Unexplained high blood pressure

[ldbahn]

So I am a healthy 28 year old female who is not overweight (5'7" 115lbs).  I have NEVER had high BP me whole life and haven't always eaten the best nor worked out regularly.  Now in the last 2 years, I have been eating well and working on regularly.  Then about 6 months ago when i was at the Dr.  I had high blood pressure (138/88).  My Dr. told me to watch my sodium and i had blood work taken.  The blood work came back normal and I have been really watching my sodium.  It hasn't gone down.  What could be the cause?  My Dr. asks if i have shortness of breath and I don't, but I just feel that something is wrong.  My father had heart problems/stroke but never had high BP.  Am I just being paranoid?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for keeping me posted.

I am providing you with a link. Go through all the tables of panels of test required to rule out the causes of high blood pressure. If all these tests come back normal, then what you have is essential hypertension. This can occur at any age and without any cause. Refer: http://www.pharmj.com/pdf/hp/200704/hp_200704_clinical.pdf
Hope this helps. Do consult your PCP and discuss this with him. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[ldbahn]

Well that's the thing, i have been making a point to eat healthy (prior to the high BP) the last couple years.  I get a normal calorie intake etc.  I guess my problem is that I am more healthy than i have ever been and now i have high BP??  it just doesn't make sense?  That's why I feel like there is something else that might be wrong...

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
What you have could probably be essential hypertension. There is no cause for this. “Multiple systolic blood pressure readings between 130 and 139 or diastolic blood pressure readings between 80 and 89 is called prehypertension. Your doctor will recommend and encourage lifestyle changes including weight loss, exercise, and nutritional changes.” Refer: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000153.htm
Apart from sodium you may need to decrease the total calorie intake too.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!