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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Wednesday, May 04, 2005 - 3:35 am
Source: Ivanhoe.com Reported April 20, 2005 Controlling High Blood Pressure 2005 Executive Summary (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Blood is carried through arteries from your heart to all other areas of your body. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Your blood pressure is at highest when the heart beats and pumps the blood, which is called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest in between beats, blood pressure is at its lowest, and this is called diastolic pressure. High blood pressure is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 millimeters of mercury or higher. People can control their blood pressure by changing to healthier habits like exercising and cutting down on salt intake. In some cases, medicine is necessary. Find out what researchers have recently learned about different methods of blood pressure control. Treating Blood Pressure Reduces Heart Disease: Research shows older people with untreated high systolic blood pressure may have a 90-percent greater risk of death or cardiovascular event over 14 years when compared with those who take medication for their high blood pressure.
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Kristylovesbb
Member
09-14-2000
| Friday, May 06, 2005 - 12:09 pm
Thanks for starting this thread HP. I am taking Altace now and doc added a new med, Klonopin. So far BP is staying mostly high. I can take it, it may be 197/97 then 30 min later 135/85 then 30 min later 167/75. Seems to be jumping around like crazy. One thing about it I can tell instantly when it increases. I don't know if that's good or bad because when I feel it's high I take it and then it gets even higher because I'm worried. All in all I have come to believe it boils down to stress and nerves. I am trying to work on these things.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, May 06, 2005 - 12:35 pm
Hey, Kristy! I really know next to nothing about this topic, so I am hoping to learn more from anyone here. How do you know your blood pressure readings? Can you feel if it is fluctuating? Do you take it frequently? At home? In a drug store? Has anyone recommended an anti-depressant for your stress? Would you consider that approach? I am on the beta blocker Inderal LA (80 mg). My top number was in the low to mid 140s, if I remember correctly, and now it is down to the 120s. Can't remember what my bottom number was. But I do have a PCP appt on Mon and will make a note of it.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Friday, May 06, 2005 - 1:21 pm
I am on lisinopril. Mine was 165/95 and now it's down to 110/80. I get a really strange headache when mine goes up.
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Kristylovesbb
Member
09-14-2000
| Friday, May 06, 2005 - 3:56 pm
Yes HP I have a machine that was purchased for my husband a couple of years ago. I take my readings several times a day. I am already on an anit-depressant for stress, Trazodone. Answering you question about being able to feel it fluctuating the answer is yes. I start to feel very hyper and I start talking really fast. My family noticed it first and said something to me about it. They thought I must be taking diet pills or something.LOL Sometimes I come wide awake and feel like jumping out of the bed and running. I will take a reading, it will be pretty high in the 190's top and high 90's on the bottom. Other times during the day I get to feeling real antsy and will take it and again it will be very high. I don't go back to the doctor for a month. Doc says it needs 3 to 4 weeks to start working correctly. eta: Texannie I was asked several times at the hospital if I had a headache when my BP reached 243/119 and I didn't. They thought that was strange. Once in a while I will get a headache from it but not very often.
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Beachcomber
Member
08-26-2003
| Friday, May 06, 2005 - 4:41 pm
Mine was 140/90 and I was having the weird headaches. I am on Diovan and it is now 100/60 most days. I believe I have "white coat syndrome" as my blood pressure goes up when I see my heart doctor but it is really normal when I see other doctors. So I really question whether I should be on medicine, but will continue to satisfy the DH and parents!
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Friday, May 06, 2005 - 5:23 pm
Beachcomber, I was at my doc the other day and mentioned to the nurse taking my blood pressure that it is ALWAYS higher in the doctor's office than elsewhere. I used to have a dentist that took blood pressure. It was NEVER high at the dentist. Nurse said "white coat syndrome" is very common.
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Kristylovesbb
Member
09-14-2000
| Saturday, May 07, 2005 - 5:35 am
I have son, grandson, ex-daughters-in-law, life, bills, taxes, and family syndrome!LOL
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Sunday, May 08, 2005 - 5:44 pm
I suffer from "white coat syndrome". My blood pressure was sky high. I had assumed that I was having hot flashes and just not feeling right because of peri-menopause, I finally went in and it was 190/120! They were surprised that I could walk into the office! I am now on Atenolol and it really has been night and day for me. I average around 130/80 now. I exercise and try to avoid the salt. I feel like a whole other person.
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Sunday, May 08, 2005 - 5:53 pm
I had pregnancy induced high blood pressure, which along with toxemia caused my son to be born pre-mature. That was 8 years ago and I've been on Atenolol ever since. I check my BP regularly at home. My mom and grandmother both had BP. I try to exercise, watch what I eat and see my doctor regularly. Thank you HP for starting this thread.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Sunday, May 08, 2005 - 5:57 pm
We bought a blood pressure monitor for my mom so when I take hers, I always take mine. I can tell when it's a little high, just by the way that I feel. Caffeine really sets it off so I try and watch that.
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Sunday, May 08, 2005 - 6:16 pm
I bought a blood pressure monitor on QVC that reads from your wrist. It's small enough to carry in my tote bag. And I've compared it with the arm band kind and the pressures seem similar. Is any one else currently using the wrist band pressure cuff? Caffeine does it for me as well Mamie. That and salt.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, May 09, 2005 - 12:52 pm
Glad everyone is sharing here! Yw, Vacanick. Can't help with the cuff thing, as I don't own one. I just returned from my PCP visit, and my blood pressure now reads 118/80, and my pulse is 64. And I've lost 6 more pounds!! Yay!
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Essence
Member
01-12-2002
| Monday, May 09, 2005 - 2:03 pm
Vacanick, I have that wrist cuff, but my readings seem to be off when I use it. I may not be sitting correctly when I use it, but the readings I get are too low. Caffeine tends to give me a headache along with stress... I also suffer from "white coat syndrome", so my doctor has me get my pressure taken here at work (we have a health unit) 3 times a week. They keep a card on me and when I go to my doctor I take that card with me. My pressure was hovering around 145/90+ when he started me on my medicine. I take Accupril, and my pressure is now at about 120/80. Hopefully as I lose more weight I will eventually be able to drop the blood pressure pills.
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Beachcomber
Member
08-26-2003
| Monday, May 09, 2005 - 5:18 pm
Vac, I tried the wrist cuff and had the same results as Essence. I like the arm cuff better. My doctor ignores my plea of "white coat syndrome" because he is also the doctor who treated my father when he had a massive heart attack at 52 and wants me to be extra careful because of family history. So I do what he tells me because he saved my Daddy's life.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, May 09, 2005 - 6:32 pm
Kristy, your BP readings scare me. How do you feel, on a general basis? I am glad your doc is trying additional things, but I wish things would turn around for you. Is this a familial trait? Is there something else contributing to the problem?
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Monday, May 09, 2005 - 7:22 pm
Even though I take BP meds, my BP always goes up when I have a panic attack. And even though I take meds for my panic attacks, my blood pressure will still go up. So, now I rely on Xanax to calm me down and at the same time lower my BP back to normal. Sometimes, it's a combination of things. Kristy I would talk to your doctor about how your feeling and when it's happening. I know how scary it can be to have sudden surges in BP. Best of luck!
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Monday, May 09, 2005 - 7:28 pm
I have a couple of friends who they keep trying to up the BP medicine because they have constant high blood pressure. One of them is very thin too and watches what she eats. She just can't find a medicine that keeps her BP low.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 4:22 am
Beach, are you monitoring your blood pressure at home? That would give you a good indication of what it really is.
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Beachcomber
Member
08-26-2003
| Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 6:56 am
Tex, I monitor it and it was always 120/72 when I first started on the medication. Now that I am on the BP medicine for a few months it is now 100-100 over 60-70. I have told my doctor that but he discounts the validity of "at home machines." My doctor is highly regarded and has done wonders in my father's life and others so I just have to trust his judgement. I have started exercising and watching what I am eating and will definitely think warm happy thoughts before I go in for my next checkup. I will just daydream that I am on a warm beach somewhere when he straps that cuff on next time and see if I can break the WCS curse!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 7:29 am
Oh, I wasn't trying to discount your doc! They think my mom died because of hypertension, so I don't dispute the meds anymore.
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Beachcomber
Member
08-26-2003
| Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 9:21 am
Tex, don't worry for one sec, I didn't take it that way at all. I always "get" your posts and enjoy them.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 9:43 am
Wow..well, thanks.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 8:08 am
((((Kristy))))) This is your son making these choices, not you. Your doctor will not judge you, but he does need to know so he can truly treat you.
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