Meds and lifestyle changes

[clumberman]

I’ve had higher average BP for a few years and resisted medication. I run a lot so have a really good history of my pulse rate via my Garmin. What I’ve noticed is my stress really kicks in when I measure my BP even at home, I can see the raised pulse and the three readings can be significantly different minutes apart.

my average over the last week is 156/100 and I have a meeting with the Drs Pharmacist this morning to look at meds.

I am a little overweight ideal is 68kg, I’m 74kg, don’t smoke, don’t drink a lot, eat well and run a bit. I’m 59. I do think stress is a big factor in my high BP.

my question is this, if I go on meds and it brings it down to 120/80 on average how would I see any benefit from dropping a bit of weight or managing my stress? For example if managing stress would have brought it down to 130/90 without meds would I see the same drop in BP while on meds ie would my BP drop to 100/70 with a combination of meds and lifestyle?

Hope that makes sense, thanks

[Happyrosie]

The usual way that the medical profession deals with high blood pressure is to go down the lifestyle and diet route first (unless your pressures were horrendously high, which they weren’t) and if this doesn’t work then down the medical route. Normally they’d see you after three months, probably with blood tests, and determine whether your pressures have dropped sufficiently and if you’ve been successful in losing a little weight. A further medication might be added at this point, or changed, or whatever. It depends.

You will in the meantime be paying attention to your diet and exercise (guidance on the website of Blood Pressure UK, the charity, if you need it).

You will I hope be taking your own pressures at home or at the surgery. Should they fall significantly then your nurse/doc/pharmacist will alter your medication appropriately.

I hope this answers your question, but do post here again if I can help further.

[clumberman in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you, sounds logical. I didn’t know if the impact of any lifestyle changes would be masked by the medication but from what you are saying it would be seen in the overall drop ie meds drop it by 10 lifestyle drops it by 10 Id see a total drop of 20.

Thanks for taking the time to answer, really appreciated

[clumberman in reply to Happyrosie]

Sorry just noticed, worth pointing out my weight is 74kg not 174kg

[Hidden]

I tried for 16 months to get my high bp down lost almost 3 stone gym cardio & weights 3 hrs a week and de stressed too it didn’t make a jot to the bp.Reluctantly I went on meds 3 months and guess what NOTHING has worked I truly think age (53) and genetics play a huge part of it if your going to get high bp your going to get high bp simple as that my gp said.I’m now on meds 4 and fed up isn’t the word.Also white coat syndrome sends bp off the scale you become fixated with the flipping thing.I was better without meds 150/90 yes high but on meds most days over 180/100 do they even work? I can’t really see it.Hope you get sorted whatever you decide to do.

[29METAL]

Hi clumberman eating healthier and loosing a bit of weight will have more benefits than just helping your blood pressure it will give you more energy and even confidence that you have achieved the weight loss etc for most people eating healthy and loosing weigh helps the BP and belive you me you do not want to be on BP medication if simply changing your life style could do the same job I am on tablet number 3 because of previous side effects