Hypertension at 18

[knicks30]

Well anywayz 4 months ago diagnosed with HBP at 18 years old, 100 lbs overweight slightly high cholestorol levels, got scared with chest pains and headaches. Went to the ER they did EKG, bloodwork and that came back normal. Month later went to a cardiologist and he did a EKG, Echo, holter, chest xray, which were all normal. Oh i do have a history of asthma.

Well anywayz cholestorol levels went from TC: 204 to 171, LDL stayed the same, HDL went down but i know i can bring that up, Triglycerides went from 273 to 140 on diet and slight exercise(i know i still have to do more!!) I have lost 45 pounds and im still going! sad thing is though losing 45 pounds and getting alot less salt my HBP stays high at docs office, at home its normal(have a digital and a regular one)Home ranges from 120-135/65-80. Am i doing enough? I mean im losing weight, restricing salt, taking diovan 80mg and still high at docs office!!

Now im complaing of chest pressure in middle of chest thats lasted for 3 months and counting...still have some periods of shortness of breath and just wondering whats wrong with me cause im literally going mad here! I have no history of heart disease in my family grandma had MVP, but hypertension does linger around. I dont smoke and i dont drink(i thank the lord i dont!) I really would like to start exercising more and more so i can get this weight off and be healthy for once in my life!

1. should i be re-evaluated?
2. what do you think could be the new chest pressure?
3. could someone my age develop CAD or an enlarged heart?

Thank you for cool forums!

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

knicks30,

Thanks for the post.

Q:"Am i doing enough?"

Well anywayz, I think you are on the right track.  The 45# weight loss is a great start to the 100# you said you need to lose.

Q:"... and still high at docs office!!"

Many people have high blood pressure at the doc's office but lower at home.  This is usually for one of two reasons: either you have anxiety-provoked hypertension (from being at the doc's office), or you are not getting accurate home measurements.

Q:"1. should i be re-evaluated?"

That depends on your anxiety level.  The incidence of chest pains with a cause from the heart is exceedingly low in 18 year old women, but we do rarely see an 18 year old with heart disease.

Q:"2. what do you think could be the new chest pressure?"

I don't know enough about you to give an answer.

Q:"3. could someone my age develop CAD or an enlarged heart?"

Yes, but it would be rare.

Hope that helps.

[knicks30]

also one more thing....3 weeks before i was diagnosed with HBP my blood pressure was normal. Secondary??? Once again docs you guys should be proud of yourselves...great site i love it!

[renee1952]

Im no Dr. but I just wanted to say that I think you should be very proud of yourself. Losing 45lbs. and lowering your triglycerides almost 130 points in 4 months sounds like you are doing a wonderful job. I know you are eating low salt but other than that what kind of diet are you following? I'm sure you will get alot of your questions answered here but keep up the good work..My Best..

[Shroom]

sodium vs salt. You need to make sure that your overall SODIUM intake is lower, not just your salt. Food like bread can have 100-300 mg sodium per slice. Good job with your weight and good luck!

[knicks30]

I try to be under 2400 mgs of salt a day. Yes i also watch out for the sodium. I understand the difference. My diet consists of eating oatmeal, cornflakes with skim milk or 1% milk, tuna salad, fruits, cholesterol free eggs.

Oatmeal or cornflakes in the morning with skim milk or 1%
or cholestorol free eggs.

Lunch i have a good tuna salad with red wine vinegar.

Dinner i have a turkey sandwich(wheat bread) with lettuce and tomatoes.

I know that isnt a fad diet cause i dont use one! I never trust those fad diets so on my own diet and so far its worked for me and plus a bit of prayer doesnt hurt.

Thank you for you kind comments really appreciate it, i know if exercise more the weight could be handled i just need my HBP to be controlled and wondering what this pressure in the middle of chest but i mostly feel it more when i lay down.  

Well just waiting for the doc's response!

Thank you 2 again for the comments.

[ozark]

congrats!  are you doing any muscle exercises such as lifting weights?  using your chest muscles?  the other thing is your asthma undercontrol...stress re you bp may cause this........good luck

[knicks30]

i used to lift weights cause i used to play football. I dont lift weights anymore and despite losing weight im also losing a bit of strenght as well. I played Defensive end at high school now i look like i should be a kicker!! I heard its dangerous to lift weights if you have hypertension which i need to do again cause i cant stand the fact im losing my strength. My asthma is weird. I use a inhaler(albuterol) and it feels as though it dosnt work. Stress? Im not so sure about stress i feel like i go fine without stress throghout the day.

[renee1952]

I think if you are also losing strength as well as weight that you are not getting enough of the basic food groups that you need to stay healthy while in a weight loss program..Your doing a wonderful job but I have been where you are at with weight loss many times.If the diet you posted is what you eat every day your going to burn out.Noone can eat the exact same foods over and over for months and not burn out..I wonder if you had considered a more organized weight loss program such as joining weight watchers? You are allowed a variety of foods and in an amt. that if you follow it correctly you lose weight and are not hungry. It demands you eat from the 5 food groups but also allows occasional splurges without cheating..They also have an exercise part of their program that compliments the dietary side. Just wanted to mention it to you as something for you to think about. It cost about 12.00 per week...Best of luck to you,
Renee

[hbp702]

Immediately demand to be checked thoroughly for any possible causes of secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension is not seen in 18 year olds. Primary hypertension is due to aging in the presence of risk factors, environment, etc, but is not a disease seen in teenagers, although many doctors are lazy enough to just say primary hypertension in a youngster with enough risk factors. An 18 year old is still growing, not "getting old", and should not be getting diseases of aging. It would be like you getting Alzheimers at your age.

As for weight, if that even was a factor, it should be much less of a factor since you lost 45% (45 of 100 lbs) of the excess weight. "They" (the medical establishment) claim a loss of 7-10% of bodyweight often cures or greatly alleviates weight related problems, I am almost certain that your loss of 45 lbs more than qualifies (unless you were 450 pounds or more to begin with - which I doubt considering you stated you were only 100 lbs overweight). Yet you are still hypertensive. And the fact you weight is going down is also considered a positive factor. Even if you were old enough for primary hypertension and weight was considered a factor, the above would argue extremely strongly that something else is going on.

You need to be checked for diabetes, pheochromocytoma, coarction of the aorta and renal artery stenosis, and get a full endocrine workup ASAP!

I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. I suggest you see a second doctor (not referred by the first, not the same practice, etc), and see if she or he can uncover the cause of your hypertension. And if he finds something treatable that the first did not, I suggest calling the state medical board and a malpractice attorney.

I got hypertension at 25. I demanded other tests and found out I was a biochemical MESS! Insulin resistance, male hypogonadism and hyperestrogenism (once the hypogonadism was treated). If there is a male equivalent to PCOS, I got it.

Working on some of these problems helped a lot, but I still have refractory hypertension and cognitive problems (hard to concentrate, make decisions, stay organized, stay focused), feel wired and sick beyond belief at times, stress hormone levels sky high, etc.

Some of the damage very likely could have been avoided in my case.

It might not be too late for you - get checked and treated!

I wish you the best of luck with your health, certainly hope you have better luck than I.

[renee1952]

Why do you think it is impossible for an 18 yr old to have primary hypertension?..I'm 52 years old and was diagnosed and been on medication since I was 19 years old...My weight, low or high, has not been much of a factor...When I weighed in the 160s range the Drs. always tried to tell me that losing the weight would help my BP...It never did! I now weigh 118lbs. and take 3 BP meds a day.. Toprol Xl, Hyzaar, and Demedex...I'm certain it is, atleast for me, alot genetics..My mother had HBP for all the years I can remember and she was never over weight, as did her brother. Both her parents had HBP and both died of complications arising from that illness. One had a stroke, and the other had a cerebral hemmorhage. Obviously her parents were not blood related but Im certain as far as BP goes they were a bad mix that has effected many of us down the line.Im also sure I had HBP before I was diagnosed and placed on medication. At 19 years old it was the first time I ever had my BP taken. For several years before that I had headaches and horrible nose bleeds that stopped once the BP was brought under control..Every now and then some Dr. will try to cut my dosage or eliminate 1 or 2 types of my medications and within days the nosebleeds start again. I have had my nose packed several times trying to stop the bleeding.It is not fun walking around with 72 in. of gauze shoved up your nose for 36 hrs.

[knicks30]

I have been checked for diabetes. my fasting blood sugar level was 107 which i thought was high normal. Since losing the weight it has gone down to 88 since i dont eat white bread and candy or anything else with high sugar. I should tell me doctor to look for secondary hypertension but like renee said it just could be genetics since my father, uncle, and alot of others in my family have hypertension but just in case ill still get checked for secondary causes. Maybe i do since i had a urine test done and it said i hade +1 protein in my urine. Ill recheck and see whats up with my doc.

Thank you for you comment.

[ozark]

since you mentioned protein in  your urine,  maybe you should have studies done on  your kidneys...renal artery stenosis is a possibility as well as other things....maybe your family members had kidney issues causing hbp and were unaware but started on bp meds.....good luck

[knicks30]

I will get my kidneys checked. But i have a few questions that hopefully someone can answer.

1. Ive had a fast pulse upon standing like 120 or a little less but sometimes its around 80 is that normal?

2. How does someone know there going into Afib or VT? Lets say your checking your pulse on the wrist and its beating normally but a little strong is it possible that could be afib or VT? Or when you go into Vt or afib is there even a pulse?

3. I heard that hypertension can be cured and cannot be cured...what gives?

OH and doc you said you dont know enough about me, Well 18 yrs, male, 55 lbs overweight, dont smoke, dont drink, eat healthy now, ive had a chest xray, echo,holter, 3 ekgs, bloodwork done about 3 months ago...i do have asthma dx as child at times feel pressure on my chest and isnt it suppose to be tightness instead of pressure for asthma? I do feel out of breath at times and when i take my inhaler the pressure on my chest seems to go away for a bit but then come back if you want any more information dont be affraid to ask!

[tessa0825]

As for question #3, if there is a cure, myself nor any of my Drs. have found it in the many years I have had HBP. I think it is possible for people to have HBP for many different reasons.  for some, lifestyle changes seem to be all that is needed to lowed BP, others might have HBP as a symptom of another illness and if that illness is corrected then the HBP would lower. Others like myself have a strong genetic background and nothing seems to take it away (cure it).

[090308health]

I developed high BP 2 yrs ago after the birth of my daughter. I am now on BP medication (Toprol 25 mg). I am 5`4, weigh about 150 pds. My weight doesn`t seem to affect my BP either. When I was skinnier it didn`t help w/ it. My BP was 154/116 one night before I started taking BP medication. I have had a lot of blood work done, and all has been normal, including kidneys. My doctor said I have primary hypertension. I`m thinking of seeing a heart doctor though for a second opinion just in case... Any other women out there with similar problems? It doesn`t matter what age you are, hypertension can start at anytime. My BP runs about 120/80 with BP medication. Sometimes I feel it should still be lower than that.

[va_tony]

knicks30,

To answer your questions:

1. "Ive had a fast pulse upon standing like 120 or a little less but sometimes its around 80 is that normal?"

Yes. Heart rates up to about 100 are normal, even at rest.  Depending on your conditioning, standing up could easily cause the rate to go up to 120 for a brief period of time. Don't sweat it.

2. "How does someone know there going into Afib or VT? Lets say your checking your pulse on the wrist and its beating normally but a little strong is it possible that could be afib or VT? Or when you go into Vt or afib is there even a pulse?"

With afib your pulse is highly irregular.  You're missing beats and the rate is constantly changing. Some people have very high HR during afib, others don't. If anything, your pulse feels weaker that normal because you're missing the "atrial kick". If you have VT, you pass out (or feel faint) and under the worse case scenereo, you die. I think you're just being overly aware of your heartbeat.  Otherwise you're normal.

Tessa0825 has already answered your 3rd question.

Congratulations on losing 45 lbs.  Keep it up!

Best of luck

Tony

[knicks30]

thanks va_tony that made me feel better.

Thank you all for you comments...wow you guys are really nice! Thanks again.

[090308health]

By the way, I forgot to post earlier up top that I am 24 yrs old. Take care all...