High Blood Pressure as a Healthy Young Adult (except for bp)

[Hughes80]

Hi,
    I just went to my cardiologist for a routine checkup.  I have a cardiologist because i had correction surgery for a coartation of the aorta when i was 2 years old.  He said, "The heart looks great, does not even look like you had surgery".  Yet when i went there, my systolic blood pressure was high.  I had a 158/76.  He suggested being put on medication and to see my primary physician.  I am getting another physical in about a week.  Last year my BP was high as well, went to my primary physician a week later and it was perfect. I assumed it was white collar effect. My gf has a BP cuff, she is in nursing school, we have been takin it a couple times now and it still seems high.  In the morning when i woke up, it was 126/76, but at night my systolic was in the high 140's again.  I am not sure what is going on. I am a male, 26 years of age.  I don't smoke, i am very healthy.  I exercise 4-5 times a week.  I eat correctly.  I do this because of the surgery when i was a child.  Is there anything that causes high systolic in a 26 year old who has a healthy lifestyle?


Thanks in advance,

Dan

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
What you have is not a high BP but a fluctuating BP which is of two types: fluctuations on higher side and the other is fluctuations on the lower side. You have the former condition. Fluctuations of BP on a higher side are mainly due to hormonal imbalance, kidney or heart problems. BP can also go to higher side after a physical activity like climbing stairs, running etc and this comes back to normal after rest. It can also be to due to anxiety and stress. Hence careful tests like kidney function test, stress test or treadmill test, ECHO, EKG, BP monitoring, and complete hormonal profile needs to be done.
The best thing would be to consult a general practitioner or PCP and try and assess what is the cause of your problem. Then proper referral for concerned specialist can take things further and get you proper treatment. Take care!

[Hughes80]

Thanks for your response.  I am going to ask my doctor if there is anything else that can cause it.  You are definitely right though, my father passed away before i was born from a heart attack at 31.  His body over produced cholestorol that was not found because he never went to the doctor in his 20's.  So i am sure he had high BP has well.  My father's side of the family is not great in the heart area.  Its definitely very possible i drew the short straw.  However, your response does settle my mind a bit.  I am still going to see if there may be another cause at first (does not hurt to ask) However, thanks!

[ku111]

You can do everything right and please continue.  It might run in your family also.  Anyone in your family have high blood pressure?  Keep in mind, high bp is a silent killer. Someone may have high blood pressure for a long time before it is actually caught.  That is why so much damage can be done until you are older and show the effects.  I found out when I was 28 but my dad has high bp.  I take a pill a day and I don't feel the effects accept when I don't take it.  I feel tons better when I do take it (less headaches).  I always just laugh and say I drew the short straw.  Better I take meds and know then to have something bad happen that I could have prevented.  Thank god we have something that can be corrected!  Goodluck.