I just had my BP taken it's 180/115. Do I need to pray ?

Question

I'm going to the Dr. but nothing works...

Answer 1

180/115 is way too high. It needs to be brought down.
Normal BP would be less than 135 top number and 85 bottom number. Some people who have had really high BP for a long time cannot tolerate BP that is actually normal, but that is the goal for most people.
When you say "nothing works" do you mean you have been tried on a number of medications?
Very often, to get good control of BP, a person has to be on several meds, not just one. Typically it is at least 3 with a blood pressure as high as you are saying you have.
If you have in fact been tried on combinations of meds including several medications at a time, then you possibly might not have the usual "essential hypertension" that most people with high BP have. (essential hypertension really means that we aren's sure what causes most high blood pressure, but if we treat it comes down to decent levels.) Occasionally people have what is called "secondary hypertension" which means that some underlying cause which is often specifically treatable can be found for the high blood pressure. These cases are not very common, but they do occur. If your BP really does not come down after a decent trial of several appropriate medications, then you may need to be evaluated for these conditions. This is particularly true if you are young - a young person with high BP is more likely to have a secondary cause than an middle-aged person.
Depending on your age certain conditions are more or less likely and your doctor would be able to order the appropriate tests to find out.
You should be seeing at least an internist or possibly a specialist in hypertension to get to the bottom of this problem.
Also you should make sure that your BP is being checked appropriately to get accurate measurements. The BP cuff needs to be the right size for your arm - if you are overwt or have heavy muscled arms, the usual BP cuff could be too small. (Too small causes falsely high BP readings). Also many automated machines are not real accurate. They should be checked against the classic BP cuff and stethoscope method done properly. Before BP is measured you should sit quietly for about 10 minutes and then pressure should be checked. If it is done right away after exercising, walking around, whatever it may be higher than the true resting pressures which are usually what are measured for treatment decisions. Even talking raises some people's BP.
Regarding praying, it certainly may help, but you need to take further action as well to get to the bottom of this problem and get it treated.
General measures that you can do to help control BP (but it will not control BP as high as you report yours are) are avoiding salty food (be a label-reader and avoid food with a lot of salt or sodium, and watch your wt - lose wt if you are overwt. Right now be cautious about strenuous exercise with BP as high as you are reporting since it will get higher during exercise.

Answer 2

yes! 180/115 is really dangerous. If you smoke quit, stay away from fatty foods, and lastly make sure to exercise at least 3hrs a week this should help. Prayer wouldn't be a bad idea either. Lastly your Dr. should prescribe some medication for a while -- you don't have to keep taking it, but I would take it long enough to get your BP to at least 145/ 90. I know that is still high, but with exercise, diet, and all around better living it should be safe enough to get off of medication.

Answer 3

First of all, do not panic. There are so many reasons that can cause raised blood pressure, for e.g. working out, climbing up the stairs, walking at fast pace or even being nervous about your blood pressure! It is called the 'white coat effect'. That is why, if you're suspected to have high blood pressure, the GP or doctor will take your blood pressure reading on three separate occasions and you're advised to be there early and settle down so that you wont be nervous or tired for your blood pressure measurement. If your blood pressure still remains high after the third reading, the doctor will suggest lifestyle changes, like diet, exercise, smoking cessation etc, before using the medicine. If you can change your lifestyle, there's a big possibility for your blood pressure to improve (i.e. reduced) and you might not even need medicine. So yes, pray if you want ( I don't see any reason why not ) but don't be too disheartened because it is not the end of the world. But it is a very good start to improve lifestyle before other cardiac problem can arise for e.g. stroke or heart failure. Good luck!

Answer 4

It never hurts to pray.

Your blood pressure is concerning because of the relatively high bottom number (the diastolic). A normal range for this is under 90. Depending on your age, risk factors, and length of time this has been a problem, you may need to take blood pressure medication.

Unfortunately, if there are no extraneous factors, you may need to be on a BP med for the rest of your life. The higher bottom number is usually due to hardening of the arteries, which are not allowing the blood to flow as easily as it once did.

If you have been faithful with your BP meds, including any combinations your doctor has tried, and are still not having any luck, then you need to look at your diet and eliminate problem foods.

All, you can try something called "CoQ10". This is a natural supplement that is known to lower BP. Consult a naturalist for information on where to buy a reputable brand.

Answer 5

Yes, pray and continue seeing your doctor.
If nothing works to bring it down - now this is a serious, possibly life-threatening BP, if it's accurate! - then doc should admit you to hospital to get intensive therapy and maybe IV drugs to lower it. Also you should get tested for possible causes!

You don't say how old you are, but avatar looks young.
This should NOT happen to a young person.

Follow doctors instructions, eat food with no salt added (that includes fast food meals, some frozen and all canned foods which have high salt content!), and please follow up with doc and find a second opinion if your doc isn't doing enough to find the cause!

good luck, and take care.

Answer 6

Get on medication immediatly, but first have it rechecked to make sure the device being used is accurate, second learn about the dash diet, google it, the heart association has a website that talks about it, I have been on the dash diet for about 2 + months and my numbers dropped about 6 points without any increase of my meds. even with meds they were still somewhat high, I stated the meds when my numbers were as high as yours, my top number however was in the 200 range.

Basically in the dash diet you reduce your salt, but here is the thing, if you follow the dash diet you automatically reduce salt without trying, you eat 7-8 servings of fresh fruits and vegies per day minimum, use brown rice, cut saturated fat by half if not more, if you can tolerate it cut even more,

I have tried beta blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, ace inhibitors, (the ace didnt give me a cough but I kept getting bronchitis which I never had a problem wtih before)I tried several different calcium channel blockers until I started cardizem a calcium channel blocker that is selective. It allows me to exercise better with less effort then the arbs, ace inhibitors and beta blocker.

by the way since getting off the arbs, and ace inhibitors I haven't had a bout of bronchitis since, so you do the math here. I don't think my doctor believes it was either one, but the coincidences are too close for it to be just a coincidence.

RRRRR

Answer 7

Praying is good, and has it's own advantages. I hope you are not missing your regular doses of medications.
It's good to see your doctor.
Don't worry you will be seeing your grandchildren getting married.

Answer 8

Don't worry about your blood pressure its a little high but your doctor will bring it down.

Answer 9

bp 180115 pray

Answer 10

I would deep six the prayers and go to a doctor who will give you the correct medication,if nothing is working you have either the wrong meds or the wrong doctor.