Blood pressure rising

[RTCLP1]

Following my HA and being on new blood pressure tablets, my blood pressure was the best it's been in a very long time. Six weeks on and it's crept up in the last few days. I think some of the reason is because I'm worrying it's gone up and that's a vicious circle. That said, when I first saw my practice nurse, she said that my low blood pressure would rise as I began to improve and I would probably need my medication increased - seems like she was right. Has this happened with anyone else? Thanks.

[Blearyeyed]

As you said being anxious about your symptoms certainly doesn't help , it is a vicious circle, especially when it comes to heart rate and blood pressure so try to relax.Yes, it is common for blood pressure to creep up as you recover and your activity changes just as your nurse said , remind yourself of this.

It's normal for people with blood pressure conditions to require checks and changes in the dose of their medications or the type of medication they use not just after a cardiac event but over the years as your needs change so don't worry about that.

But it's also totally normal for anyone whom has a heart event to feel anxious or unconfident and be concerned about any changes in their symptoms at first. At first any feeling or ache can make you worry that something could be going wrong because you went through an incredibly scary experience. In time , you become desensitized to the small stuff as you gain strength and confidence again and you get used to your medication , and see from repetition that pain doesn't always mean your heart is the issue

If you are at the point when your BP is rising it's just time for you to call your GP or Cardiac Unit / Team/ Nurse to arrange a check up and an adjustment on your medication.

Don't forget as long as you are taking care of yourself and following the recommendations you were given for diet, lifestyle and activity , sometimes requiring a change in your medication isn't a sign that your getting weaker , but a sign that you are recovering and doing more.

Make that call and it will ease your mind , take care , Bee

[DWizza]

Your GP or medical team will probably want you to monitor your BP for a week, taking the readings twice a day , 3 readings each time ( I usually wait until the machine turns itself off) and take the average. You probably already know the drill.

[Jedi14]

That's assuming that your cholesterol is ok?

[RTCLP1 in reply to Jedi14]

Will know that within the next couple of weeks, but I've stopped all sugar and most salt and have lost 17lbs so I'm hoping it's going down (plus I'm on statins now).

[Jedi14 in reply to RTCLP1]

That's remarkable! Keep up the good work, keeep us posted, are you on target for weight loss?

[RTCLP1 in reply to Jedi14]

Yes, only a couple of pounds to go. I've completely changed my diet. No more Diary Milk and sweets (I ate a serious amount of it!). It's loads of veg (some of which I've never eaten before), plus chicken and fish - which I've never eaten until now. Soups, I've always avoided but now tuck in to them for lunch. I'm managing 'white' fish. Salmon's a bit of a push for now. Using a cook book by Sat Bains, who is a chef who had a heart attack.