Being my own health advocate, not sure about Drs advice

[1stgls]

My BP was raised ( moderately) at the Drs, ?? White coat syndrome, I took readings 3x a day twice each time for a fortnight and my bp was mild -- moderate high. Google says that most people usually are advised diet and exercise before meds, Dr says because I have (normal 4 me for years) headaches and dizzy spells I need BP meds, I have to say I have signs in my eye blood vessels of high BP. Should I try DASH approach first? I had conflicting advice about the meds, Dr says I can never come off them no matter what, pharmacist says this is untrue. I am conflicted and unsure how having slightly raised BP will affect my health while trying out DASH ----- all my dad's family died before their 50 birthday due to heart disease, mum and the majority of her siblings have had strokes, there have been a couple of brain aneurysms as well. Some sensible advice from those living with raised BP would be very welcome. Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi! If you look at many syndromes and disease, especially chronic disease, you will see that raised BP is frequently said to be the cause, or at least one of the causes for them. So, the conclusion is : High BP is killing you, that's for sure, lol!

Many people buy this sentence, despite it is, in my opinion and after a lot of research, quite wrong. The truth is that many syndromes and chronic disease go hand in hand with each other, raised BP being among them. If you have Atrial Fibrillation and raised BP at the same time, it is more likely that they have the same cause and come together, than that raised BP is causing AF. Why would it not be the other way round, that AF causes high BP, lol!? I did not buy it, was prescribed high BP medication at the age of 65, now 70, but did not take a single pill of it! Still in the drawer, lol! I, actually, had increased BP at the DRs, but at home I also measured moderate values and had no symptoms at all. Why, then, take the pills!?

After many years of research, my opinion is that increased BP is the consequence of the disturbance of autonomous nervous system (often called Dysautonomia, and not relating only to POTS), in the same way as the other syndromes and chronic disease.

I am ready to experiment with my own body, without fear. I keep an eye on how I feel and measure the BP regularly, trying to be informed where it goes. Sometimes, I am at 170/115 (no symptoms at all), but more often I am at 150/90-100 and I think that it is OK for 70 yo person.

After the game with not enough tested magic water for Cov and knowing about so many side effects of it (look at Dr John Campbell's videos in YT), I do not intend to ever go to visit the doctor again. Shame on them!

[1stgls in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply, I have just collated 50 readings and over 50% are 155 + (sys), 40%@ 145 +. Diastolic 60% @95 +. 10%@ 100+

[Happyrosie]

besides being a hypertensive person (who has cut down on meds until almost none, though I started 26 years ago), I have some slightly professional information to give you,

When I was working I was a life assurance underwriter. This means that if you had applied to my company for life assurance I would have considered a report from your doctor and possibly asked you to be medically examined.

With your family history and your marginally raised blood pressure I, as an underwriter, would not have been able to offer you normal terms, given the information that you’ve shown here. This decision is based PURELY on statistics. No matter what causes which syndrome, as mentioned by another poster, in your case you have an increased risk of early death if you do nothing. Though I don’t know your height and weight. And before early death you could have course have a debilitating stroke or heart attack.

The normal reaction of a doctor to someone presenting with raised blood pressure is, indeed, to start on the diet/lifestyle route. If you access the website of NICE (National Institute for Clinical Evidence ) and put ‘hypertension’ into their search box you will see the recommendations that doctors go by. In your case, however, your doc has also looked at your family and personal history and he or she thinks that your issue is more urgent.

Whilst your pharmacist is correct that you might be able to get off all medication, as I propose to do within the next few weeks, it is very unusual.

Another thought is for you to access the website of Blood Pressure UK where you will get hints and tips.

Do get back to me if you think I can help further.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Happyrosie]

I agree with Happy Rosie. Your family history should guide you.Certainly try the diet, hydrate more, exercise more. Lose weight if applicable.

Have a good life and live long!💚

[1stgls in reply to Madlegs1]

Thanks Madlegs 1. I think it it were just me I would be very against drugs, but as you and other posters have pointed out there are genetics at play and I should not be too flippant with second guessing myvDr.

[1stgls in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you, According to the official BMI measurements I am 8lbs overweight, so I 'kind of think' that weight is not a massive part of the issue,,,,,won't hurt to drop a few pounds, my knees will be hapoy! Lol. This is the well balanced answer I am looking for.