High blood pressure

[Jo1961]

Hi. I’ve been on blood pressure medication for about 20 years. Had a HA in 2017 and some meds were changed. My BP stayed around the 135/78 mark. I took it on Sunday and it was 181/102. Went down to 162/90 on the next reading. Spoke to an out of ours gp and he said to double felodipine to 20mg as well as continue Losartan 100mg. I’m now monitoring it twice a day as advised by gp and review again after a week. I have put on nearly 2st since May and been eating a lot of sweets/cake. Thought I’d conquered my health anxiety earlier in the year but this has set off into a spiral of anxiety again which obviously isn’t helping! Any advice for lowering it reasonably quickly? Should I be worried?

[Happyrosie]

Hello Jo1961.

I think you said it in your post - you’ve put on a lot of weight.

The medical profession can only do so much, the rest is up to us. If you haven’t already, have a look through the website of the charity Blood Pressure UK for hints and tips. I feel the doctor has put you on additional medication as an emergency measure to ensure you don’t have a stroke or another cardiac event before you’re able to get your lifestyle issues under control.

Worrying about it will make things worse, as you say: but use that worry to turn yourself around. I know the weather is against us, but exercise is essential. I go out even in the rain for my daily walk. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothes!

I wish you well - keep us posted.

[Jo1961 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks Happyrosie

I do go for a walk most days and try to get 10,000 steps plus. Not quite so good in the rain, I must admit! How far do you walk? Have you had high bp?

[Happyrosie in reply to Jo1961]

Like you, raised bp for over twenty years. I average just under 10000 steps per day . You might have heard of Active 10 (it’s an nhs initiative) to ensure that, of the activities you do, at least 150 minutes per week is ‘active’ (they have a full explanation). I do about 500 minutes a week. I have a biscuit or cake or rich dessert only about once a month. When I’m hungry mid-afternoon I have a bowl of homemade soup (winter) or raw veg (summer). It’s hard to force yourself to exercise, isn’t it - I’m 74 with arthritis and am in remiss from cancer - but you’ve just got to do it!!,

[Jo1961 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you HapoyRosie - you’re an inspiration! I’ve downloaded Active 10 and I’m enjoying getting it exceeding my daily goal. BP down a bit now but will continue with healthy eating and exercise.x

[Happyrosie in reply to Jo1961]

Thank you, keep it up!

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one of losartans common side effects is low blood sugar. thats why u crave the sweets!

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osartan also causes anxiety in many people

[Jo1961]

Oh! That’s interesting - thanks for your reply. Funnily enough I had a blood test a few weeks ago and one of the results that the doctor wants to discuss with me is low blood sugar! I’ll let you know what he says.