Blood pressure

I hesitated before posting on this thread incase I upset anyone, but here goes. I have had high blood pressure since my 50's I am now in my 70's. I decided years ago that I would not fill my body with druga and refused any medication offered to me by my Doctor. Anyway, two years ago I wash rushed into hospital with breathing difficulties and was told that I'd had a big heart attack. The consultant actually commented ' You are a very sick lady, you could possibly pull through' which was extremely disconcerting as I didn't feel very ill once the breathing was sorted.
The attack has left me with heart failure which is a very debilitating illness, and I'm on 7 different drugs a day. I don't quibble about this now though, as I am at least alive
Who knows if this could have been avoided if I had accepted medication to control the blood pressure. I should add that my Mother and Grandmother both had heart probelems and I was told it could possibly be an inherited condition. Also my wine consumtion at the time was an obvious target for blame

A hot bath will help drop your blood pressure and clear the smaller blood vessels of waste molecules. A shower won't work for your feet as your leg muscles are tensed to support you.

I rely on blood pressure tablets to keep me out of hospital or visiting heaven when I don’t want to, yet.
After a lifetime of insomnia I’m now sleeping 7 hours regularly. I don’t know if this is due to old age or what. Yet I’ve never heard anyone on Bp tablets who have become insomniacs due to them.

LJP1

A hot bath will help drop your blood pressure and clear the smaller blood vessels of waste molecules. A shower won't work for your feet as your leg muscles are tensed to support you.

I sit in the shower to spray my ankles, I can assure it helps.

I find it very concerning to read about people who think they can treat this highly dangerous condition with things like beetroot or cayenne, or whatever. FOr the persson taking low dose sprian, hope thi is under GP's knowledge and advice. Even low dose can be dangerous if not properly monitored and actually required.

Yes, lifestyle (diet and exercise can help), but BP should be regularly properly monitored.

When mine was first picked up I was eating a very healthy, diet and as I ran a children's gymnastic club, and most days taking three of four warm-ups (involving me doing much of those exercises).

Please, please anyone who has high BP, do see y GP and get medication that does NOT give you any side effecgts, but which can save your life.

Marydoll

LJP1

A hot bath will help drop your blood pressure and clear the smaller blood vessels of waste molecules. A shower won't work for your feet as your leg muscles are tensed to support you.

I sit in the shower to spray my ankles, I can assure it helps.

OOps, sorry wrong thread!

I meant to post on the one about swollen ankles.

I agree with you about the aspirin, Franbern. After two hearts attacks, I was on low dose aspirin for six weeks each time and then advised to stop. I was covered in bruises each time. It is not wise to take it without GP or hospital supervision. Much better to be on an approved blood thinner.

Thanks for all the input to my thread ! I had a low reading last night - 120/79 - at bedtime but being honest it seems it’s mainly 150/90 or thereabouts . About 10-12 years ago my bp and cholesterol and weight had increased. I solved it that time by losing weight but I was about two stone overweight then . I’d love to avoid medication but accept it may not be possible this time around

Franbern

I find it very concerning to read about people who think they can treat this highly dangerous condition with things like beetroot or cayenne, or whatever. FOr the persson taking low dose sprian, hope thi is under GP's knowledge and advice. Even low dose can be dangerous if not properly monitored and actually required.

Yes, lifestyle (diet and exercise can help), but BP should be regularly properly monitored.

When mine was first picked up I was eating a very healthy, diet and as I ran a children's gymnastic club, and most days taking three of four warm-ups (involving me doing much of those exercises).

Please, please anyone who has high BP, do see y GP and get medication that does NOT give you any side effecgts, but which can save your life.

Hear, hear Franbern.
I used to take a low dose gastric protected aspirin daily when I smoked, it caused a bleeding stomach ulcer and anaemia. Soon sorted, but could’ve been avoided.

www.youtube.com/@YorkCardiology

Thought I'd share this consultant with you.

Do you take your blood pressure more than once. I find the first reading is always higher than subsequent readings. My heart surgeon says this is normal and to ignore the first reading

Interesting thread. I have taken BP meds for longer than i can remember. Some do have awful side effects. I take 100 mg of Losartan and 5 mg of Bisoprolol in the morning plus Eplerenone at night. My BP is quite static. When you take your BP
do it 3 times as i was told by my Cardio that you get s more accurate figure that way ) maybe because of white coat syndrome). As i am not in UK now i have no idea if you can see a doctor easily but given the importance that reasonable BP
Is to your health, some posts clearly indicate that some meds cannot be tolerated and need to be changed. Good luck everyone! Getting older is not a walk in the park.

Gwyllt

Do you take your blood pressure more than once. I find the first reading is always higher than subsequent readings. My heart surgeon says this is normal and to ignore the first reading

Yes indeed - the instruction I have from my GP is to take at least 3 readings each time (and more if the readings are still dropping) and to submit the lowest reading. I’m also one of those who gets white coat syndrome, even scaring myself when I take my blood pressure. The first reading could be around 148/150 but rapidly drops with the third reading usually being around 118.

Personally. I don't think that the blood pressure you have quoted is too much to worry about. The worrying will only make it go higher!

Just wondering how common it is to have a bp of 120/80 in middle age onwards without medication??

In my nursing training in the 1980’s I remember we were told 120/80 is normal, but that by middle age it is 100 plus your age over 90. ( so for me it would be 160/90). I know the guidelines have changed. They used to always say the lower number was the most important as the upper one could be swayed by emotion/nerves etc. But I know this has changed too and now they seem more interested in the higher systolic number.

Avoid processed foods, fizzy drinks and too much salt and sugar. Walk every day doesn’t matter how far as long as you do it and don’t swear the small stuff. Learn to say no sometimes. However if it’s heredity it’s going to be harder and some people will always have a naturally higher blood pressure anyway.

Try eating beetroot,kiwi and apricots & drink hibiscus tea,all work really well one side effect of BP pills is Gout.

Why is everyone worried about side effects from bp medication.
I’ve been on it for years and don’t think I have any side effects.

And why does the OP seem to think they cause insomnia.
Never heard that one before.

My doctor advised when doing blood pressure readings to do three of them - a couple of minutes apart, and then use whichever is the lowest of the three. The lower number is the most important one and yours does not seem too bad. The higher number is the one that fluctuates the most. I take Losartan for my blood pressure and have zero side effects from it. Mine hit 220/120 last year and I wound up in A&E - I felt so ill I thought I was having a heart attack! An increase in my blood pressure meds did the trick and I am now down to an average of 125/85, which my doctor is happy with as its almost within the normal range. Blood pressure higher than 120/80 is considered to be hypertension, so you may wish to consult your doctor - they will not automatically put you on medication, I tried some lifestyle changes first but they made zero difference. There is family history - both my mother and sister have been on blood pressure meds for a long time.

Franbern

I find it very concerning to read about people who think they can treat this highly dangerous condition with things like beetroot or cayenne, or whatever. FOr the persson taking low dose sprian, hope thi is under GP's knowledge and advice. Even low dose can be dangerous if not properly monitored and actually required.

Yes, lifestyle (diet and exercise can help), but BP should be regularly properly monitored.

When mine was first picked up I was eating a very healthy, diet and as I ran a children's gymnastic club, and most days taking three of four warm-ups (involving me doing much of those exercises).

Please, please anyone who has high BP, do see y GP and get medication that does NOT give you any side effecgts, but which can save your life.

Well said - when I was first diagnosed with high blood pressure I had just lost 50 pounds, was getting more exercise and had cut down on alcohol. Mine appears to be a case of family history - both my parents and my younger sister are on blood pressure meds, although apparently it can also just materialise from middle age onwards. I echo your plea to see a GP - they will be able to ascertain whether medication is necessary or not, usually after a 24 hour period of BP monitoring.

Greciangirl

Why is everyone worried about side effects from bp medication.
I’ve been on it for years and don’t think I have any side effects.

And why does the OP seem to think they cause insomnia.
Never heard that one before.

Any meds can cause side effects - the first BP tablet I was put on made my lower legs swell really badly so I was told to stop taking it immediately. Losartan however has been absolutely fine, there are a number of different types of BP medication so most people should be able to find one that suits them. I've never heard of the insomnia thing either.

My advice is to see your GP and discuss blood pressure reduction drugs too as well as the natural methods.

Even if your blood pressure only goes up sometimes it is still dangerous. My mother refused to take any medication, relying on garlic capsules and she ended up with a series of strokes. There are lots of drugs out there, there must be something to suit you. I have taken Olmesartan, Bendroflumethiazide and Amlodipine for years with no side effects at all. It's really not worth gambling with your health.

Mr C was advised to lower BP before cardiac surgery. He has had no side effects from medication (amlodipine) which he accepted with considerable reluctance and much grumbling. His BP is now down below the level advised by the consultant anaesthetist. Its has just taken three weeks.

The less positive thing is the surgeon insists on a daily aspirin, Mr C now bruises very easily. The GP says as the surgeon wants him to take aspirin then he must. We just hope the surgery date isn't postponed again!

We're both pretty positive about the BP medication, I'd certainly have no qualms about accepting it should it be necessary. As for insomnia, Mr C sleeps without problem.

queenofsaanich69

Try eating beetroot,kiwi and apricots & drink hibiscus tea,all work really well one side effect of BP pills is Gout.

Which BP pill can cause gout?

A doctor will look at other risk factors in addition to blood pressure.

Sanjay Gupta has an interesting video about this:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXE3SO05hxw&t=1s