakebri
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You appear to suffer from hypertension. You need to start taking responsibility for it now. First get a BP monitor (I recommend the Omron 3) so you can do more checks. You could be suffering from white coat syndrome so taking your own regular readings would be helpful.
Next what medication are you on? "Some tablet" is fairly meaningless. Often with stubborn hypertension a combination therapy works better than a high dose of a single medication.
Finally to check for a developing aortic aneurysm needs a simple 5 - 10 minute ultrasound rather than an expensive MRI scan. Your GP should be more willing to agree to this considering your family history.
If you want to get on top of your hypertension then get the blood pressure monitor and start collecting some data for your GP. You can have those conversations over the phone, don’t need to be there. Take the medication and follow the lifestyle changes. Weight loss, exercise, DASH diet.
I speak from a certain amount of experience. Diagnosed with hypertension mid 20’s with numbers similar to yours. No symptoms. 20 years on BP meds. No symptoms and GP’s never overly concerned. Then at 46 hit with a HA and immediate stent to stop me from dying dolled up by a triple bypass a few weeks later.
That isn’t fun so I’d say get on top of it now. You’re life really could well depend on it.....
Hi Scott please could you elaborate on the DASH diet, I really want to get on top of this, I am a single father to an 11 year old and don't want my time to come to an end just yet. Thanks
The DASH diet is basically one that is designed to reduce blood pressure. Loads on line about it. Lots of books about as well (some better than others) and Facebook groups etc. But generally it’s the usual healthy stuff of plenty of fruit and veg. Avoid additional salt like the plague (less than 1,500mg / day is your allowance). And start cooking more from scratch (it’s not that hard if I can do it!). That way you can control the salt. You’d be amazed how much salt is added to stuff! And stuff you wouldn’t think!
I always cook my food from scratch have too as my daughter plays elite football so I eat what she eats, this is where I am not getting it as I eat healthy but seem to still have high blood pressure.
Thanks I will definitely research this DASH diet and see if I can implement it into what I already eat.
Good news though as today I have convinced my doctor to refer me to a cardiologist, not sure how long it is going to take but I am happy with the outcome of our conversation today.
Thankyou for your replies, I will look at getting a BP monitor today thanks for that, also the tablet I take every morning is called lercanidipine , I don't get any effects from it aslong as I eat about 15-30 minutes after I have taken it. Also I have heard of white collar syndrome before but I am unsure if I get this but I guess the BP monitor will give me a guide.
In regards to the PIP question, I have asked this because I have had to sign onto UC and because of my past history of work i will be getting asked to take manual lifting jobs which at this moment in time I am struggling to walk up stairs without getting out of breath, never mind picking something heavy up, I am not trying to get out of work and there is certain jobs in which I can do, I have just finished working a job working from home but my contract ended.
My blood pressure was always high whenever it was taken for as long as I can remember, even during both pregnancies. It was always written off as "white coat syndrome" and I was never given any medication. Last year at age 63 I suffered a massive bi lateral saddle pulmonary embolism, the type they usually see at a post mortem. I was given clot buster in A & E and was in hospital for six days on a heparin drip and am on anticoagulant for life. The PE was caused by Afib which in turn was caused by the untreated high blood pressure. Never ignore high BP. If I knew then what I know now I would have insisted on medication for it. I am now left with serious heart damage and am in early stage heart failure. The meds could save your life.
While it is important to monitor your BP, and take recommended medication, look at your lifestyle. Do you get regular exercise and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, while cutting down on salt intake? Get a reliable monitor - not the cheapest you can find. I have a Salter monitor, which agrees with the heart nurse's reading.
If you want more information on the dash 800 diet , or the 1200 calories diet have a look on the LCHF site which can be accessed through the 9 dot symbol (top left). Diabetes.co.uk is worth a look as they give a lot of information about diet, along with the BHF Mediterranean diet which has an emphasis on plenty of fresh food and no junk. Try and get regular , steady, continuous daily exercise like walking to see how fit you really are?
With those blood pressure readings, I would have thought you need a referral to a cardiologist. If you want more control over knowledge about your blood pressure, get your own blood pressure monitor. You can get them on-line. Basic ones on Amazon are around £20 and if you want one linked to your phone, I was recommended the Qardio.
Yea I have been referred to a cardiologist, got my appointment on 23rd of December, the appointment come through really quick which I am surprised about. I am looking at getting a BP monitor so thanks for the heads up on the one which will link to my phone.
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