High BP

[iamfaithful]

I have never had a history of high blood pressure, but ever since I have been dealing with my anxiety my bp is always borderline.  I think I am beginning to become obsesses w/it....like I am about my heart.  

When I was first diagnosed, a little over a year ago, my bp was fine, sometimes a little low.  I was always feeling faint or dizzy and that could have been the reason why (it being a little low).  Well ANYTIME and I mean any...when I go to see my doctor my bp is always up.  Especially when I go to the cardio's office.  So now whenever I am in the grocery store I check my bp and it's always pretty normal on the...hmmm, sorry, is it diastolic?  The bottom number is the one I am referring to-it's usually 80-85, but my systolic?? ranges from 125-135.  Once in a while it's 120 but never lower.  I don't how this happened to me!  I mean, I'm already on a medication for heart palps, but can also be used for high blood pressure, and there is no way I can increase it.  I am trying to wean off for goodness sake.

Does anyone have any answers?  I mean, this is just one more thing to worry about!

[RubyWitch]

You are very welcome! I'm just happy we were able to help you put some perspective on this. It is so easy to get obsessed with something when we are anxious, and I hope you take to heart what we have said here.
I don't want to scare you..........or anyone, with what I'm about to say, it's just a little "FYI." High blood pressure is called the "silent killer" for a reason. We seldom know we have it until it's discovered by "accident" at our doctors or in the worst case, we have some sort of "event." That is why it is very important that we all have REGULAR check-ups........and that means every year! If your BP begins to climb, your doctor will catch it and watch it and put you on meds if he/she thinks it's necessary. Often times diet and exercise can lower it just as high cholestrol can be lowered without meds. But do yourselves and your family a great favor and take care of yourself...........get that check up!
The best of health to everyone!
Peace
Greenlydia  

[iamfaithful]

Thanks so much for all of the GREAT advice!!!  And yes, I am definately becoming obsessed w/it, I know that much for sure.

You know, on one of my visits they did check my pressure twice and the second reading was still a tad high, but lower then the first reading.  It really just amazes me how I never gave my BP a second thought, and now I have become one of the folk whose BP rises at the sound of a doctor or even making the appointment :-)

I know when I'm at the store I am racing around like a mad woman, so when I take my preassure it's usually during that time.  I guess it's like taking your pressure in the middle of a mild aerobic exercise-haaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

See, all of you have put this into perspective for me.  That's why I treausre this forum so much.

THANK YOU!!!!!!

[scaredjo]

dont invest in a home BP machine, i made that mistake I AM OBSESSED its impossible to leave it alone, you end up freaking if its high then having to re-take it until you get a low reading then you dont believe the low number and so on. i take it every time i have a chest pain, i think one day i took it 30+ times. my nurse told me high BP takes years to develop it doesnt happen overnight, a high reading is more than likely due to being nervous etc. so pls dont fall into my trap its just something else to obsess about, if your real worried go and tell your doctor but in my opinion its fine infact brilliant, so long as the bottom number doesnt go over 90 too often you have nothing to worry about and the top number over 140. so yours is perfect relax

[RubyWitch]

remar is right on about taking your BP at home. It can be a good thing or it can be a  bad thing. If you're anxious to begin with, taking your BP at home will not change that and again, as remar said, if you get into taking your BP all the time, you're going to get readings that are all over the map and your anxiety will just increase! And something else to keep in mind is that our BP changes throughout the day. It will usually be at it's lowest in the morning when you first get up. It will ebb and flow as we move through the day. If you are going to monitor your BP at home, choose ONE time of the day to check it and do that for one week. That will give you an average. Then check it once a week at that same time. If you got exactly the same reading every time, I'd be really surprised! I don't think ANYBODY gets the same reading every time. After that, a reading every two weeks will be sufficient.
When you see your cardiologist, he will take your BP almost immediately. After talking for awhile and answering your questions and addressing your fears, and waiting for you to calm down and relax, he will take it again. The numbers the second time will be much closer to your "real" BP but may still be a tad high. But cardiologists KNOW that you're scared and look at the numbers with a very practiced eye.
Peace
Greenlydia

[remar]

i agree with the above post. my blood pressure is usually higher when i go to the dr. and at the store because of my anxiety. when i take it at home when i'm calm it's great. can you check it at home? then again, you might not want to start that because you could be checking it all the time. try to get your dr. to let you sit still for awhile before taking it so you can calm down. take care. Remar

[RubyWitch]

Your BP is in the range of 135/85 to 120/80. You're 37 years old. You see a cardiologist for heart palps. Your BP is always on the high side when you see your doctor. (EVERYBODIES BP is on the "high side" when we see our doctor! It's called "white coat BP." It's perfectly normal! We're scared!)
I am NOT a doctor, but your cardiologist is. He hasn't put you on BP meds becuase he doesn't consider your numbers to be high. They are no doubt very normal for you.....no matter what that machine at the grocery store says! 120/80 is the gold standard for BP. They have been messing around with those numbers lately, but your range is still OK, in MY humble, non-medical opinion! Even when you take your BP at the store, you may think you're nice and calm, but it would be my guess that you ARE becoming a tad obsessed with your BP and that WILL cause the numbers to climb.
Since this is causing you a fair amount of anxiety, make another appt. with your cardiologist and discuss this with him/her.
None of us here can tell you what is right or wrong with your BP. Only your doctor can evaluate that, so my advice is to get the answer you need from the one and only person who CAN give it to you. What are you waiting for? Go get that answer tomorrow!
You're gonna be fine!
Keep us posted, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia