Ramipril and BP reading anxiety

[im989]

Hi, I have recently been prescribed ramipril 2.5mg for hypertension which i think i've been developing for a couple of years. I had a 24 hr bp monitor which I found quite stressful and my readings were around 160/86.

I need to monitor my readings but whenever I go near the monitor they shoot through the roof. I'm not sure how to calm down in order to get an accurate reading. The ramipril should have kicked in now (4 weeks) but when I did my reading earlier it was awful and my pulse rate went up to 115 so i'm sure it's anxiety.

Has anyone managed to overcome something similar? I've tried deep breathing beforehand and sitting for a while but that seems to build up the anticipation!

Sorry for long ramble

[10gingercats]

To whom are you reporting these high blood pressure readings in order that a medically qualified person can help you to make sense of them? You need to keep a record of them for a couple of weeks .When this happened to me I reported the readings to my cardiac nurse and then later to my GP. I was taking Furosemide and Spironolactone and the high blood pressure came from nowhere.My potassium and Creatinine were also high Once I had high blood pressure iwas difficult to reduce to 'normal'...for me 130/75 or 80.The Spironolactone was then dropped and I took only the Furosemide for a few weeks and then when that did not work something was added.It takes time and patience to try and get a netter balance again .Sitting quietly for 5-10 minutes before taking your blood pressure helps a lot.

[Boxroad]

I used to be the same so what I did was I would put the arm cuff on then sit on the sofa watching a bit of tv with a nice cup of tea every day around lunch time. Then after a couple of days I would start the machine up and I found I learnt to relax while the cuff was on, I found my blood pressure would rise as soon as I picked up the machine just thinking what the reading would be, I have been taking my blood pressure every day now for over two years, I keep a log of the reading and I have learnt that if the reading start to change I can see it’s because of a bad day/ bad night sleep/ or even the start of a cold can raise it, I have learnt where my happy place is, my blood pressure was a lot higher than yours but over time and with using the metre I have managed most of the time to keep it around the 120/70 mark because if it rises I sit down and try to calm my self down by deep breaths in through the nose then out slowly through the mouth. Remember it’s not there as a way to see if you are being good it’s to help you live a better life for longer where as our grandparents would only have blood pressure taken every now and the we can check it ourselves and go to see gp as soon as we see something wrong so look at it as a good thing.

[im989 in reply to Boxroad]

Thank you!

[Beatle45]

I firmly believe that my BP goes up when I use my monitor because of the tightness of the cuff! It’s that tight that it leaves bruises on my arm.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Beatle45]

Definitely not right leaving bruises on your arm 👌 That is strange 🤔Are you on any medication that could cause the bruising ❓

When I was on Ticagrelor for 1 year that caused me having little yellow or purple penny sized bruises here and there but there didn't hurt! It was a side effect with that particular medication 👌

But if your bruises are painful I would seek the advice of nurse or GP 👍

[Beatle45 in reply to Snowdrops_17]

I am only on Aspirin so it’s not that. I’ll check in surgery because it’s still happening.

[Snowdrops_17 in reply to Beatle45]

Yes I think you should do that 👌🥰

[PecanSandie]

I have been though the same scenario as you and I can bore you with all the details but the bottom line is that it is possible that your blood pressure is difficult to control and you need more (and different classes of) blood pressure medication.

[im989]

Thank you. Good advice. I know the 160/86 was what it was running at from the 24 hr monitor so frustrating to see it shoot through the roof when I try to do it myself. I'll give your advice a go

[Auiron]

I had just the same feelings about taking my blood pressure readings and once went about 8 months without taking any that made me feel better. Then I started again sitting down for at least 5 minutes and taking the first reading and the systolic reading was high. Then taking a second reading 5 minutes later produced a lower figure but still around systolic 150.

Last February I was put on 10 mg Ramipril in addition to 10 mg Amlodipine. My blood pressure is usually still quite high on the first reading but the second systolic reading is between 126 and 134 showing Ramipril is working well.

Recently when I attended a hospital 'Urgent Care Department' the nurse appeared rushed and stressed and my blood pressure was really high at S189-D97-P92. - the reason to attend was chest pain that must also have been something to do with it. Two days later I saw my doctor a calm lady who is reassuring my blood pressure was S126-D65-P69. So different situations do affect me.

We do have to look after ourselves and sometimes not wanting to know can sadly be wrong. Myself, being brave has saved me once so take your blood pressure regularly. My readings are still a bit all over the place due to stress even though I feel OK.

[bluemoon572]

Wearing an ambulatory BP monitor obviates the so called white coat syndrome or the build up of anxiety when one has to take his/her own BP or have it taken at the physician's office. Perhaps your GPwill order this test for you to get a more overall accurate picture of your BP.