High blood pressure

I was at the GP ra couple of weeks ago for a unrelated matter. He took a blood pressure reading as they didn't have one on record for the last 5 years (that's because I hadn't been there in 5 years) and he was surprised how high it was. He got me to buy a BP monitor (they are only £20 or so) to get a reading twice a day then pop the results back to him which I will do in the next few days. It's not quite as high as it was in the surgery but it's been consistently in the "mild to moderate" range for hypertension

I'm already losing weight, trying to get more exercise and limiting booze to weekends but it looks like I could be on the way to pill-popping.

My NHS Doc gives you one for free to take a week's readings.
 


Anyone got any tips on best way to get it down? Been to the docs and they want to put me on tablets but I want to try and get it down naturally before I do that.
I'm 46 and probably drink about 40 to 50 units of alcohol a week which obviously doesn't help but I do get quite a lot of exercise. My diet isn't too bad. Never add.salt and I'm vegatarian. Thanks for all replies.
Ive lost 7 stone over the last 2 years and gone from over 21 stone to 14 1/2 stone and I was on the highest dose of blood pressure tablets. Now I don't take them and it's now perfect. Some say it's genetics also as my brother is super fit and runs 10k daily but has high blood pressure.
 
Anyone got any tips on best way to get it down? Been to the docs and they want to put me on tablets but I want to try and get it down naturally before I do that.
I'm 46 and probably drink about 40 to 50 units of alcohol a week which obviously doesn't help but I do get quite a lot of exercise. My diet isn't too bad. Never add.salt and I'm vegatarian. Thanks for all replies.

Amlopodine.
 
I've had to do the 24 hour thing once. What a monumental pain in the arse that was. Every hour it would inflate and take a reading, zero chance of getting any sleep.
At least it proved that there wasn't an issue back then.
Same here, only I had to get the Metro through to Newcastle for a meeting, and during both travel and meeting I was conscious that I was making weird hissing and farting noises.

(and the blood pressure machine was noisy too ho ho)
 
My NHS Doc gives you one for free to take a week's readings.

I think I could have had a free one for a week but I don't mind spending £20 on something if it's going to help me change my lifestyle.

I've been off the caffeine for 2 weeks now and I must say I've been fine with it. I had just got into the habit of making a strong black coffee between meetings but decaff is just as good. My BP has come down a bit and I'm sleeping much better. I have a review in a couple of weeks time to see if I do go on the tablets or not.
 
I think I could have had a free one for a week but I don't mind spending £20 on something if it's going to help me change my lifestyle.

I've been off the caffeine for 2 weeks now and I must say I've been fine with it. I had just got into the habit of making a strong black coffee between meetings but decaff is just as good. My BP has come down a bit and I'm sleeping much better. I have a review in a couple of weeks time to see if I do go on the tablets or not.

I believe having your own testing regime at home just leads to more stress. People can get obsessed with things like that.

Good luck with the tablets.
 
That’s good

I would definitely class myself as stressed mind which I know is a contributing factor to high BP, and I almost definitely drink too much. Often out til the early hours during the week and again on weekends. Annoying that these near fainting episodes have coincided with a week off work supposedly to decompress and relax 😂

Doctors surgery had no face to face or even telephone appts, so I filled in an econsult form on Tuesday and got a text (!!) back off a dr today with some links to antianxiety tips. Suppose I’ll have to make do.
 
After ‘an episode’ I was put on nebivovol and aspirin. Keeps me in order. Lost weight 10kg since NYE. Another 10kg to go. No cheese or bread or red meat. 10000 steps a day. No booze during the week. Still get high bp readings when I let work get on top of me. Time to stop work then methinks😊
 
Handy hint keep off the coffee before you go for your bp reading as that can inflate it was well.

Best thing is exercise and a healthy weight ti fetch it down. Some people just have high bp

My dad died at 42 ish from a heart attack as his life style was crap working away with the merchant navy in the 70’s and 80’s.
 
Managed to run out of my meds on Sunday and a mix up at the pharmacist meant I didn't get them until yesterday.
You forget how bad the side effects are until you come off them for a few days.
I'd argue I shouldn't be on them anyway as the only high reading I had was on an operating table when they were inducing angina. Going to stress you out a little bit.:lol:
Better safe than sorry but I'm not a fan of the meds.
 
Managed to run out of my meds on Sunday and a mix up at the pharmacist meant I didn't get them until yesterday.
You forget how bad the side effects are until you come off them for a few days.
I'd argue I shouldn't be on them anyway as the only high reading I had was on an operating table when they were inducing angina. Going to stress you out a little bit.:lol:
Better safe than sorry but I'm not a fan of the meds.
What side effects do you get ?

I have been lax at taking mine since I got a puppy it knocked my routine all over. But my bp dropped loads since I have been walking 6 plus miles a day.
 
What side effects do you get ?

I have been lax at taking mine since I got a puppy it knocked my routine all over. But my bp dropped loads since I have been walking 6 plus miles a day.
Dizziness mainly but generally light headed and being not quite with it.
The leaflet with the meds says that being dizzy whilst standing is a common side effect and to combat this I should stay seated. Really helpful.:lol:
 
I've been off caffeine for two weeks and really haven't missed it. Grabbing a coffee between meetings was more of a habit thing now I'll just have a glass of water or a decaff coffee (still looking for a decent decaff tea) . Also, cut down the drinking to a couple of times a week.

Got a consult on Monday with my doc to review my BP readings from the last 2 weeks and to decide if I need to go on medication. They've come down a bit but still on the high side.
 
I've been off caffeine for two weeks and really haven't missed it. Grabbing a coffee between meetings was more of a habit thing now I'll just have a glass of water or a decaff coffee (still looking for a decent decaff tea) . Also, cut down the drinking to a couple of times a week.

Got a consult on Monday with my doc to review my BP readings from the last 2 weeks and to decide if I need to go on medication. They've come down a bit but still on the high side.

Less Coffee helps but it’s exercise and lifestyle. How much exercise and alcohol do you drink. Also what do you eat eat and your weight.

Obviously don’t have a americano before getting your bp done but it’s about moderation.
 
My BP is still too high despite doubling some meds a few weeks ago. bought myself some Hibiscus tea as that looks a great option with minimum side effects. Also going through some artery investigation and currently watching the cricket, I need to learn to relax.
 

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