High blood pressure. Can someone please advise?
Discussion
Hi, my OH has fairly recently found that she has high blood pressure. This is within the last few months and her doc advised her to keep records of her BP with a home machine. I am worried. She's 33 yrs old, 5 foot tall and about 7.5 stone. Not pregnant. Doesn't smoke, we do drink but not loads. We have a pretty good diet with quite a lot of fresh fruit/veg, although we do have curries etc too. She does a couple of exercise classes a week. We're basically not keep fit fanatics, but we do exercise and eat pretty well.
She just told me that this morning she felt dizzy when she put her shoes on and just felt dizzy when she closed her eyes. I used her blood pressure monitor, which is only a cheap boots thing and her blood pressure was something like 177 over 120. This is with her relaxed in bed. I took a couple of readings and they all were in the 160-170ish range over 100-120. The accuracy of this home kit seems pretty variable, but maybe its her BP changing rather than the machine. I just took mine twice with it and it gave me two similar readings of about 120 over 66. I've been training tonight and am quite tired so I don't know if that's affecting mine in any way, but the point is, the machine doesnt seem to be overreading judging by my results.
Anyway, I'm really worried about her. I don't know what to think really as this seems to have happened fairly recently as it wasn't a problem for her several years ago and not much has changed. I also don't really know much about blood pressure, but I know feeling dizzy etc isn't great and from what I've read on internet charts, hers is above the normal range.
Can anyone advise? I haven't spoken to the doctor myself about it and just wanted to find out if anyone had more info or experience. I just told her I want to go to the doc with her tomorrow, but she told me not to be silly and said she's going to work anyway, so I'm now just stuck posting on here for some sort of advice.
Thanks.
She just told me that this morning she felt dizzy when she put her shoes on and just felt dizzy when she closed her eyes. I used her blood pressure monitor, which is only a cheap boots thing and her blood pressure was something like 177 over 120. This is with her relaxed in bed. I took a couple of readings and they all were in the 160-170ish range over 100-120. The accuracy of this home kit seems pretty variable, but maybe its her BP changing rather than the machine. I just took mine twice with it and it gave me two similar readings of about 120 over 66. I've been training tonight and am quite tired so I don't know if that's affecting mine in any way, but the point is, the machine doesnt seem to be overreading judging by my results.
Anyway, I'm really worried about her. I don't know what to think really as this seems to have happened fairly recently as it wasn't a problem for her several years ago and not much has changed. I also don't really know much about blood pressure, but I know feeling dizzy etc isn't great and from what I've read on internet charts, hers is above the normal range.
Can anyone advise? I haven't spoken to the doctor myself about it and just wanted to find out if anyone had more info or experience. I just told her I want to go to the doc with her tomorrow, but she told me not to be silly and said she's going to work anyway, so I'm now just stuck posting on here for some sort of advice.
Thanks.
I'm not a medic and I don't especially know much about blood pressure stuff, probably nothing you won't already have found on Google so I'll leave that side of things alone for the professionals to talk about.
BUT.
If you're worried, and you are, and you know it's for a good reason, and it is... then this is a pretty good time to not back down. You're right, consistently high BP and dizzy spells would be something that her GP needs to hear about sooner rather than later. If she can go in with a list of BP readings and a few notes on the circs of each reading (eg "just woken up, feeling really relaxed" or "sat still watching telly, bit stressed from the footie" or whatever) then all the better as it will make it very clear that it's not just that her BP was high from anxiety around measuring it - that's generally the reason they send people home to monitor it - check out 'white coat syndrome'.
If you have a cat, my lowest readings are reliably always when I'm sat in my armchair, listening to chill-out music with a purry cat on my knee - apparently having a good-natured critter to stroke (shut up, peanut gallery) is incredibly good for lowering BP as well as assorted other health stuff.
They can treat high blood pressure directly and obviously they can also address anything causing it, there are things to mitigate any extra risks it brings as well so don't go into all-out panic mode, whatever it is that's going on there's no reason to think it can't be at the very least brought under control.
Hope it's sorted soon.
BUT.
If you're worried, and you are, and you know it's for a good reason, and it is... then this is a pretty good time to not back down. You're right, consistently high BP and dizzy spells would be something that her GP needs to hear about sooner rather than later. If she can go in with a list of BP readings and a few notes on the circs of each reading (eg "just woken up, feeling really relaxed" or "sat still watching telly, bit stressed from the footie" or whatever) then all the better as it will make it very clear that it's not just that her BP was high from anxiety around measuring it - that's generally the reason they send people home to monitor it - check out 'white coat syndrome'.
If you have a cat, my lowest readings are reliably always when I'm sat in my armchair, listening to chill-out music with a purry cat on my knee - apparently having a good-natured critter to stroke (shut up, peanut gallery) is incredibly good for lowering BP as well as assorted other health stuff.
They can treat high blood pressure directly and obviously they can also address anything causing it, there are things to mitigate any extra risks it brings as well so don't go into all-out panic mode, whatever it is that's going on there's no reason to think it can't be at the very least brought under control.
Hope it's sorted soon.
I was diagnosed with 'white coat hypertension' many years ago, after wearing a 24 hour blood pressure monitor, which proved my pressure was within the normal range away from the surgery.
I also discovered that the 'home' blood pressure monitors are very sensitive to the position of the wrist when you use them. Just a couple of inches higher or lower than the level of your heart can dramatically effect the reading.
I also discovered that the 'home' blood pressure monitors are very sensitive to the position of the wrist when you use them. Just a couple of inches higher or lower than the level of your heart can dramatically effect the reading.
A systolic over 140 is of concern, 177 is very definitely into GP territory. Please don't ignore because I know someone who did and it's knackered their kidneys that now only semi-function and they have been told they only have a few years to live and that will probably include dialysis (sp?)
As BVD said, to the GP with the readings. She may need medication. The purpose of this is to lower the BP to prevent possible damage due to chronic increased blood pressure. She should get a proper package with cholesterol assesment etc. This is all aimed at primary prevention of something more debilitating. The BP readings are not high enough for a blood pressure emergency. The link between the dizziness and the BP needs to be discussed from the point of view of which is a consequence of what. GP may also ask questions to investigate the possibility of thyroid dysfunction and contraceptive pil use.
Don't forget exercise, less salt and a healthy weight may also have a lowering effect on the BP.
Don't forget exercise, less salt and a healthy weight may also have a lowering effect on the BP.
CunningPlan said:
A systolic over 140 is of concern, 177 is very definitely into GP territory. Please don't ignore because I know someone who did and it's knackered their kidneys that now only semi-function and they have been told they only have a few years to live and that will probably include dialysis (sp?)
My highest BP of 210/100 (felt right as rain at the time) kick-started a series of tests which resulted in a diagnosis of Polycystic Kidney Disease, so please get your girlfriend back to the doctors ASAP and insist on further investigation.I've been well monitored (been on Atenolol for 6+ years) and BP has been in the normal range for a long time, feeling well too.
Hope all goes well.
H
karona said:
I was diagnosed with 'white coat hypertension' many years ago, after wearing a 24 hour blood pressure monitor, which proved my pressure was within the normal range away from the surgery.
Me too 
I used to check mine at home with cheapie thing and it was always fine. But as soon as I got to the docs it would be way too high. A 24 check seems to have put the doc's mind at rest.
Thanks for the responses. The doctors to be honest haven't been very much help at all. She has been several times and they have told her to keep a BP diary, but they didn't tell her when she should come back in or anything else. The last time she went in they said leave it a few months and see what happens then come back in. How that is supposed to help I don't know.
Anyway, I'm going to kick her up the arse about it tonight as although she doesn't seem overly worried by it, I am.
The docs did say that she may need medication, but they don't want to put her on that as she'll have to be on it for life so they want to see if it somehow just fixes itself first. I don't know what the ramifications of her being on BP pills forever are. The contraceptive pill has been discounted, she went off that for a few months to check and there was no change. We cut out salt a while ago, or added salt anyway and we now try our best to have as little as poss in the food we buy. I don't think she's overweight as she is 7.5 stone at 5 foot tall so while not a stick, she's not a fatty fatty bum bum by any means either.
Anyway the possibility of a kidney issue is certainly food for thought. I'll get her back there asap.
Cheers.
Anyway, I'm going to kick her up the arse about it tonight as although she doesn't seem overly worried by it, I am.
The docs did say that she may need medication, but they don't want to put her on that as she'll have to be on it for life so they want to see if it somehow just fixes itself first. I don't know what the ramifications of her being on BP pills forever are. The contraceptive pill has been discounted, she went off that for a few months to check and there was no change. We cut out salt a while ago, or added salt anyway and we now try our best to have as little as poss in the food we buy. I don't think she's overweight as she is 7.5 stone at 5 foot tall so while not a stick, she's not a fatty fatty bum bum by any means either.
Anyway the possibility of a kidney issue is certainly food for thought. I'll get her back there asap.
Cheers.
Edited by swiftpete on Tuesday 1st November 17:47
swiftpete said:
Thanks for the responses. The doctors to be honest haven't been very much help at all. She has been several times and they have told her to keep a BP diary, but they didn't tell her when she should come back in or anything else. The last time she went in they said leave it a few months and see what happens then come back in. How that is supposed to help I don't know.
Anyway, I'm going to kick her up the arse about it tonight as although she doesn't seem overly bothered by it, I am.
Have the doctors taken her pressure? What was it?Anyway, I'm going to kick her up the arse about it tonight as although she doesn't seem overly bothered by it, I am.
As above, you're right to be concerned. She's young and fit (no comments at the back please) and should not have high blood pressure. It could be any number of things and she needs to get it checked out. Properly.
Try and see a different doc at your local surgery perhaps?
When the docs took her pressure they said it was higher than normal, but I can't remember the figure now. She's had it taken by several docs on several occasions and they've all said it's high, so its not just us messing about with the machine and doing it wrong unfortunately. I do have some figures written down somewhere but in a standard woman way, she's hidden/tidied them away so I can't find them right now.
Edited by swiftpete on Tuesday 1st November 17:50
Much to high I think, I am not a doctor but have been on Tablets for High Blood Pressure for over 30 Years!
the bottom figure wants to be 80 to 90, as others have said some exercise a walk will do if its brisk, cut out added salt, both help. Get back to the Doctors tell them about being Dizzy.
Mine is controled and I have to go back every six months to get it checked and check my own every few days. The tablets work fine with ne, my Blood Pressure only goes hay wire now if something odd happens, like a year ago following a bad Car Crash it went high for a month or so but it got back to normal.
and in my case the reason is High BP runs in the family.
It needs sorting or you can mess up kidneys etc.
the bottom figure wants to be 80 to 90, as others have said some exercise a walk will do if its brisk, cut out added salt, both help. Get back to the Doctors tell them about being Dizzy.
Mine is controled and I have to go back every six months to get it checked and check my own every few days. The tablets work fine with ne, my Blood Pressure only goes hay wire now if something odd happens, like a year ago following a bad Car Crash it went high for a month or so but it got back to normal.
and in my case the reason is High BP runs in the family.
It needs sorting or you can mess up kidneys etc.
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