What does high blood pressure feel like?
Discussion
scottyp123 said:
Meant to say as well, since being on the tablets I've always felt a lot colder than I used to. I used to have my room stat sat to 18 or 19 deg but now I feel cold at that and set it to about 21. I always used to walk around on site in a t-shirt in winter and called people soft for wearing a coat, turns out it was me that was different all along, I certainly wear one now more often.
As to your longer post, in reality you'd been living for years unawares with a humungously high BP ?I'm not a doctor in any way but every text I,ve read says heightened BP for a long time is very bad for many organs.
Have you been advised that this must have weakened your heart ?
coppernorks said:
As to your longer post, in reality you'd been living for years unawares with a humungously high BP ?
I'm not a doctor in any way but every text I,ve read says heightened BP for a long time is very bad for many organs.
Have you been advised that this must have weakened your heart ?
According to the ECG thing they did they said the kidneys were slightly damaged and the heart was a bit enlarged but didn't seem too bothered about it and my doctor hasn't mentioned it to me at all. I was at the hospital the other week due to a suspected blood clot (was negative) and they did a blood test, as well as the blood clot thing they said they were waiting for a few more tests on the blood and they came back with the all clear but not sure what else they were looking for.I'm not a doctor in any way but every text I,ve read says heightened BP for a long time is very bad for many organs.
Have you been advised that this must have weakened your heart ?
Just found out mines a bit high ! Popped into the local walk in for an infection and they took my blood pressure. The nurse did a double take and did it again just to make sure.
Said I needed to see the gp at the earliest opportunity.
Didn’t see the reading but picked up a machine from Boots today and it’s hovering around 168/105
Don’t smoke or drink much but a bit overweight had flu week before last and still feeling the effects of that.
Would that make it higher than usual ?
Said I needed to see the gp at the earliest opportunity.
Didn’t see the reading but picked up a machine from Boots today and it’s hovering around 168/105
Don’t smoke or drink much but a bit overweight had flu week before last and still feeling the effects of that.
Would that make it higher than usual ?
If I am going to get trophy for this make sure they spell my name right on the engraving.
Believe it or not I really didn’t feel very well while this was going on.
Nobody worry too much about The Toad but there will be a thread started once I get a date for my procedure. I have an had interesting and informative 6 months to say the least.
Believe it or not I really didn’t feel very well while this was going on.
Nobody worry too much about The Toad but there will be a thread started once I get a date for my procedure. I have an had interesting and informative 6 months to say the least.
Narcisus said:
Just found out mines a bit high ! Popped into the local walk in for an infection and they took my blood pressure. The nurse did a double take and did it again just to make sure.
Said I needed to see the gp at the earliest opportunity.
Didn’t see the reading but picked up a machine from Boots today and it’s hovering around 168/105
Don’t smoke or drink much but a bit overweight had flu week before last and still feeling the effects of that.
Would that make it higher than usual ?
Blood pressure should be taken over a period, and checked at a couple of times, at least, during the day. It can be a problem if it is consistently high, but even then, abnormal does not necessarily mean dangerous. Low blood pressure is more of a danger than high. Back when fit used to mean fit, I had critically low blood pressure. I was checked daily for a week, then weekly, and then the doctor decided that it was just me. Now, some 40 years later, I'm a bit on the high side, but it doesn't particularly bother my doctor.Said I needed to see the gp at the earliest opportunity.
Didn’t see the reading but picked up a machine from Boots today and it’s hovering around 168/105
Don’t smoke or drink much but a bit overweight had flu week before last and still feeling the effects of that.
Would that make it higher than usual ?
Lots of triggers increase blood pressure. Some foods do. Emotions really mess it up, either way. I've always wondered about before and after, but reckon it could have an adverse effect on mood. My blood pressure is always higher when at my doctor's surgery. The practice nurse allowed me to check the calibration of my blood pressure monitor and the result was a fraction higher than hers.
In other words, don't worry about one particular reading.
There was a call in my force for Or+ blood one evening for an open-heart surgery that wasn't going entirely to plan. The call was urgent, and I was radio operator in a 3-litre Transit carrier that carried half a dozen of us to the London Chest Hosp. It was a thrilling drive, real fun. My blood pressure was taken, a doctor was called who took it again. He gave me an envelope and told me to present it to my doctor the next day. I walked there, about half a mile, and my doctor discovered I was reading low, yet the doctor had found it to be 200+ over 150. My doctor had written a thesis or something on blood pressure and I got a lecture about fast drives, particularly along urban roads.
The medical profession loves nothing more than putting a line of optimum, so that they can put a line that says too much and another too little. Nothing is that simple.
On the premise that you don't smoke and drink little, lose some weight, do more exercise, eat less salt, and drink a fair amount of water, and your reading will be your norm. If your readings increase for some reason, and remain high, then see your doctor.
Also, don't take medical advice from anyone on PH.
Narcisus said:
Maybe I don’t have to worry that much that I’m going to keel over in the next 24hrs then looking at your readings !
It is at time like this that you realise the NHS is pretty good from time to time especially when like me you have a very good GP. My BP is now totally back to normal thanks to the medication but I can’t comment on what might be causing it with anyone else because apparently I have a very rare condition.Just keep in contact with your GP and make sure you’re keeping an eye on it.
Narcisus said:
Just found out mines a bit high ! Popped into the local walk in for an infection and they took my blood pressure. The nurse did a double take and did it again just to make sure.
Said I needed to see the gp at the earliest opportunity.
Didn’t see the reading but picked up a machine from Boots today and it’s hovering around 168/105
Don’t smoke or drink much but a bit overweight had flu week before last and still feeling the effects of that.
Would that make it higher than usual ?
Mine was high, but lower than yours, about 5 years ago. Made a non-urgent appointment with GP, but I didn't get make it.Said I needed to see the gp at the earliest opportunity.
Didn’t see the reading but picked up a machine from Boots today and it’s hovering around 168/105
Don’t smoke or drink much but a bit overweight had flu week before last and still feeling the effects of that.
Would that make it higher than usual ?
I had a stroke 3 days before the appointment.
Cue lots of wires attached to me for 24 hours which revealed that my BP was too high. Took too lots of meds to get it down and it's fine now.
Personally, I'd get it seen to.
Slowboathome said:
Mine was high, but lower than yours, about 5 years ago. Made a non-urgent appointment with GP, but I didn't get make it.
I had a stroke 3 days before the appointment.
Cue lots of wires attached to me for 24 hours which revealed that my BP was too high. Took too lots of meds to get it down and it's fine now.
Personally, I'd get it seen to.
I've just reread my post. Just to make it clear, I feel you should see your doctor, and promptly, but don't worry at this stage about your reading. My doctor was concerned about my slightly above the accepted level reading because I had a history of low blood pressure. In other words, mine had increased substantially, although not to any great level. (I'm half Irish and that sentence should be read with that in mind.)I had a stroke 3 days before the appointment.
Cue lots of wires attached to me for 24 hours which revealed that my BP was too high. Took too lots of meds to get it down and it's fine now.
Personally, I'd get it seen to.
My mother had high blood pressure throughout her life. After my birth, she was kept in hospital for nearly a month because of the consistently high readings. She was then released into the wild with directions not to take exercise or do anything too strenuous, behaviour that is nowadays recognised as likely to increase blood pressure. Whenever she had her blood pressure taken, she was told to see her GP. She died at 87, albeit from a stroke, but not bad for someone who had to take things easy for 60+ years - which she ignored.
My father had low blood pressure when a youth, but from photographs, he was so skinny, his heart had little to do. In later life he put on weight, due to lack of exercise as the injuries he'd suffered throughout his life - he was once hit in the head by a 3.7" anti-aircraft shell - came back to haunt him. He died from heart attack at 65 following a major operation, but it was as a result of smoking and a poor reaction to the anaesthetics, the last being a family trait.
I'd see the doctor promptly.
I take my blood pressure regularly, three days a week, morning and late afternoon. The practice nurse told me to take three readings, ignore the first, and then average out the second and third. I normally just take two, drifting into three when I feel guilty. The first is generally the highest, and the second two or more or less the same. I've started pills for hypothyroidism and have noticed a slight - 5 or so on both readings - increase.
EDITED: to answer the OP's question from my experience.
High blood pressure is symptomless in the main. One side effect can be dizziness when standing up quickly. Oddly enough, this is a symptom of low blood pressure as well.
Edited by Derek Smith on Monday 2nd May 09:13
popeyewhite said:
Why is your first reading that high? What do you do between rising and doing the test? Walk a dog or something?
Alcohol from the night before?Coffee?
From the NHS website on what increases the risk of high blood pressure - drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
Narcisus said:
No was sat quietly in chair watching YouTube. Tests done a minute or so apart.
Not had any booze or caffeine for a week.
Has someone told you to wait an hour before doing a test? Why? The first test should reflect as accurately as possible your sleeptime numbers, and tests in the day your daytime (active) numbers.Not had any booze or caffeine for a week.
Don't watch Youtube, make a brew/the bed/breakfast etc...just get up, quick wash, sit down for 10 minutes reading something non-stimulating then do the first test.
simonrockman said:
I've found that my medication gives me leg cramps.
Yep and swollen feet too. I find that walking a bit more when I can helps with those. However I have just started to get a 'hot' right leg, which is a bit weird. The good old internet suggests that's a circulation issue so I am going to check with my doctor that its not medication based issue with me. Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff