need help

[skylar1]

HELLO, MY NAME IS DOMINIC, I SPOKE TO YOU BEFORE ABOUT STOMACH SPASUMS, WELL YOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT LOW POTTASIUM, NOW MY STOMACH DOESNT CRAMP ANYMORE, BUT NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BLOOD PRESSURE ITS 148, DO YOU THINK IT'S HIGH BECAUSE I PROBABLY STILL HAVE LOW POTTASIUM? WILL I HAVE TO TAKE MEDICINE TO LOWER IT, I CAN'T IF I WANT TO INLIST IN THE ARMY, I STARTED RUNNING TWO MILES A DAY,I GET OUT OF BREATH EASY, BUT NOT WERE I HAVE TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN, IM ONLY 120 POUNDS AND MY AGE IS 26. ITS BEEN ONLY THREE DAYS, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LOWER? I DO EAT FAST FOOD, AND I USE TO DRINK ABOUT A WEEK AGO.  BUT I STOPPED, JUST EATING HEALTHY  ALL THE TIME IS THE HARD PART. I REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO JOIN  BY AGUST, BUT MY BLOOD PRESSURE HAS TO BE UNDER 140, ITS  AT 148  IS THAT, THAT BAD, THAT I'LL NEED MEDICATION? ALSO, BEING IN ARIZONA FOR MY FIRST SUMMER, IS REALLY HOT, AND  WORKING NIGHT SHIFTS, DOES THAT CHANGE MY BLOOD PRESSURE DURING THE DAY, LIKE IM UP ALL NIGH, BUT WHEN I'M SLEEPING IN THE MORNING LIKE AROUND TEN, WILL MY BLOOD PRESSURE BE HIGH, JUST WANDERING WHEN THE BEST TIME I SHOULD GO AND TAKE IT? I HAVE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS OR SO BEEEN DRIKING AND EATING ALOT OF MCDONALDS. IF ITS AT 148, DO I STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO LOWER IT WITHOUT MEDICINE, OR DO I HAVE SOME KIND OF CHANCE OF  LIKE A THYROID OR KIDNEY DISESE (disease). OR JUST OUT OF SHAPE AND BAD  LIFE STYLE, I WILL CHANGE IT THOUGH, ANY PERSONAL OPINONS OR IDEAS WILL BE HELPFULL, OH I ALSO STARTED TAKING COEZYME Q10 WILL THAT HELP, SHOULD I ALSO BY OILY FISH PILLS TO LOWER IT?  THANKS AGAIN, DOMINIC

[Confused8]

I have also had several bouts of high blood pressure like yours.  It does seem to be high only when I am stressed out, haven't gotten enough sleep, have been drinking or an running around in a hurry.  I have quit eating fast food and have started exercising consistently and it is back to normal.  I do notice though after drinking it will still go up.  I would stop drinking, try to eat healthier and exercise.  It seems like you could bring it down to normal this way.  You sound like you may be a little stressed out about it.  Try to stop stressing and that may help a little.  I am not a doctor, so I am not sure but it worked for me.

[oregonsticklers]

Also caffine will cause problems with blood pressure as well, & I can tell you from 6 years on the night shift, I drank alot of coffee!!

True hypertention (high blood pressure) often is not diagnosed with just 1 high reading, rather a series of high readings over time. Also, are you getting your reading from a doctor or nurse, or a blood pressure machine? Some of the machines are good, but make sure it is frequently calibrated.

Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood pumped by the heart, and the size and condition of the arteries. Many other factors can affect blood pressure, including volume of water in the body; salt content of the body; condition of the kidneys, nervous system, or blood vessels; and levels of various hormones in the body.

Readings can definately vary at different times of the day, so getting reading all thru the day might be an idea. Blood pressure goes up in all people during periods of stress or exercise, (and keep in mind, going to the doctor can be very stressfull [they call it "white coat syndrome"], especially if you have so much riding on it!)

You didn't give the bottom number, (like 148/xx), and that can be important, as it gives an idea how hard your heart is working at rest.

Eating less salt, cut down on alcohol, and get more exercise is always a good thing and may correct it, but if you have true high blood pressure, you still may need medication. Also, it may take more than 2 weeks for you to see the positive results of lifestyle changes, so be patient. Some things you just can't fight, like heridity. Does hypertention run in the family? My husband was cross-country runner, ate healthy, and only drank occationally, never been overweight, but because he inherted high blood pressure & heart disease, he still wound up with a heart bypass at age 35.

Wishing you the best of luck!

Shelly M.