Is it normal to have high blood pressure at 24????

Question

Ive recentley had several check ups for my blood pressure and I have had to have a 24 hour blood pressure test - which resulted in the doc wanting to see me next week because of results. I dont smoke, I only drink alcohol at the weekends and im not over weight. I dont want to go on medication cos that means you are on them for life doesnt it?

Answer 1

Sans rival gives very comprehensive answer.
24hr holter bp monitoring is there to eliminate all those other things ie anxiety, white coat hpt etc that may skew a bp reading as it takes an average as u go about your daily activities of living.
if there's something abnormal, your Dr will let you know and the best way to deal with it ie finding the cause and treating the cause.
if you are hypertensive, you will have caught it early enough to avoid the potential complications which may be very serious compared with swallowing a pill.
trust your health care provider, or ask him or her to facilitate your getting a second or third opinion. your Dr's done a lot of work already that you will need repeated unnecessarily if you bail out now.
good luck! don't be scared, you'll be all right. not knowing is always the worst part.
((big hug))

Answer 2

Are you on the pill? How much salt to you take in your diet? Are you stressed? All of these things can cause your blood pressure to become elevated. Most causes of high blood pressure are lifestyle related. Persistent high blood pressure in the absence of any lifestyle related risk factors may be a sign of kidney problems. Your doctor is doing the right thing by arranging the 24 hour test. Try not to worry too much in the mean time, as this will make your blood pressure even higher.

Answer 3

Hypertension is a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg and above. Blood pressures of 110/80 or 110/90 is pre-hypertension, meaning a stage prior to hypertension .
Hypertension is not the disease of the elderly anymore. It is becoming a problem of the younger generation. It is usually hereditary , some are idiopathic, meaning all work ups are normal and yet , cause is not known. Younger patients usually present with secondary hypertension, meaning there might be a problem somewhere else like the kidney.
Hypertensive patients usually are no longer symptomatic, meaning some patients do not feel anything. They just ask for their BP be taken and it is noted to be high. Monitoring is usually done. It should be done in the morning when we are not yet that tired.
Blood chemistries , ECG , Chest x-ray or 2d Echocardiography are usually done in some cases to rule out the causes. In some cases, ultrasound of the kidney is done.
Blood chemistry includes Lipid Profile ( Total Cholesterol, LDL which is the bad cholesterol , HDL, which is the good cholesterol and even triglycerides). Blood sugar is also requested, cbc to rule out anemia, uric acid , creatinine ( to check the status of the kidney). ECG is done to see the electrical activity of the heart. Some might not feel chest pains and yet have abnormal ecg results. Chest x-rays doesnt only tell us about the status of the lungs but of the heart also. Is there any cardiomegaly or enlargement of the heart? 2D echocardiography will tell us more about the atrium ( right and left) and the ventricles ( right and left). It will tell us the motion of the heart. It also tells if there is any abnormalities in the valves.
Treatment is usually diet, meaning low salt, low fat diet. Hypertension is not only a disease of the overweight or obese patients. It might be a problem of even normal weight individuals. Lifestyle modification should be done, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
If you have high cholesterol. Low cholesterol diet will be advised, meaning cutting down on foods high in cholesterol like cheese, chocolates, desserts, bacons, fats, creamy soups etc.
Treating of hypertension is important, if the level of the BP is not that high then diet and exercise are advisable. However, if it is too high then medication is needed. Medicines are given to avoid the complications which are sometimes life-threatening. Some of the complications includes stroke, coronary artery disease, kidney problems or even problems in the eye. It is easier to take a medication than to have any of these complications. It is better to take medications for life than be a walking time bomb. You are not sure when these complications might set in . It comes like a thief in the night.

Answer 4

3 years ago, I was diagnosed - hypertension with a reading of 160/100. I used to feel dizzy a lot, my legs had awful cramps, and levels were very low in my potassium, causing my fingers and toes to always cramp together. One day I started to feel really faint while I was driving with my daughter in the back seat and I passed out, hitting 3 cars and ending up in a ditch. That moment,I knew I had to do something because my meds weren't working. I heard about this diet from a friend and thought I'd give it a shot. The results have been remarkable. In just 21 days, I honestly can't remember feeling this good, my blood pressure went from 175/110 to 125/70.

Answer 5

High blood pressure at any age is not normal. That's why it's called high blood pressure. It's above normal.

Answer 6

yes, anyone can have high blood pressure even a child

Answer 7

You may suffer from "white coat syndrome" where your bp is high when measured in a doctor's office. I recommend that you purchase a home bp monitor and measure your own bp.

Answer 8

Do NOT, I repeat, Do NOT go on the blood pressure medication. There are a number of ways you can lower your blood pressure without getting on medication.

If your doctor is against that advice, dump him and start seeing a D.O. (a doctor of osteopathy). D.O.'s have all the medical knowledge of Medical Doctors (M.D.'s), but they are also trained in naturopathic medicine. A DO can give you nutrition advice that will help to lower your blood pressure without drugs (like take Magnesium, eliminate all salt from your diet and so on).

Answer 9

It's not exactly normal, but possible. It could be your genes. Like, if your parents had it. And, 'going on medication for life' sounds very drastic. It's not like chemo. You just take a few pills everyday. That's all.

Answer 10

High blood pressure can be genetic...ask your folks if they have it or grand parents. Watch the salt.....also, do you tend to have anxiety? This can cause HBP....do you snore?? This can also contribute to HBP (sleep apnea)?