blood pressure

[audreyh1]

The main trend I noticed for my readings is that it is lower after exercise. My readings don't have the wide range that some seem to have here ... more like a top number range of 20 max with an average in the high 130's. (so +/- 10 around that number and usually within 5) And a lower number range of much less.

Blood pressure drops after exercise because blood vessels dilate during exercise.

 

[MRG]

Blood pressure drops after exercise because blood vessels dilate during exercise.

Of course it does! This article explains some of what impacts our blood pressure.

I had an issue when I went back on BP meds. It went low, too low to stay conscious for long. DW called the EMTs who wanted to take me in but we persuaded them to treat me at home. They brought my BP back up by giving me IV fluids! Pretty smart.



Your body has complex mechanisms that help control your blood pressure, which is is the force against your blood vessel walls (ref 1). Pressure sensors located in the walls of your blood vessels detect changes in blood pressure, and send messages to your brain, directing it to make adjustments in your body that will affect your blood pressure (ref 3).


https://www.livestrong.com/article/202698-normal-blood-pressure-range-for-70-year-old/

 

[Lsbcal]

Blood pressure drops after exercise because blood vessels dilate during exercise.

Interesting comment. I looked this up since I do runs in hilly (sometimes remote) terrain of 5 to 6 miles. I also noticed some decrease in my BP even 6 hours after a run. Gym workouts seem to show less change from average.

One article is here: https://www.livestrong.com/article/108483-factors-affect-heart-rate-/

The recommended optimal normal blood pressure for healthy adults is 120 systolic and 80 diastolic. Blood pressure tends to rise in the evening and fall slightly after vigorous exercise; these readings typically are 130/85 and 110/70. Athletes training regularly usually are in the 110/70 range. Any reading over 140/90 is considered high and a reading under 90/60 low; either extreme may require medical treatment.

I may be obsessing too much about BP but it's kind of interesting to get analytical about this. Might give me a feeling of being in control of some health issues.

 

[audreyh1]

Interesting comment. I looked this up since I do runs in hilly (sometimes remote) terrain of 5 to 6 miles. I also noticed some decrease in my BP even 6 hours after a run. Gym workouts seem to show less change from average.

The after exercise BP drop does persist for a while.

Another activity I noticed that easily drops my blood pressure is yoga. That was back when my BP was running a bit higher. It’s routinely well below 110 now (except at the doctor’s office), so I don’t track it so carefully.

 

[ripper1]

You are just plain wrong on this conclusion. Perhaps you are looking at some old chart?

See this recent Harvard Health article: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-high-blood-pressure-guidelines-2017111712756

Well, maybe I'm in denial then but I don't believe that is an alarming reading for someone my age. Going for my physical next month and see what dr. says. I would hope to stay off of medication.

 

[Lsbcal]

Well, maybe I'm in denial then but I don't believe that is an alarming reading for someone my age. Going for my physical next month and see what dr. says. I would hope to stay off of medication.

You and your doctor will figure it out.

My Doc said that we are not doing the low dose BP med for just right now. It's also about arteries and heart 10 to 15 years from now. I would not take meds if I could do something about this through diet + lifestyle changes. Some of us need "all of the above" probably because of genetics.

 

[limeyx]

I will tell everyone what I went though on this issue. I had the same type reading when I was in my 50's. I ignored it and told myself it was not a problem.

I argued with doctors telling them it was only high when I would come in. That was not the case I found out later.

The high reading I had did damage to my Kidneys and probably caused the peripheral arterial disease I now have.

With medication for the last 10 years my B/P is now under control. No side effects which I know many wonder about, especially men

I will be 71 this year and my blood pressure is always normal.

I did the same thing for a while and finally got it down to normal and now the doc immediately finds an un-discovered heart murmur which couldn't be detected with the higher pressures ...

 

[Teacher Terry]

Most people in my family got HBP by age 31. My son got it at that age. I did not get it until 50 but I was also fast walking 6-8 miles/day. Both my siblings also got it in their 50's. I find that after a number of years on a med it will quit working. Luckily I get a headache when mine reaches 140 so I always know. Then I check it about 3x's/day until I get a new med and get it under control. Last week I had a reading of 182/105 so went back on my old med even though it is taking my potassium. I see my doctor on Wed and then I am sure she can recommend a pill that does not steal my potassium but actually works unlike the other one I was prescribed. I have been dealing with this for 13 years. But, things could be much worse so I will just deal with it.

 

[W2R]

Well, maybe I'm in denial then but I don't believe that is an alarming reading for someone my age. Going for my physical next month and see what dr. says. I would hope to stay off of medication.

You and your doctor will figure it out.

Exactly.

My doctor put me on BP meds back in 2008 when my BP got to be around 15 points below Ripper's. I have never had BP anywhere near as high as Ripper's. But in my case, I am overweight and mild Type 2 diabetic so I am sure that affected his decision about when to put me on BP meds.

Really, Ripper's doctor needs to be making this decision, not Ripper or random people on the internet. I am glad he is going to find out what his doctor thinks.

My meds cost less than $5/month, and my BP (which I record first thing every Saturday morning) now averages 109/69.

 

[oldtrig]

W2R, I am finding as I age it is much harder to lose weight. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it

I have gained 30 pounds since I retired six years ago. Not sure if walking 30 minutes a day and sitting back down is helping things.

I can find all sort of excuses for not staying active.

I know what I am facing if I don't shed those extra pounds. I am currently trying but this weather in the south has not been good.

I am ready to see sunshine and sunny days. Tom

 

[W2R]

W2R, I am finding as I age it is much harder to lose weight. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it

I have gained 30 pounds since I retired six years ago. Not sure if walking 30 minutes a day and sitting back down is helping things.

I can find all sort of excuses for not staying active.

I know what I am facing if I don't shed those extra pounds. I am currently trying but this weather in the south has not been good.

I am ready to see sunshine and sunny days. Tom

Tom, it's an eternal struggle for us, isn't it? But hopefully we will prevail or at least not croak at too young of an age. I am sure that your 30 minute daily walks are a good idea, compared with no daily walks.

 

[Rianne]

When you go to the doctor, unless you're totally comfortable with her/him, BP usually goes up. This is a phenomenon that several DR have told me. When I see a new DR or about something that is scaring me, BP goes up expecting bad news. I'm seeing a specialist on Weds. I expect my BP to go up. I'm going to bring my BP machine from home that tracks BP history and show him, maybe compare his machine to mine to see if mine is accurate.

 

[Lsbcal]

When you go to the doctor, unless you're totally comfortable with her/him, BP usually goes up. This is a phenomenon that several DR have told me. When I see a new DR or about something that is scaring me, BP goes up expecting bad news. I'm seeing a specialist on Weds. I expect my BP to go up. I'm going to bring my BP machine from home that tracks BP history and show him, maybe compare his machine to mine to see if mine is accurate.

That is a really good idea. I guess we have to assume that their machine is a more costly and accurate one.

I did that with my new Omron and it checked out. The Doc even asked me where I got it. Someone in this forum recommended it (Audrey maybe).

 

[NW-Bound]

They always measure lower BP at the doctor office, compared to me doing it at home. And I have two different machines. Could never figure it out.

 

[audreyh1]

When you go to the doctor, unless you're totally comfortable with her/him, BP usually goes up. This is a phenomenon that several DR have told me. When I see a new DR or about something that is scaring me, BP goes up expecting bad news. I'm seeing a specialist on Weds. I expect my BP to go up. I'm going to bring my BP machine from home that tracks BP history and show him, maybe compare his machine to mine to see if mine is accurate.

It’s called white coat syndrome, and for me it definitely depends on the doctor and whether I’m anxious about the test results or some problem. I can feel my heart rate going up and I know my BP is going to read high. This is one reason I started monitoring at home years ago.