blood pressure

[crystal26]

hello, i am a 26 year old female. i was put on toprol xl about 3 yrs ago after the birth of my 2nd child for rapid heartbeat and borderline high blood pressure. then after being diagnosed with anxiety i went to a cardiologist had a echo done which showed a slightly enlarged heart which he said not to worry about but my blood pressure was still high so he added altace 5 mgs which i been on for a year now. when i go to the docter now my b/p is between 120/80 to 130 over 88 but when i check it with my mothers digital b/p machine the lowest it has been between 90/60
and 110/70 it scares  me and i am wondering if this is to low and can that cause you to stay sleepy?

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear crystal,

Low blood pressure may cause dizziness and light-headedness but it does not usually cause one to feel sleepy.  Blood pressure varies throughout the course of the day and the important thing is not the low BPs but the high BPs.  As long as the high readings are less than 130 and you are not getting dizzy you can probably stay with your current medications.  Continue to check your readings throughout the day and keep a log.  Bring this with you to your next doctor's visit.

[Concerned lady]

Dear Crystal,

I was told by a pharmacist that sometimes the digital blood pressure machines are NOT ACCURATE. I found a BIG DIFFERENCE between one digital blood pressure machine, and a mechanical one. The digital one read MUCH LOWER (every time I did comparisons)than the mechanical ("anaerobic") one.

I ended up buying a GOOD QUALITY blood pressure machine (mechanical/anaerobic) with stethescope attached, from a medical school bookstore. The brand is TYCOS. I paid $75 for that machine, and then I brought it to a cardiologist's office, to compare it to the professional one there (also a TYCOS).

Mine read almost the exact same reading as the professional one. So now I believe my machine is accurate.

You should consider getting a GOOD BLOOD PRESSURE MACHINE ("sphygmomanometer"), because your medication doses should be based on ACCURATE READINGS, not based on POSSIBLY FALSE blood pressure readings!!!

Sincerely,
Carol

***@****
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

P.S. My "palpitations", and "heavy arms" and "pins & needles/flush" symptoms are improving. I believe I'm improving because I stopped overdoing on salt, stopped eating high sugar desserts, am eating better, eating more garlic daily (to help lessen blood pressure), paying more attention to ERGONOMICS while driving and at the computer, getting gentle chiropractic help for misaligned cervical (neck) vertebrae, etc.

[gmf]

Ask your doctor if there is an ambulatory blood pressure monitor available. This is an instrument that you wear for 24 hours and it makes multiple blood pressure measurements, even when you are asleep.

This type of monitor is very accurate and will resolve any questions regarding what your blood pressure levels are.

[AJ1555]

Hi
I am a 46 year old male. I have had borderline high BP for a few years. I am reasonably active but have HBP in family. I recently started having dull headaches and wooziness. Upon checking my BP was 150/100 - 140/90. Also felt some pins and needles and flush symptoms.
I was put on Prinivil at 10 and then 20mg after a week for about 4 wks. Recently I had a real bad dizziness spell playing golf. It was sunny and it felt different than previous dizzinesss. I felt the colors change in my vision. I  thought maybe my Bp was too low. During most of the day my BP stays at around 130-140/90-100. Around peak drug activity it comes down some . I seem to have restarted the original symptoms even at this dosage.
Am I taking enough? Is there a chance that my bad spell was actually very low BP? How does one protect against the swings if they exist?
What else can I do?? Can I exercise when I have high BP??