blood pressure rant

**Brat** · 01-27-2010, 07:10 PM

I didn't have high bloodpressure until I quite smokeing...lol...Now it is was running 240/124...They have it down now but took 2 different pressure medications...I find that if I walk it helps to bring is down..

**NikoSan999** · 01-27-2010, 09:07 PM

Ok, several things...
When you take your bp how long AFTER you have smoked? If you have just put one out recently and take it - it will be high.

Pain- do you take something like an Aleve for it at any time? I forget all the names like statin etc. but my cardiologist says Aleve is a no no. I told her it was the ONLY thing that cuts the pain including prescription. She said only if absolutely necessary. Anyway, Aleve will raise blood pressure. So will other over the counter meds in the same vein.

It is also hereditary. Some say no, all my doctors have said yes. You just do the best you can.

I'm also on a "water" pill. The doctor says it's necessary to work with the blood pressure pill cause kidneys control blood pressure. Are you on a "water" pill?

The bottom number is always lower than the top. The cuff has to be the right size. the "disc" inside the cuff should be over the brachial artery in the bend of your arm. When you put it on don't make it so tight it's almost unfortable to begin with. The arm should be extended and relaxed out and away from the body like you are shaking hands. Relaxed is key word.

Take it with you next visit to calibrate it.

Stress...biggest no no of all....when I get really bad and I'm home...I lay down, spread out and MAKE myself relax the best I can...I concentrate on leveling out my breathing, slowing down my rapid heart. Mine has been as high as 191/110.

Walking, exercise and losing extra weight will/should bring it down. Some foods will help lower it.

Fish Oil capsules...some doctors believe in it, some don't. Won't hurt you regardless.

Putting a link here for foods that will help lower it. Don't know if will post. If not go to WebMD and look for hypertension, then look for nutrition for hypertension on left hand side. Should bring you to The DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension

http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-hi...sure/dash-diet

Hope this helps. Hugs coming to you

**dcompton** · 01-27-2010, 10:45 PM

You are probably stressing every time you sit down to test it at home, which also doesn't help. I agree to take your machine in to calibrate it.

My doctor has me on aleve (I take the clone) and bp medicine. You just have to find, over time, what combination of meds works best for you.

**NikoSan999** · 01-27-2010, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by dcompton

My doctor has me on aleve (I take the clone) and bp medicine. You just have to find, over time, what combination of meds works best for you.

YOUR doctor tells you to take Aleve? No wait, it could possibly be the prescription that I'm on shouldn't be taken with the Aleve and your's can. Again, something about statins yada yada. She changed me anyway.

All I know is I have to have the Aleve.

**fernykins** · 01-27-2010, 11:04 PM

My high blood pressure and diabetes are medicine related(asthma meds) I have to take 3 different kinds of bp meds to keep it down and thats with out getting upset and trying to stay mellow......... I hope you can get it down.......
Fern

**mauimagic** · 01-27-2010, 11:14 PM

All this talk makes me realize that I need to check in with my dr. - the surgery kind of interrupted everything. It really is important to keep on top of all this!! Keep posting and take care!!

**pop goes the weasel** · 01-28-2010, 09:09 AM

Well my appointment is today...if I can get out. We had a bunch of snow that we weren't suppose to have and it's still coming down. The interstate is closed due to a 5 tractor trailer pile up with 2 roll overs.I take 800 mg of motrin and 10 mgs of ultram for the pain meds. Did you knw there is chewable adult aspirin???? Blew me out of the water when I saw that. I've been doing pretty good with the stress thing until this morning. Between the bad roads and sd'smouth I wanted a carton of smokes a a pot of coffee. But Iwas good and only had a cup and 2 smokes.. I'm heading out now to see if I can get out. Wish me luck or at least for a plow lol.

**pop goes the weasel** · 01-28-2010, 11:55 AM

I made it back. They took my pressure three times. First with their cuff......179/124. The second time with mine....180/116. The nurse decided to get a different cuff. This time it was 150/102. I need to get another machine with a bigger cuff. Doc upped my Blood pressure meds and took away the motrin. He said the other meds won't hurt to take them. Saturday it was 162/112 when I was in but that was with just one cuff so it may have been different. I go back in a month. He thinks that maybe my thyroid isn't regulated again. That and the Motrin would make it jump like that. So he took bloodwork. Just incase I hadn't ate anything so I could get the tests he wanted today. Now I have a hunger headache lol. It didn'thelp that halfway there Iran into a whiteout that went on for about 2 miles. I left here, the sun was shining the roads were clear. The further to town I got the darker it got until the snow was actually splattering on the car like rain. I told them about it so they decided on the extra reading. So I just have to wait and see what happens with the meds. Thanks for all the support. You guys take care too.

**pop goes the weasel** · 02-01-2010, 07:01 AM

Yesterday my bp was 140/87. Now depending on which nurse you listen to...one says the new pressure is 146/90 and the other says 120/80..I'm either still high or low. Maybe put them together and even out to half normal. (My daughter says I'll never be normal. Gotta love that kid lol) I only had 5 smokes yesterday and two cups of coffee. When stress rared it's ugly head I sent it away. If this is what I have to do then I will.

**ladytoysdream** · 02-01-2010, 09:59 AM

Hope things get better for you.
Your current machine...can you get a different size cuff for it ?
When I got mine at Walmart, it had 2 different size cuffs.
I took it to the doctor's office when I went and they checked it to see how it matched into theirs. It was a good match

Normally mine is low, until someone says time for a doctor's appt...then I get the white coat syndrome.

**savvy_sniper** · 02-01-2010, 10:15 AM

The correct size cuff is VERY important. Also if you have coffee and/or a cigarette before taking a reading, I can guarantee that the reading will be high! Both will raise your blood pressure. Also your salt intake can effect your BP.

But don't give up. It can take some adjustments in meds to get your BP regulated and where it needs to be.

I originally started out with a diuretic only. Then a BP med was added. Then I had a reaction to the BP med. Now I am on two different BP meds and a diuretic.

**Inkstain82** · 02-01-2010, 10:34 AM

Mine was 122/90 when I went to the doctor last month, *way* better than I expected but still borderline.

So I'm trying to watch my salt intake, and MY GOODNESS!!!! Do they have to load *everything* with salt? You read the labels and you just about faint. A canned vegetable has 50% of the salt a normal person should be eating in a day, let alone what someone trying to cut down would eat.

**MaryCarney** · 02-01-2010, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Inkstain82

Mine was 122/90 when I went to the doctor last month, *way* better than I expected but still borderline.

So I'm trying to watch my salt intake, and MY GOODNESS!!!! Do they have to load *everything* with salt? You read the labels and you just about faint. A canned vegetable has 50% of the salt a normal person should be eating in a day, let alone what someone trying to cut down would eat.

And don't you love the way that the 'no salt added' is MORE expensive!

Switch to frozen vegetables wherever possible, no salt at all. For the canned ones, just rinse them in a colander with cold water before heating, this washes away a good portion of the salt.

The label indicated how much sodium is in the entire can (liquid and all) so don't overly panic. (Unless you're drinking the liquid - blech!)