The silent killer.....

POSTED BY: 6IXSTRINGJACK
UPDATED: Monday, March 18, 2013 20:55
VIEWED: 2394
PAGE 1 of 3

1 2 3 NEXT PAGE

6IXSTRINGJACK

Saturday, March 9, 2013 2:03 PM

Hypertension......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_blood_pressure

Wow... that's some scary stuff. Especially since a lot of people walk around without any clue that they're at risk.

I always assumed that I had high blood pressure, among other things, but I'm really wondering if it was a good thing that I just found out last night that there was a blood pressure machine by the pharmacy at work. I know from reading that stress or worrying short term has no real effect on long term Hypertension, but I can't imagine that I'm doing myself any favors obsessing over the fact(?) that my heart could explode at any minute.

I tried it three times last night. The first time, I had 159/92 with a pulse rate of 82BPM.... Not good.... The second time, I had 148/86 with a pulse rate of 88BPM... Still not good, but not terrible. The third time, I had 142/82, but with a BMP of 96!

Tonight, I tried it again only once and I had 141/80 which really isn't anything catastrophic, but I had a BMP of 100!!!!!!

I realize that I wasn't at a true "resting" state any time I took a measurement, but I wasn't exactly running a marathon either.

Obviously, either my body fluctuates wildly from moment to moment, or the machine is not close to accurate, but it has to be somewhat close to accurate or else they wouldn't have it there making customers panic that they're going to have a stroke or heart attack. I'm thinking I'm still "okay" and that I'm probably in the high stages of "Pre-hypertension" when you take the averages. My huge concern here though is my abnormally high BPM readings (82-100BPM) with the four tests.

Any blood pressure experts in here? I'm just wondering if I should break down and shell out the money to see a doctor and get on BP meds now, or should I wait until Obamacare puts me in the free medicaid program in January?

My advice to everyone else, If you've got the money and/or insurance, at least have your basic yearly checkup. Even if you can't afford it like me, if it's been a long time since you've had a regular check up, you should shell out the cash for a single visit since they check BP as part of the procedure.

I know that I'm not exactly the healthiest person in the world, and I'm far from the the Greek God I was in my early 20's, but this really was shocking to discover. 10 or so years can really fly by, and if you're not properly maintaining yourself and getting regular checkups, you can easily let things spiral out of control.

GD..... My last test at a doctor's office, when I was 24, was 112 over 55.

FIVVER

Saturday, March 9, 2013 2:15 PM

Six,

Don't screw around with this. Visit a doctor. Now. Hypertension runs in my family (all of my mom's brothers died in their 40's!). The thing that amazed me was how quickly it came one. Literally one month my bp was "keep an eye on it (185/85)" and the next it was "I'm just wandering around looking for a place to have a stroke (185/130)". My doctor worked with me to find a drug to bring it under control and I've been fine for around 20 years. The drug is a generic so, thanks to WalMart, it costs me all of $40 a year.

GEEZER

Saturday, March 9, 2013 2:29 PM

I second Fivver's recommendation.

My BP was always low, in the 110/70 range, but about 15 years ago jumped up to around 150/90, so I went to the doc and got checked out. Been on meds since then and am back at the 120/75 mark.

Also, your pulse seems a bit high. Might want to talk to a doc about that as well.

"When your heart breaks, you choose what to fill the cracks with. Love or hate. But hate won't ever heal. Only love can do that."

6IXSTRINGJACK

Saturday, March 9, 2013 4:05 PM

Thanks for the advice. I figured as much.....

The idea of being on meds at 33 is terrifying to me, but probably not as terrifying this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I'm due for an aneurism that has popped up ever 30 seconds or so in my waking life since yesterday.

BYTEMITE

Saturday, March 9, 2013 5:00 PM

I have to point this out.

Blood alcohol content can actually make your blood a thicker solution and consequently raise your blood pressure.

That's the reason chronic alcoholics have red to purple faces.

I suspect that this is the warning sign that your habits really are killing you.

KWICKO

Saturday, March 9, 2013 5:23 PM

Wow. You lot seem awful quick to jump on meds as a lifelong solution.

Have you not even looked into healthier alternatives? My blood pressure is always pretty low - sometimes low enough that the doc wants me on meds to RAISE it - and my temperature runs a degree or two low as well.

Relax, exercise, don't stress over needless crap (and 99% of it is needless)...

"I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 and intellegence [sic] had very little to do with that decision." - Hero

"I was wrong" - Hero, 2012

Mitt Romney, introducing his running mate: "Join me in welcoming the next President of the United States, Paul Ryan!"

Rappy's response? "You're lying, gullible ( believing in some BS you heard on msnbc ) or hard of hearing."

AGENTROUKA

Saturday, March 9, 2013 5:41 PM

From the wikipedia page:

Quote:

Prevention

Lifestyle changes are recommended to lower blood pressure, before starting drug therapy. The 2004 British Hypertension Society guidelines proposed the following lifestyle changes consistent with those outlined by the US National High BP Education Program in 2002 for the primary prevention of hypertension:

- maintain normal body weight for adults (e.g. body mass index 20–25 kg/m2)
- reduce dietary sodium intake to <100 mmol/ day (<6 g of sodium chloride or <2.4 g of sodium per day)
- engage in regular aerobic physical activity such as brisk walking (=30 min per day, most days of the week)
- limit alcohol consumption to no more than 3 units/day in men and no more than 2 units/day in women
- consume a diet rich in fruit and vegetables (e.g. at least five portions per day);

Effective lifestyle modification may lower blood pressure as much an individual antihypertensive drug. Combinations of two or more lifestyle modifications can achieve even better results.

Sorry to hear yo have cause to worry. I definitely think, if you're apprehensive about using drugs and even in combination with drugs, you have a lot of options for making positive changes yourself, so there's that comfort. Best of luck!

GEEZER

Saturday, March 9, 2013 6:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
Wow. You lot seem awful quick to jump on meds as a lifelong solution.

Actually, seeing the doctor is my major suggestion.

Quote:
Have you not even looked into healthier alternatives? My blood pressure is always pretty low - sometimes low enough that the doc wants me on meds to RAISE it - and my temperature runs a degree or two low as well.

Relax, exercise, don't stress over needless crap (and 99% of it is needless)...

That's just the way I was, into my late forties. Then, with no change in habits or environment, my BP went way up. Temperature stayed low at around 96.8. Now I'm retired, have lost 25 lbs, run three days a week, have a resting heart rate of around 60, and still need the meds to keep my BP down.

Not saying that Six may not find other options, but getting it checked out is the first step, whatever the solution one chooses.

"When your heart breaks, you choose what to fill the cracks with. Love or hate. But hate won't ever heal. Only love can do that."

1KIKI

Saturday, March 9, 2013 6:54 PM

Something(s) may be driving your blood pressure up, therefore, changing it(them) could bring your blood pressure down.

As a young person (you are that to me), like most young people in this country, you haven't been taught to treat your body with the respect it deserves. This may be the time to learn that. The best advice I can give you is my grandmother’s, a very canny woman who lived to a healthy 99: "don't overdo".

Eat a nutritious diet, not a fast-food or pre-prepared one. Don't overdo the treats (and fast-food and pre-prepared food also count as treats in addition to what we think of as 'junk food'), don't overdo the dieting. Exercise. Don't overdo the exercise, don't overdo the sedentariness. Take care of business. Don't overdo the denial, don't overdo the stress. Of course, don't overdo the drinking especially. Don't binge drink (more than three drinks at a sitting or four in a day). 1-2 drinks per day (if you can manage to drink and not try to get drunk once you start) is your limit. Oddly enough, that amount of alcohol is healthier than none, but none is healthier than too much.

A recent study also indicated a far far lower overall mortality and rate of non-fatal strokes and heart attacks in people at risk (hypertensive/ diabetic/ obese) by eating a Mediterranean diet instead of the standard US diet even when nothing else changed like weight, blood glucose, medication or BP. You may wish to change the foods you eat. If you can drink reasonably, drink wine.

BTW there are a couple of things about your BP reading ... First of all the machines are NOT calibrated for BP accuracy. Your reading may be good, it may be high, it may be low. The pulse rate is easier to measure and it's harder to screw up, so it's probably accurate. But pulse rates go up and down depending on internal drives from your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, your kidneys and your brain and your heart. And it goes up and down depending on your level physical conditioning. Also, some people normally run faster than others. ETA: if you take a few BP readings at the same time, your LOWEST reading is considered the valid one - it's possible for your BP to be above its baseline for many reasons, but not possible for it to be lower than baseline. ALSO a high heart rate and moderately elevated BP CAN indicate dehydration and low blood volume. Your blood vessels clamp down and your heart rate goes up (especially during demand, even from standing up) to make up for the lack of blood volume. Stay hydrated - but don't overdo it.

... and how to take it. If you need to go to the bathroom then go first. The need to go will raise your BP. You should be 'resting quietly' for at least 5 minutes before you take a reading. Don’t talk to anyone or listen, doing either raises BP. Your arm should be at heart level. It should be relaxed - don't tense your arm or flex your wrist. Don't cross your legs. Your feet should be flat on the floor. Also, if you are cold, or dehydrated, or anxious, your BP will be up.

SO ... try to get the chaos of your life in order. Be prudent. OF COURSE see a doctor and get it checked out. But unless your BP is extremely high they will recommend other changes first. I think you are young enough that - unless essential hypertension runs in your family as a genetic risk - you have a reasonable chance of getting your blood pressure under control by 'lifestyle modification'. Or as I think of it, treating your body with the respect it deserves.

ETA: All of this advice is of course statistical. Even with very good statistical results, there will be a percentage of people for whom the statistics don't hold up. If after a time of good faith effort something isn't working for you, or you notice things get worse, then stop doing it. There's no need to be an ideologue about this, you just want to make things better. Pay attention to results and do what works. Be prudent and keep on your best path.

Good luc

AURAPTOR

Saturday, March 9, 2013 10:06 PM

Didn't " they " lower the #'s for what was considered 'healthy' back in the mid 90's or some such? I seem to recall there being some adjustment a while ago.

My BPM usually runs in the low 50's.

Fathom the hypocrisy of a government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured... but not everyone must prove they are a citizen

Resident USA Freedom Fundie

" AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall