Reoccurring BP

[peterjones105]

Since November 2020 when I had my hypertensive crisis my BP has been well controlled by good eating, exercise, weight control, minimising alcohol and caffeine to an average 128/60.

I take daily Amlodipine 10mg and Ramipril 2.5mg.

Just lately it has spiked again last night to an alarming 178/75; this morning it is at an acceptable level.

Has anybody else experienced a spike in their BP after a year of acceptable readings and treatment?

I shall of course contact my surgery tomorrow morning however did you have to change your meds or increase dosage?

Many thanks,

Peter.

[Happyrosie]

I haven’t as far as I know. I’ve had hypertension for twenty years but only in the last two years have taken it monthly. So I may or may not have : BUT I wonder if you are comparing like with like? Taken at the same sort of time of day after sitting quietly for ten minutes?

[peterjones105 in reply to Happyrosie]

Very many thanks for your reply, my comparisons are valid however I am very bad at sitting still for more than 2 minutes, I take a reading and no wonder the first one or two are through the ceiling however my pattern is always the same and therefore can be validly compared. Thanks again, Peter.

[Happyrosie in reply to peterjones105]

Know what you mean! However, the recommended levels (e.g. 140/90 if you are aged 70, say) assume that you have been resting for ten minutes. I can easily bring my BP down by ten points by closing my eyes and breathing slowly, though not deeply, for thirty seconds before taking the measurement. And NO talking!

I’m speaking a bit put of turn here, but I do think that your pressure would be better if you could sit quietly for a while - not just before taking your measurements but as a general rule to relax.

[Collywobbles64]

My bp too has started spiking, as has my dad’s. I have been in hospital twice recently. Have increased my medication after a visit to the doctors. I would add that I also have ms and they put me on gabapentin and amitriplyine for my peripheral neutropathy even though mri and ct scan showed my ms was stable. Did nothing for my bp and the pain I was experiencing but made my bp go even higher. I honestly thought I was dying as I was screaming on the floor and my whole body was tingling and writhing. Have stopped all drugs but for the bp one and touch wood even though I have intermittent pain in my arm, I don’t feel as bad as I did before and have started to function normally.

[peterjones105 in reply to Collywobbles64]

Thank you so much for your reply and I do hope that your opinion goes away, of course pain itself increases BP.With you well, Peter.

[lettingoffsteam]

Sorry to hear you're having problems.I find I get anxious measuring my bp so my husband measures it for me. It really made a difference. If you can try that and if it still spikes you may need a 24 hour bp measure.

[peterjones105]

Thank you so much for your posts, clearly the fault was my old enemy caffeine which I had allowed back into my diet, even decaf has a highly detrimental effect on my system. Since ceasing all caffeine including chocolate my BP has decreased to a much more acceptable 129/60.

The challenge now is to keep vigilant never allowing my nemesis to creep back.

Thanks again.

Peter

[lettingoffsteam in reply to peterjones105]

Wow, so that was the cause.I'm glad you sorted it out.