High blood pressure? Please help?!?

Question

Ok, my class checked our blood pressure in Health during school. I had mine taken like 7 times...we didn't know if it was right or not. My blood pressure averaged probably 145/78, and my high was 151/79. High blood pressure runs in my family, but I'm only 12. Later we went to Wal-Mart and used the machine there.

First time: 151/78
Second time: 148/76
Third time: 149/75

I don't know how long it's been like this, but I don't know if this is normal, since it should be around 120/80.

I want to go to the doctor, but we don't have any insurance right now, and won't be getting it for 3-6 months.

Is there any healthy way to lower one's blood pressure? Or should I even be worried?

Please help!

Answer 1

The first thing to do is to read labels. Watch your sodium(salt) quantities. We should have l/4 teaspoon a day, and yet every thing we eat has that much and more. Fast foods, packaged foods, and much more. Manufacturers use salt to preserve foods, so think about how much you get a day. Yikes! I have HBP, take medicine, but also watch the salt content of all foods. I buy only salt free seasonings, don't eat pickles, etc with high salt levels, and never put salt on the table. Salt is a learned taste, so once you stop using it on everything, you will not miss it. And MRS. DASH puts out some marvelous seasonings without salt.

I have lowered my HBP with eliminating salt, so I know it can be done. Good luck. This will tide you over until you can get to a doctor. I, too, am without insurance, and had to go to a free clinic to get some help. There might be one of those near you that you can go to. If not, don't worry. If you watch your salt intake, you will be fine until you can get insurance. At your age, it is good that you know the dangers of salt in most foods on the market.

This could be a wake up call, and could help others in your family.

Answer 2

I can not stress the importance of proper diet and exercise. Also, see if anyone in your family has a history of high blood pressure; it is often genetic or carried on from generation to generation.
Stress can be a big factor as well. At the age of 12, you are going through a tough phase with being accepted in school, boys, and lots of homework and tests. This may also contribute to high blood pressure. Try to do something you like to relieve stress like: call a friend, take a walk, exercise, read, or listen to your favorite music.
Limit salt and junk food and watch your weight. (BUT NEVER lose too much weight) Follow your doctor's recommendations. If you get headaches, dizzy, or feel pressure at the front of your head, talk to your school nurse. There are clinics if your parents have no insurance should there be an emergency or if your blood pressure goes over 160/100.
Good luck and I hope you feel better.

Answer 3

As mentioned in the previous answer, blood pressure can be lowered by diet; limiting salt, cholesterol, and by not eating too many fatty foods. Also, exercise can lower cholesterol. However, since you're 12 years old, it's unlikely that your blood pressure is really that high. One of the important parts of taking a person's blood pressure is making sure you use the right size blood pressure cuff. If the cuff didn't fit you properly (and I know the one at WalMart probably didn't), the reading would have been incorrect. Plus, after taking your blood pressure, you need to wait 5 minutes before taking it again in that arm. Otherwise, your arm won't have recovered from being all squished. Unless you are morbidly overweight (like really, really overweight) or have a problem with your thyroid or adrenal gland or pituitary (or some other gland), you're probably okay. Just eat well and stay active.

Answer 4

I got a little blood pressure machine from Walgreens and it said that you have to sit still for around 10 minutes before you take it. Maybe you were moving around a bit and it contributed a little, but you're right, those numbers are still high.

I watched Discovery Channel's National Body Challenge last night and there were two familes whose members had elevated BPs like yours. After a week of working out and watching their diets, the BPs went down to normal levels! So apparently it's reversible very fast, and the good thing is you are young and you can make it happen.

As the other answerers said, watch your salt, don't smoke, watch the amount of fat you take in, and try to get a half an hour or so of physical activity per day. The biggest factor in those people's BPs were the food they were eating, so take a good honest look at what you're eating. I am guessing there is probably a some junk food involved, and perhaps you aren't getting exercise. Good luck.

Answer 5

The ideal pressure should be lower than 120/80.

Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other, such as 120/80 mmHg.

The first number is the systolic blood pressure. This is the peak blood pressure when your heart is squeezing blood out. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure. It's the pressure when your heart is filling with blood--relaxing between beats.

Treatment begins with changes you can make to your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.

- Don't smoke cigarettes or use any tobacco product.
- Lose weight if you're overweight.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables and is low in fat.
- Limit your sodium, alcohol and caffeine intake.
- Try relaxation techniques or biofeedback.

These will help lower your blood pressure.

Answer 6

Learn to destress and lower your salt intake and increase your water intake to more than the avergar 8-10 glasses a day. Also walking or any form of exercise can help to lower your blood pressure. If it is genetic you may not be able to avoid taking medication for it so my advise is begin to monitor and log your blood pressure at home for a week or two and then see a doctor to get further advice on what you should do. You can buy a home BP machine at any local drug store for about $30-$80. Also don't always trus the store machines. they may be incorrectly calibrate and be off. Also try to look for free clinics or screening programs in your area. Longs and other drug stores often offer free medical screening to people with out insurance. there is always free or county clinics also.

Answer 7

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 8

Relax. It is not the end of the world. Why don't you visit this website for information on blood pressure. http://ailments.in/hypertension.html