Blood Pressure

[Nemo2]

In the long run, we are all dead..

Well that's a downer.

 

[LOL!]

I am glad that my wife has finally agreed to take medicine to lower her BP. She has been in denial for at least 5 years. Her mother and father had some severe issues with blood pressure. They died at a young ages.

My wife believed she ate healthily, exercised, and was a good weight. The reality is different. That is, what she thought was true is not what others close to her know is true.

As for side effects, I would say: Why not follow your doctor's suggestion and see if there are side effects that you don't like. Please don't confuse the possibility of side effects with actual side effects that happen to you. Try the medicine first by following the advice of your doctor.

 

[Car-Guy]

In the long run, we are all dead.

Long run,,,,, mine is a marathon (I hope) and I'm walking!

 

[Another Reader]

Get the MD to issue a blood pressure monitor and monitor it for 24 hours. If your resting blood pressure is normal and it only rises to the higher level in limited situations, the MD will probably back off, as mine did.

I do not want the long term effects of the statins, thank you very much. Almost every time I get my blood pressure taken at some specialist's office, I get the speech about seeing the PCP about going on BP medication. Every time I tell them I have white coat syndrome and the 24 hour monitor showed my blood pressure to be normal, they concede. I think the MD's get points for detecting high blood pressure and preventing possible strokes. I suspect provider organizations get graded on preventative success by some government agency.

It's the same with breast cancer. Let someone in your family with zero family history and minimal risk for breast cancer skip a mammogram and the phone rings every month. Some administrator's target isn't being met.

 

[gerntz]

Had bp checked yesterday. Never knew about elbow needing to be at heart level for good ready, but on thinking about it now, it was close to that resting on chair arm. Typical 124/74 reading. I'd pre-guessed 120/74 to nurse. Pulse 48. I'd pre-guessed 45. I didn't pre-guess that I'd be newly diagnosed with an allergies-induced asthma component.

 

[Amethyst]

Have never experienced this. I get reminded at every physical and Gyne exam, but nobody has ever followed up by phone. Now you have me thinking they don't really care about me, waaah.

It's the same with breast cancer. Let someone in your family with zero family history and minimal risk for breast cancer skip a mammogram and the phone rings every month. Some administrator's target isn't being met.

 

[MRG]

Have never experienced this. I get reminded at every physical and Gyne exam, but nobody has ever followed up by phone. Now you have me thinking they don't really care about me, waaah.

Don't care about me either. Actually quite the opposite, despite having the technology, our provider frequently drops balls and we have to drive them.

 

[zinger1457]

The Omron device I have takes 3 readings. I think there is a 3 minute (or is it two?) time between each and then it averages the 3. When I look at the 3 readings individually they are pretty close.

Sounds like the same device I have, I would highly recommend you get it calibrated at the doctors office. Mine is consistently 20 points high compared to the doctors office and an older wrist Omron BP device. Omron claimed that difference is within their specs so it just collects dust now.

 

[Free bird]

I'm not saying take meds without educating yourself or without cause but at some point you need to make a decision. You need to have a doctor you trust. There's risks either way. Some subjects no matter how much you educate yourself will have an inconclusive result. They change their opinion on blood pressure as they learn more. Unless the side effects are severe I'd lean towards the meds. Getting old sucks getting dead sucks more.

 

[Lsbcal]

Sounds like the same device I have, I would highly recommend you get it calibrated at the doctors office. Mine is consistently 20 points high compared to the doctors office and an older wrist Omron BP device. Omron claimed that difference is within their specs so it just collects dust now.

I did take my own advice and calibrated it at the Doc's.

 

[harllee]

OP here. I am consciously trying to reduce stress (it helps that it appears that my identity theft issues are finally being resolved so that helps). I have been doing yoga, slow breathing, meditation the last 2 days. So the last 2 days my BP has been lower-- 135/80 (down from 140/80). I have not started taking any BP medicine. If this trend continues I will discuss this again with my doctor, maybe get the 24 hour monitor if needed. I just don't want to take a medication that is not needed.

I don't understand some of these medical studies. One year BP of 140 is fine, the next year it is not. One year coffee is good for your health, the next year it is not. Etc, etc. I am skeptical of some of these studies. Maybe I need to look into who paid for the study.

 

[slv1]

Thanks everyone, I will definitely give some of these ideas a try. I would probably benefit most from meditation--the identity theft thing and dealing with Social Security and Medicare has been really frustrating and anxiety producing. I had read about beet juice, I love beets, will give that a try. I will be getting more sun now that golf season is here so maybe that will help (although golf can produce anxiety too!!).

My husband takes a magnesium supplement to help him sleep, maybe I could try that. I normally sleep like a log and get at least 8 hours of sleep.

Could high BP be genetic? My mother takes BP pills but at her age (late 80s) I think her blood pressure is too low some times--she says she sometimes gets light headed.

This is really interesting. You doctor with years of experience suggests medication for BP issues which can cause a stroke, heart attack and heart failure and you choose to come on a financial site to get advice from people who could be accountants, taxi drivers, teachers, computer scientists. Notice none of them have an MD next to their name. Do you ask your doctor about accounting, computer issues? Do you ask him for taxi rides around town?

 

[harllee]

This is really interesting. You doctor with years of experience suggests medication for BP issues which can cause a stroke, heart attack and heart failure and you choose to come on a financial site to get advice from people who could be accountants, taxi drivers, teachers, computer scientists. Notice none of them have an MD next to their name. Do you ask your doctor about accounting, computer issues? Do you ask him for taxi rides around town?

I was not asking for medical advice from this community, I just wanted some other people's personal experiences with this new BP study. There are physicians and other health care providers on this forum and I appreciate their thoughts. I am not going to ignore my doctor's advice. I am taking steps to reduce my BP (did get some good suggestions on non drug methods to reduce BP from this Forum). If that does not work I will reluctantly try medication. I am just skeptical of these "studies" that come out frequently changing the rules. I am not going to blindly start taking a medication with a lot of side effects without giving it some research.

 

[braumeister]

a financial site

Much more than a financial site.

none of them have an MD next to their name.

You might be quite surprised at how many do.

One of the great things about this place is the often very unexpected bits of wisdom and advice I get from the unlikeliest sources.

 

[REWahoo]

One of the great things about this place is the often very unexpected bits of wisdom and advice I get from the unlikeliest sources.

Yep.

The place is filled with astrologers eager to advise us about hemorrhoids.

 

[harllee]

OP here, well posters on this Forum suggested meditation to reduce BP. I am trying that and already have had some positive results. There are some some very smart people on this Forum from many fields.

 

[braumeister]

Yep.

The place is filled with astrologers eager to advise us about hemorrhoids.

No question about it.

A Guru Yantra and the regular chanting of a Guru Mantra are said to be effective in treating piles as astrology says that an adverse, harmful or malefic and weak Jupiter is responsible for the condition.

Astrology Remedies To Cure Piles

You really can't argue with that stuff.

 

[REWahoo]

You really can't argue with that stuff.

+1

the regular chanting of a Guru Mantra are said to be effective in treating piles

I'm very familiar with that particular chant. It goes, "ow, ow, ow, ow..."

 

[Walt34]

You really can't argue with that stuff.

I read it on the Internet so it must be true.

 

[harllee]

OP here, I think this thread is off track. i had meant it as a serious discussion but it has gone haywire. Mods, please close the thread.

 

[Lsbcal]

OP here, I think this thread is off track. i had meant it as a serious discussion but it has gone haywire. Mods, please close the thread.

Occasionally posters go into outer space with off topic ideas or silly humor.

If you are patient I bet we get on topic again.

 

[MRG]

Occasionally posters go into outer space with off topic ideas or silly humor.

If you are patient I bet we get on topic again.

Yes and it's a good topic.

I hope the OP will share their longer term results. I'm definitely interested. I'm on metoprolol and and dizzy from it, talked to my pharmacist today, who suggested talking with my doc. I'd love to find a tried method of naturally lowering my BP, with my docs supervision.

 

[bmcgonig]

OP here, I think this thread is off track. i had meant it as a serious discussion but it has gone haywire. Mods, please close the thread.

It was the mods that took it off track

 

[REWahoo]

It was the mods that took it off track

Where?

 

[bmcgonig]

Where?

Texas