Blood pressure

[TWBNK]

This leaflet may be of interest.

http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG34publicinfo.pdf

edit:Just noticed you are in France, but still it may be of use.....

 

[Blue]

I take your point as some GPs will medicate sooner than others.

My own tale in relation to BP was that as part of a general health check some years ago a high reading was spotted and confirmed at 2 subsequent readings. I didn't accept the situation as I have been a very fit LD runner and cyclist for decades. After a bit of reading I wondered if I was suffering from white coat syndrome, as I don't like people fussing around me, so I purchased an approved home monitor and started to take regular readings over a 2 month period - all in the 'normal' range. I printed a graph of the readings and took said graph and my monitor to my GP. Possibly because I was now more relaxed about the whole issue, my GP got a reading in keeping with those I had recorded. After that the Doc just took a look at my graph and advised that he wouldn't even consider medication. I was advised to use the home monitor and only report back if I got a continuously high reading. I just take readings whenever I think of it, usually every month or two, and haven't noticed any problems.

 

[Baggy]

For instance, I have avoided confrontation all my life. I walk rather than fight, always have...A high BP might cause people to naturally avoid stressful situations.

I'm quite similar, though am extremely good at bottling things up and appearing calm when I'm most definitely not.

My brother also has high blood pressure and is also rubbish at dealing with stress. He's pretty confrontational though.

My new doctor said he thinks I'm probably the sort of person who might be liable to suffer from high blood pressure as I got older. Typically at the time I didn't ask him exactly what he meant by that. I suspect he means "anxious female".

 

[another_dave_b]

I'd really liked to have heard that R4 program vernon, it would have interested me.

If it was Am I Normal? it's available from Radio 4's 'listen again' service.

 

[vernon]

I am really interested in others experiences and opinions in this area. I'd really liked to have heard that R4 program vernon, it would have interested me.

You can listen to the programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/am_i_normal.shtml

Happy listening.

 

[yello]

Cheers for the link! It sounds real food for thought...

We rely on doctors to tell us what’s high and what’s normal, but now it seems, even they don’t agree. A blood pressure that most GPs would describe as OK is now considered worryingly high by leading researchers in the field.

 

[yello]

Yes, very interesting. It was interesting to hear the different opinions.

The program seemed to conclude by pointing the finger at salt as a big factor in hypertension.

 

[cchapman]

Well,we knowthat salt, lack of exercise, etc but what if drugs are prescribed?
The side effects are what I would be afraid of.

 

[yello]

I'm not about to become an advocate for drugs but, from I can gather, drug treatment for hypertension is well established and relatively successful without major side effects.

But, like you, it's an area I'd be concerned about on a personal level. Stats are no guarantee of how the individual will respond!

 

[yenrod]

I've deliberately put this in chat because I'm not after advice!

I had to get a medical cert for sportives as a cert is required over here. So, back in May, I visited the docs. He said my blood pressure was border line high at 140/80 and I should monitor it. So I bought a machine and began to take regular checks. Periodically, I also do a bit of reading on the subject.

What's amazing is just how much my BP varied (a low of 116/65 after exercise to a high of 163/89) AND how much difference of opinion there is out there as to what constitutes high. So it really is difficult to get any idea of what constitutes a problem. Bottom line for me is that I feel fine. I can ride a bike for 200km without problem. My resting pulse is around 45, I can push it to 175 without keeling over and it quickly recovers. Non smoker, veg/fruit rich non-fatty diet. So not a lot wrong with me.

My BP is probably due to my naturally tense and stressed nature. I need yoga, if anything, not drugs!

In France, they really like prescribing drugs. Go into any town and the most modern looking shop is the pharmacy, it's a very profitable business! So I'm pretty sure the doc would want to put me on drugs and that's not going to happen! I'm quite happy with my BP as I feel fine (though I will keep monitoring it).

What are others feelings thoughts on the subject?

A friend of mine once told me a story about he was mentioning to a relative who was a nurse who was at his when he returned from a ride and they talked of exercise and the likes then he said the good thing, though, about riding is that HR goes down to quite a low level when your totally relaxed, oh yes she says, whats that then ?, he replied - about 40 bpm she then went onto say that in a medical capcity its normal for a rate like his he would be on drugs to get it up to normal !

Its great to relax ie yoga etc...

 

[mikeitup]

re

I have been reading this thread with interest.
I had dizzy spells about 2.5 years ago and went to my GP who diagnosed me as having HBP (as well as high cholesterol and overweight!! ).
That's what happens after 10 years as a couch potato!!!
I was prescribed Ramipril for my BP and have not noticed any side effects that I am aware of. I am on them til I croak but at least I am fitter now than I used to be have lost a stone and am clocking up 300 miles per month commuting to work.
I am concerned though that I was put on the medication and maybe I shouldn't have been

 

[yello]

I am concerned though that I was put on the medication and maybe I shouldn't have been

Could you speak to your doc about coming off them then? If only for a trial period. I'm sure your local Health Authority would welcome the saving too!

 

[cchapman]

I don't have high blood pressure per se, but I have a 'damaged liver'. My specialist would be more comfortable if I used some medication for hbp. I said that I was not happy with that idea, for various reasons, one of which was the side effects. He happily accepted that.
after midnite now, goodnite.

 

[Kirstie]

This is something which worries me as every time I have my blood pressure taken the docs tell me it is on the high side. But every time I've had it done it's been in a stressful situation ie before an operation or other medical examination which has made me anxious. is this what 'White coat hypertension' is?
On the downside I have struggled recently with extreme stress as part of my job and family circumstances, so can it have a cumulative effect? I don't eat a lot of salt either.

 

[punkypossum]

My doctor has given up taking mine, I get so stressed that it goes sky high...and then obviously I get even more stressed worrying about it being high... Ended up getting one of them home monitors, even that freaks me out slightly and I feel nervous doing it, but at least I can get normal readings... But yes, for me anything to do with having my BP taken has turned into a bit of a phobia - my heart starts racing at the mere sight of a BP monitor!!!!