Posted by Rick on October 15, 2003, at 19:32:20
In reply to Re: Blood pressure » Penny, posted by NikkiT2 on October 14, 2003, at 14:27:48
> I've been having my blood pressure taken by a doc for 14 years though (since I went on the pill).. so I can't see that that is an issue.. and in middle of August it was 90/70 immiediately prior to me being taken up to the operating room for surgery - and I was certainly nervous then!!
>
> Unfortunately I have no way of taking my b/p at home, and no money to buy a bp monitor!!If you're in the U.S., many large drugstores (including those in grocery stores) have free in-store sit-down blood pressure monitors. (I don't know if this is true in other countries.) Use them. Sometimes they may be a little inaccurate, but should give an idea of BP control, e.g. whether this happens just certain times of day, etc. An average of multiple readings is what's really relevant.
There are so many things that could be going on here. One example could be developing "White Coat Hypertension" where your blood pressure rises temporarily when you're at the doctor's office. Hormonal changes could contribute, and to a lesser extent mental changes. So could a relatively unlikely situation such as inadvertent lead ingestion from contaminated food or supplements. Also, there are occasionally readily curable, "secondary" physical causes of hypertension, although they are sometimes difficult to identify.
In any event, primary (i.e., not readily explainable by secondary physical factors) Blood Pressure increases are usually readily treatable, with lifestyle and/or drug interventions. But it's important not to wait too long. While your systolic BP (top number) is close to "high normal," the diatolic reading you gave is pretty high. And both represent big increases from your baseline of 90/70. Gaining even just 10 pounds can cause BP to shoot up in some people, and conversely losing 10 pounds can cause it to drop back down. IAnd, while it's not typical, it's by no meanns unprecedented for blood pressure to jump within a couple of months, even in someone under 30 and for no clear reason.
If your doctor hasn't done so already, you should be getting blood tests, especially glucose, kidney function, and thyroid function.
Rick
poster:Rick
thread:269295
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031015/msgs/269797.html