The heart attack thread below prompted me to ask my fellow surveyors this question.
I am 51 and in reasonably good health. Do not drink or smoke, eat a good diet (thanks to the wife) and get regular exercise (I run 3-4 times a week). I get a complete physical exam in December of every year and have never experienced any issues with my BP. It is usually in the 130-80 range with a resting pulse in the 50-55 range.
All that to say that recently (past few months) it "feels" like my BP has gone up and at my recent colonoscopy pre screening, it was 165-85. Chalked it up to the situation. But I can't shake the feeling that my BP is elevated. Followed up with my doctor and it was in the 160-90 range. Went back yesterday and it was 140-78 with a resting pulse of 52.
The only thing that has changed recently is the stress level at work has increased, so maybe that is causing it. The question is "how to get it down?"
Anyone have experience with a sudden rise in BP? Anyone taking BP medication? Side effects?
Dan
Three years ago I had 2 episodes where I suddenly felt very sick, coinciding with stress, first from work when a govt. official accused me of trespassing, stealing land and threatening to shoot me, then when learning a friend got a grave medical diagnosis. I found I had a blocked cardiac artery and needed a stent. I seem to be fine since.
I was 59 yrs. old and thought I was very low risk for that so it was a great suprise. So I think that stress is just as damaging to us as diet, lack of exercise or genetics. And the key word is "risk". It means that anything can happen, good or bad, even in spite of the odds.
As to blood pressure meds, I was on metaprolol for 18 months even though I had LOW blood pressure. At first it made me very dizzy which scared me since I didn't know if it was my heart or what. When the dose was reduced I still did not feel as good as I do without it.
Stay healthy, pay attention and don't stress out, dammit.
I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrilation in July 2011.
SDince I have had a catheter ablation to restore sinus rhythm to my heart.
I take Ramapril (generic name) and metoprolol, also generic for BP. My last visit to my electrocardiologist was BP 117/71, pulse rate 66, blood oxygen at 99% and a normal sinus rhythm EKG.
With the BP meds I see little to no effects.
If you are near or over 60, white and have any history in your family of Afib you are a candidate for this problem as well.
I have been on BP medicine going on 20 years now. There are hundreds of BP meds and most have some side effects. My side effects are fairly mild. Talk to your doc.
Have been on low-dose BP meds for nearly 10 years as a preventative. Several things are suggested upon discovery of Type 2 diabetes. I am not aware of any side effects other than I tend to proofread everything posted on this board.:snarky:
Lower your BP
When they take my Blood Pressure, I do the following to keep it as low as possible.
1. I think about clear mountain air. I think about mild summer days, in the Mountains.
2. I think about a clear mountain stream. Cold crystal clear water babbling in a stream that is about 18" deep, comming right off a snow bank.
3. Then I think about the expressions on fill in the blank's face as I hold them underwater by their ears.
This has been proven to take 5 to 10 points off both readings and it is very relaxing.
🙂 😛 😀 :beer: :totalstation: :gammon: :plumbbob: :whistle: :party: :stakeout:
My family has low blood pressure, and those not killed in wars usually lived into their 90s. My wife's family has high blood pressure, and usually lived into their 90s. Go figure.
At 51, you need to get on the "One asprin a day" wagon. The little 81mg ones will do the trick.
I too take motprolol and I take monopril, both for BP issues. I have noticed no side effects at all.
The only side effect that I have heard of that is of concern is that if you take some of the stronger BP meds "Little Big Man" forgets to pay attention. :-X
Either way, at your age, you need to pay close attention to BP and heart issues. I went in for what I thought was a reaction to a med I was taking and 48 hours later I was on the table getting a triple bypass. NEVER had any of the "standard" symptons. I am lucky that my GP sent me to a damn good cardiologist!! B-) :u:
"At 51, you need to get on the "One asprin a day" wagon."
NOT WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR FIRST!!!
I have been right on the border line of high blood pressure since I was in high school. Just close enough to get gripped at by my doctor, but not so bad as to NEED BP medication. More recently, he was leaning towards prescribing medication for it.
A while back, I read an article on hibiscus tea and blood pressure. I decided to give it a shot and see what happened.
In a pretty short time frame, I had gotten down to some numbers that were amazingly good for me. My BP is now in a very acceptable range.
I drink at least a couple of glasses a day. I steep it with a cinnamon stick, then poor over ice because I don't care for hot drinks. It actually tastes good.
WARNING: Anyone on BP medication reading this, I have seen articles that say you should not drink it in combination with medication. Stay on the prescribed BP medication instead.
I order in bulk. Here is where I get mine:
http://www.republicoftea.com/hibiscus-tea/c/25/
If you wanted to try it, you might look for it in a large retail chain or a small health food store.
Not a sudden jump, but it's been high since high school...
Now with the cocktail hour and BBQ habit I've developed over the
years. The doc finally put me on medication about 8 years ago
and has been fiddling with them every so often. I've had good luck with
it somewhat. I vary a lot over the day, and with stress, but I'm
not getting many side effects. Roughly 140 over 80 ish' most of the
time with a pulse of 50-55. I've had short stints of pretty wildly
varying numbers though, depending on activity levels and stress levels.
I do get a little drowsy in the mid day sitting under this "white noise"
2'x2' HVAC vent intake suckin' away over my head while drafting or writing.
I'm getting to the point I may have to get serious about losing that extra
weight that 58 has brought me. That will help with luck, and bring my energy
and alertness levels up.
If I can drive it back down enough, the doc says he'll wean me off these
prescriptions.
Sounds like a win-win. Hmmm, guess I'll throw out half my lunch, and take
the truck out and scout some GPS control station locations today!
Now on a Beta-blocker, and it seems to have helped my Bullseye pistol scores. The little pills are helping my heart and my shooting arm.
no complaints.
After taking BP meds for the last 20 years, saw-bones took me off of it about 2 or 3 months ago. I was in his office for my annual "peek under the hood" and BP was 100 over 60 @ 62 bpm, doc said "too low..". (yes, i got dizzy if i stood up too fast)..after losing 40 pounds to date has helped. No more BP meds.
Stress and unnecessary weight are two things we have control over. We don't have control over anything we're predisposed to genetically.
I believe the stress you "feel" when you have a client on the line and two more on hold isn't really the killer. Hyper-tension, or staying stressed out over a period of years (and thinking you're used to it) is probably the real killer.
Eat right, stay active and laugh at yourself every chance you get. You'll last longer.
You might want to consider taking up drinking and smoking. 🙂
> The heart attack thread below prompted me to ask my fellow surveyors this question.
> I am 51 and in reasonably good health. Do not drink or smoke, eat a good diet (thanks to the wife) and get regular exercise (I run 3-4 times a week). I get a complete physical exam in December of every year and have never experienced any issues with my BP. It is usually in the 130-80 range with a resting pulse in the 50-55 range.
>
> All that to say that recently (past few months) it "feels" like my BP has gone up and at my recent colonoscopy pre screening, it was 165-85. Chalked it up to the situation. But I can't shake the feeling that my BP is elevated. Followed up with my doctor and it was in the 160-90 range. Went back yesterday and it was 140-78 with a resting pulse of 52.
>
> The only thing that has changed recently is the stress level at work has increased, so maybe that is causing it. The question is "how to get it down?"
>
> Anyone have experience with a sudden rise in BP? Anyone taking BP medication? Side effects?
>
> Dan
1. get a blood pressure cuff at your local big box pharmacy, check several times a day and chart it noting what is going on (food, place, meds, attitude) You may see a trend.
2. good diet? the cooking, the wife use ANY salt? drop all salt or additives that include salt... American diet and condiments include a ton of salt that you really don't need. that alone may turn the trick.
3. what is your family history? what is your weight? two big factors...
4. Don't worry, be happy!
PS: I did all of the above (and quit all meds) and am now always in a very good zone.
Good Luck!!!
I have yet to meet one doctor that does not recommend that for anyone over 50. (Realise, my wife and sister-in-law are nurses in the cardio field, so I am around those types often.)
The American Heart Association is a firm believer in that program too. A baby asprin a day will do no harm. Way too small a doseage. It's less than 1/4 of a regular asprin.
"A baby asprin a day will do no harm."
It certainly will if you are allergic to aspirin! My mother nearly died from stomach bleeding due to this. She had taken aspirin occasionally for headaches for 50+ years and never had a problem. Within 2 months of the continual low-dosage daily regimen she was in the hospital near death. You should consult with a doctor before trying this...
One thing about stress it triggers the release of adrenaline. I guess I didn't really know that until I was having problems with a irregular heartbeat. Yep, every time you get stressed, your BP can go up. For me, just going to the doctor makes it go up a little bit.
"A baby asprin a day will do no harm." BS!
the 81mg buffered baby aspirin is used as a blood thinner to prevent stroke... It has nothing to do with high blood pressure.
get some lab work done... your blood may already be slow to clot anyway (as mine is) and making it thinner may do no good at all, or make huge issues in surgery or if you get a serious cut.
True Story: upon being admitted for a ruptured appendix last month I was asked repeatedly if I take anything, including aspirin... when I asked why I was told that they were preparing themselves for problems with excessive bleeding in surgery because "you crazy Americans take aspirin for no reason."
Not to be nosey...but
What did you do to lose the 40 pounds?
