I went to the doctor, I'm only 25, and my blood pressure is 180/100. What can I do to make this better?

Question

He put me on something, but it's kinda making me nausious. They said that I was a stroke waiting to happen. I don't really understand blood pressure, is this REALLY high???

Answer 1

You almost certainly will requre medication. There are non-pharmacological methods of lowering blood pressure such as salt restriction, weight loss, regular exercise, and biofeedback techniques including meditation. But all together, they would not be expected to bring your blood pressure down under 135/80. Ideal blood pressure is even lower, more like 110/70.

Not only is is likely necessary for you to take medication, it will probably take two or three medications to do it. I have blood pressure only slightly better than yours, and I take four drugs in two combination pills (Benicar HCT and Lotrel in my case) to control it.

EDIT iforbes is correct that you need to prove that you really have a blood pressure of 180/100. She is also correct that you need to obtain a blood pressure cuff and learn to use it properly to determine if this is so, although there is no need to take months to do so. A week's worth of determinations will tell you what you want to know. I would be surpised of you have only white-coat hypertension at that level.

But if your blood pressure is actually 180/100, then what I have said applies.

Answer 2

I would just watch it over the next few months. Get you a blood pressure kit for home. Keep up with it. It could be that you have white coat syndrome. Some people get very nervous at the doc and there pressure tends to be a little higher. If you continue to have high readings then you will need medication. Also cut back on the sodium

Answer 3

How many times was your pressure checked? If your pressure was persistently elevated to that level, and if you were a patient of mine, I'd do a fairly extensive work-up. But I worked (past tense, I'm retired) in pediatrics, where hypertension is less common than in adults. Still, you are a young man.

Did your doc make any comments about weight loss, salt reduction, exercise? Any blood tests, urine collection, did he look into your eyes? Any questions about family history? Family history of high BP, diabetes, stroke, early heart attacks, elevated cholesterol or other lipids?

You other docs out there, is this standard practice, just putting a young man on medication without further evaluation?

Answer 4

you have to take a midicane to lower you B P

Answer 5

eat some fresh garlic dude!