Blood Pressure Values

[Inthava]

I have been told that they are recommending lower blood pressures more than before.  I am 30 years old male and when the nurse did my blood pressure at work it was about 150/90.  This was on two weeks apart.  They told me to go to the doctor and then it was 134/76 so he didn't do anything.  My blood pressure has been up for about 10 years. I work out and lift weights and do aerobic exercises and am very muscular. I am 6'4" tall and weigh 240 lbs. My parents have a blood pressure device that I use when I am over there and the blood pressure stays around 140-150/90 or about there.  

Should I go back to that doctor or go to a cardiologist who is a expert in blood pressures?

What blood pressure should I have at my age?  

What else can I do?  I do aerobics watch caffiene and diet and am trying to loose weight.

[blueangelz]

Thanks so much for answer!! I was wondering about that.My doc never seemed concerned about the changes but I wonder about my doc sometimes..lol. Thanks again.

[Barbarella]

Yes, your BP fluctuates throughout the day.  Since my episode in the ER I had all kind of questions for my cardio.  He told me:  Your BP can rise just by looking at a piece of furniture you're  fixing to lift up and move.  Your BP can rise severely during high anxiety or anger, or in suspense.  For some people it rises during all the above mine rises when I have anxiety and am in suspense (I check my BP at home).  He told me even in people who always have normal BP the BP fluctuates throughout the day.  He also told me even when you are extremely happy about something your BP can rise.  

As for the white coat syndrome when people only get high BP at the doctor's office my cardio thinks that these people including me can get the same high BP when under stress for example stuck in traffic, having a deadline and you don't know if you get the job done in time.  Some other doctors don't think so.  Of course we'd only know for sure if we at all times would have a BP monitor with us in all situations.  No thank you, I pass :)

[blueangelz]

Does blood pressure fluntuate alot? Mine is sometimes 105-110/65-70 and other times 125/75 I mostly stay in low range though. The other day at the docs office (i was stressed at this point) it was 139/85....Can it flunctuate that much and still be ok?

[pms_barbie]

My ex father in  law has the white coat hypertension.  His bp is fine at home but when he gets to the drs office every time they try to put him on blood pressure meds.  He gets really worked about drs.  He has had a kidney transplant for the last 18 years so he has been through the ringer.  He has to have regular check ups like every 6 months to make sure his kidney is doing ok and every 6 months they make he made about his blood pressure being to high.  His wife keeps an eye on his bp during the times in between and its akways perfect.  Go figure..

[pms_barbie]

Im not sure she has a phobia or not.  Every since my other sister died last year.  She looks at it like what will be will be.  I think she went totally one way and me another.  The only  thing I know for certain she dread is a dentist.  Who doesnt dread them....lol

[pms_barbie]

Thanks for the advice.  I cant even get my sister to acknowledge she even needs to see a dr...let alone call one or anything.   I will keep ontrying but I have been after her for four onths to go get it checked out.  So has my dad.  She has a head like a rock.....lol

[x_k_c_x]

Hi everyone , Barbie i also think your sister should get checked out i'm only 18, 135 pounds, non-smoker and have just been diagnosed with hypertension, for about 6 months all my BP readings were high (150-160/90-105) i got all the tests that you can get to check for secondary causes which all came back negative, at first myself and the doctor were thinking and hoping it could be white-coat so i got the 24hour blood pressure machine and the results were high.
I've been on BP meds for just over a month and i went for my check-up last week and so far the meds have not made a difference to my BP but they may need a little more time to work.

[pms_barbie]

Thanks for your input.  I hope your meds start to work for you.  Thanks again

[hankstar]

Hi,

Your sister should be checked for a secondary cause of her HBP. It usually take 2-3 medications combined for ultimate B/P control, usually around a 110/70 reading.

A beta blocker like, atenolol or toprol, and a ARB, like cozaar(losartan)or Diovan(valsartan), a mild durectic like Esidrex(hydrochlorothiazide) all combined might be useful, just a suggestion, get her to ask her doctor about these drugs, they could probably get her B/P under control.

Hope you are okay. Take care. Took your advice also.(Thanks)

[pms_barbie]

Thanks alot for sharing your story.  I really worry about her.  She has three youngsters between the ages of 2 and 6.  I know the problems I have and I know I have never had high blood pressure.  I about cried when I saw that bp reading and I had her retake it.  I will keep trying to get her to go to the dr.  Thanks again

[uptowngirl]

Hey Barbie,
Sorry it took so long to respond.  I've been out a good while and just got in an hour ago. The Christmas season will do that for you.
Yes, my BP has been in the 130's. I think BP does run higher during pregnancy, at least mine did around 5 years ago.  In the last year, however, since I added the Cardizem the numbers have been good.
What does your run?
Uptown

[pms_barbie]

Mine isnt a problem.  Mine runs 110/70 most of the time.  Last time at my drs appointment it was 120/80.  Text book perfect.  My sister is the one who has a bp of 150/120.  Hers has been 130/90 on a good day and thats only occasionally.

[uptowngirl]

Hi.
  So your BP runs 110/70 and you don't take a beta blocker or other med?  That's great.
  Yeah, I think your sister should get some medical attention.  You could always remind her to consider her children and being there for them.  (She does have children right??)  But I know sometimes folks can be stubborn.  I have a daddy like that.
Uptown

[Barbarella]

Barbie,

Has your sister maybe got a phobia of doctors or BP??  I developed a severe phobia of having my BP taking at the doctor's office because of the white coat syndrome.  I didn't see any doctors for 8 yrs because of that until the emergency at the eye doctor which I posted above.  Eye doctors were the only doctors I saw because there was no routine BP checks, so I thought.

I know the new guidelines for BP says it should be under 120/80 or around that, but it also depends what doctor you see.  No daubt your sister's BP is to high, but you can see 10 different doctors about BP and you will get 10 different answers.  Before my BP meds kicked in (it took a good 2 months) my BP at home was between 135-145/85-90 and my Cardio was "very pleased".  When I asked him about the new guidelines of below 120/80 he said "yes I know but don't worry you're doing fine".  Now its around 125/80 and he is very pleased.

As for what meds she should take only the doc can prescribe what he thinks is right.  When he put me on meds I also suggested meds I heard from other people which were good for them, and he told me that every person has a different kind of high blood pressure, for example some people just from being overweight.  Some people from smoking (my husband's case), some people from anxiety and stress, some people from secondary causes etc. He said there were different meds for the different causes of high blood pressure. The patch he gave me which I have to change every 7 days is doing something in the brain where my high BP comes from, I guess associated with anxiety I don't know. Its not a beta blocker patch and not just for high BP, some women take it for hot flashes.  But it does the job for me.

Bottom line, if your sister has a phobia you don't know about I totally understand her not wanting to go to the doctor. I stayed away from doctors for 8 yrs and it could've almost killed me. Some of my family and none of my friends know about my phobia, only my husband.  Maybe she'll find a doctor who will let her take her BP at home and bring in the readings when coming for her appointments.  That is what my Cardiologist suggested and put in my medical records.  I now go to any doctor's appointment a lot calmer because I know that my BP will not be taken at the doctor's office.

[Barbarella]

I forgot, you asked about symptoms.  My symptoms were "red face at times, but not often, when looking in the mirror I could see my throat pulsuating real strong, lots of anxiety for no reason, waking up at night with high anxiety, and my PVC's were a lot more frequent".  But I NEVER had any headaches, and I was NEVER dizzy.

[Barbarella]

Barbie,

I understand your concern about your sister's BP numbers.  Due to my severe white coat hypertension and before the cardio told me I could take my BP at home I stopped going to the doctor because of this white coat syndrome.  One day I had an eye appointment and the eye doctor found a popped blood vessel in the back of my eye.  He took my BP and of course my anxiety about my BP didn't help, the next thing I knew an ambulance pulled up to take me to the ER.  After many tests which all came out o.k. the cardio told me "my BP its not just white coat syndrome anymore", and he explained to me that if I'm lucky and would escape a stroke or heart attack my organs i.e. heart and kidneys can be damaged along the way from the high BP.  Heart enlargement for example.  After this episode (ambulance and the ER) I never gave it a second thought about BP meds, which I was afraid to take in the past because of possible side effects.  I'm on a patch and have NO side effects at all.  I'd NEVER gamble with my BP again.  My BP is totally normal at home.  

Please tell your sister to see a doctor.  Her bottom number is extremely elevated.

[pms_barbie]

Has your blood pressure been as high as 130?  My sister will be 31 on Dec24 and she refuses to get put back on blood pressure meds.  Her blood pressure according to 2 different  digital home machines was 150 over 120.  She has had thhese kind of readings on many occassions.  I know that is way to high and have begged her to go get it checked out.  She thought she just had it before because she was pregnant.  I would say its been 2 years since she last took meds for it.  Did you have any symptoms if yours was that high.  The only symptom she has had that I know of is a red face.

[uptowngirl]

Yeah! A new question, and a very good one at that!!

I was curious to know Ithava, what you take the Toprol for?  Is it for control of your BP? My internist also said if my BP is over 130 than it's too high.  I also am fairly young.
Take care y'all
Uptown

[Cleveland Clinic]

Inthava,

Thanks for the post.

1) A good internist should be handling your blood pressure. Your young and I would try to stick with a single physician....for someone your age, that would be an internist. If they feel that you need a specialist, they will refer you to one.  They should give you a thorough history and physical and full evaluation of your hypertension.

2) We target the same guidelines for someone older then you. You should be as low as possible.  Both your systolic and diastolic are running too high. I would initially try to attain constant readings below 120 systolic and 80 diastolic.

3) The most important things you can do without medication are tobacco abstinence and weight loss.  Both can have a dramatic effect.  Outside of these the caffeine abstinence and stress relaxation techniques can also have some impact.  Those are all a good place to start.


good luck