High blood pressure!?

Question

Well, I've had high blood pressure for over 6 months now. My doctor just keeps telling me to come back again at a later date to check on it again but it's never gone down, and he doesn't do anything about it. It's now reached !50/110 when I'm stressed. This worries me like crazy now that I'm going to drop down dead at any moment which doesnt help the bp probably.
What should I do? do i trust my doctor in knowing whats best for me or can i do something about it?

Answer 1

150/110 is definitely on the high side, and if this is consistently high (it's normal for BP to range up and down during the day) I'm surprised you're not yet on medication. If you're not doing it already, it's worth getting a decent BP meter, such as one of the Omron range. Measure your BP at the same time each day (I do mine in the morning, though these days not more than once a week as my BP is well under control) and keep a record, to see how it varies day by day. Do you have any family history of hypertension or stroke or renal failure? Let your GP know this. I imagine you are probably aware of the more obvious things you should be doing, such as cutting down on salt, increasing exercise levels, and so on.

There are several medications available, which may be prescribed singly or in combination. These are usually diuretics like bendrofluazide ('water tablets'), which work by making you pass water and so get rid of sodium that way; ACE inhibitors like Ramipril, beta-blockers like Atenolol, and calcium channel blockers like Felodipine. In various ways, these bring down both blood pressure and heart rate. As you may expect, there can be side effects that need to be monitored, and this will be via occasional blood tests.

This web site may be of help to you:
http://www.bhsoc.org/default.stm

Answer 2

Having an elevated blood pressure while you are stressed is normal. I would guess your blood pressure is in a normal range each time you see your doctor or he would have done something about it. When you tell him this BP was during a time of stress, he will automatically discount the reading because that is what your body does when stressed - your BP goes up. You are not going to drop dead from isolated elevated blood pressure readings. If your doctor does not think BP meds are appropriate at this time, you need to find other ways of dealing with stress. Maybe it would be time to start an exercise program, consume less salt and practice some stress reducing activities.

Answer 3

Blood pressure measurements don't count for anything if you've been walking around. Ideally, you should be sitting down for at least 5 minutes or so. Blood pressure also can vary during the day, so it's best to get measurements from similar times during the day. No caffeine in the morning either. These measurements should be repeated on a few separate occasions. Some people get "white coat hypertension" when they go to the doctor's office because they are nervous. Probably blood pressure medicines wouldn't kill you. But you don't necessarily need blood pressure medicines if your blood pressure is only high while active. When doctors study the effects of high blood pressure, they study the effects of people who are diagnosed with it as described above. You are probably at no higher cardiac risk from your blood pressure.

Answer 4

150/100 is quite high, especially the diastolic BP is. How is your heartrate?

It is a fact that a GP can't be convinced of high BP if the BP is not risen over 3 consecutive consultations.
But if it is, over those 3 consults, he should do something about it.
Unfortunatly you can't do something about it yourself. Only the intake of salt has influence on the BP, others like cholesterol don't for example. So if you eat much salt, temper that.
If it is stress that causes your high BP, you could take something to calm down, but that is not as wise as taking anti-hypertensiva.
So ask your doc for meds for your BP, or go to another.
(also read my answer on resolved question "when you have high bloodpressure...")

Answer 5

i had the same thing they like to check it several times before giving u anything in case its "white coat syndrome " pushing it up but if its been this length of time and ur worried about it they should be doing something. i am still trying different tabs to find which suits me and works as there are so many. dont worry u wont drop down dead its a bit high but yr doc wouldnt be letting u walk around with no treatment if it was high enough to be a problem.

Answer 6

You need to get a different doctor that puts you on blood pressure meds.
The stressing of course doesn't help out.
I have high blood pressure and it's pretty damn scary!
Good luck!

Answer 7

You should go to another Dr.and get another opinion. My husband had really high blood pressure as well and the last few months I have had him on Olive Leaf Extract and his last test was normal. give it a go if you can find it, probably a health food shop although the pharmacy sells it now

Answer 8

If you've had consistently high BP readings for 6 months, you should already be on meds. Tell your Dr. you want to start medication ASAP.

Answer 9

you should trust your doctor, in order for it to be diagnosed as high it has to read above 140/90, and your blood pressure is high (150/110) but not to far off the scale so i wouldn't worry to much.
you can help lower it by eating less salt and doing more exercise like walking and eating more fruit and veg, good luck!!

Answer 10

I had the same happen to me.I consulted another doctor which prescribed a medication, and now my pressure is under control, mostly.