BP

[Don Rickles]

Let's talk Blood Pressure.

Something's not right (we all ready know this but), thinking about going to the ER....?

I've been a 120/80 my entire life. No longer. I'm over 150/90. I can feel/hear my heart beating in my ears. Fatigued and moments of vertigo....

I'm the typical man, gotta drag me in....

The other day at the eye Dr.'s she even mentioned high BP and there were some evidence in my eyes....

This can't happen to me, I'm way to fit and do take great care, eating exercising, etc.

What's up doc's...?

[04 commemorative]

age.....but I am always much lower than the norm,which is probably not good either.
When I donate platelets,plasma or whole blood they think they did something wrong and redo it on other arm.

[vettemed]

Silent killer, BP is. Don't play around with it.

[DJ_Critterus]

Your systolic is a bit high, but your diastolic (the really really really important number) is within a decent range, but could be lower.

Without meds, my BP hovers around 150/110...almost stroke territory. With meds, I'm around 125/75.

I also know my BP is going up if I look in the mirror and my ears start to turn red. That's when it's time to cool off, sit down, and take a breather for a few minutes.

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

Your systolic is a bit high, but your diastolic (the really really really important number) is within a decent range, but could be lower.

Without meds, my BP hovers around 150/110...almost stroke territory. With meds, I'm around 125/75.

I also know my BP is going up if I look in the mirror and my ears start to turn red. That's when it's time to cool off, sit down, and take a breather for a few minutes.

Thank you. Thanks Vetmed and 04, too!

Off to work now, I'll jump back on the box later.....

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

Your systolic is a bit high, but your diastolic (the really really really important number) is within a decent range, but could be lower.

Without meds, my BP hovers around 150/110...almost stroke territory. With meds, I'm around 125/75.

I also know my BP is going up if I look in the mirror and my ears start to turn red. That's when it's time to cool off, sit down, and take a breather for a few minutes.

Might just be the excitement that Zeek finally apologized!

[NoOne]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

Thank you. Thanks Vetmed and 04, too!

Off to work now, I'll jump back on the box later.....

My cardiologist who I trust quite a bit says he is more concerned with the ratio.

I went in with what is considered high blood pressure, I've already had a heart attack which was not related to bp.

I think I was 145/90 and he told me, as long as the ratio is right, which shows the mean pressure inside the heart, he is not overly concerned.

Now if its crazy high that's something else.

[Bruze]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

Let's talk Blood Pressure.

Something's not right (we all ready know this but), thinking about going to the ER....?

I've been a 120/80 my entire life. No longer. I'm over 150/90. I can feel/hear my heart beating in my ears. Fatigued and moments of vertigo....

I'm the typical man, gotta drag me in....

The other day at the eye Dr.'s she even mentioned high BP and there were some evidence in my eyes....

This can't happen to me, I'm way to fit and do take great care, eating exercising, etc.

What's up doc's...?

I've been on BP meds (Lisinopril) for about 20 years (zero symptoms, which is why it's called "The Silent Killer"). It kept it close to 120/80, although quite a bit higher at times.

I've been pre-diabetic for several years now and in February I decided to get back to a Keto-carnivore diet. I was never real strict with it before, but am now.

Over dozens of readings, in the past couple months, it has averaged 110/66, almost too low. Going on a low-carb diet often reduces BP for most people. Check YouTube, tons of info there.

A few weeks ago it was trending higher, but I had a cold and was taking OTCs with decongestant, which can raise it. After a couple days off the meds, my BP came back down.

Note to OP: It is well known that ham, bacon, and pork chops significantly reduces BP.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by Bruze

I've been on BP meds (Lisinopril) for about 20 years (zero symptoms, which is why it's called "The Silent Killer"). It kept it close to 120/80, although quite a bit higher at times.

I've been pre-diabetic for several years now and in February I decided to get back to a Keto-carnivore diet. I was never real strict with it before, but am now.

Over dozens of readings, in the past couple months, it has averaged 110/66, almost too low. Going on a low-carb diet often reduces BP for most people. Check YouTube, tons of info there.

A few weeks ago it was trending higher, but I had a cold and was taking OTCs with decongestant, which can raise it. After a couple days off the meds, my BP came back down.

Note to OP: It is well known that ham, bacon, and pork chops significantly reduces BP.

Lisinopril.... I'm on that, too. I hate the side effect though, which is almost like a short, shallow smoker's cough.

[Bruze]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

Lisinopril.... I'm on that, too. I hate the side effect though, which is almost like a short, shallow smoker's cough.

Yeah I think that's quite common, although I don't have it.

I have a physical in a couple weeks, Imma ask doc to lower my dosage from 10 MG to 5.

[vettemed]

I'm on Losartan for BP, no side effects that I can tell. Other than maybe making me more of an asshole, but who cares about that?

[zeek]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

Might just be the excitement that Zeek finally apologized!

You had better check your BP again....because I think you had a stroke. Zeek has nothing to apologize for nor would he if he did...

[MikeB]

Not saying this is your situation, but don't put it off.

The last time I felt my heart beat in my ears, it did not end well for me.
BP was good, I was on Lisinopril and one other med to control it by my
previous Dr who had put me on them back in 2007. Also on Atorvastatin
for high cholesterol at that time.
In 2010, I started having those symptoms, and I mentioned it to my
new doctor (job change, medical plan change = new doctor) at my
annual physical.
Before ending the visit, Doc says "Let me listen to your neck"
Gives me a quizzical look after listening and says "I hear gushing sounds
on both carotid arteries", and he proceeded to order an ultrasound for me.
Scared the heck out of the ultrasound tech, but she wouldn't tell me what
scared her. Tried getting hold of the Dr, but it was Friday afternoon, no luck.
Monday, Drs office called, emergency visit with him that same day.
Ended up with a 90% blockage on the right, and 98% on the left.
I had to then go in for catheterization, to check if my heart could handle
the carotid surgeries required.
Nope.
3 blockages in this area.
Another catheterization 1 week later to install 3 stents in me, and then I had the carotids repaired . 3 separate operations 1 month apart, #3 was to fix a superficial artery that was damaged during operation #2, which exploded out of the stapled incision area the day I returned to work. Was that a fun day!
Thought I was going to die. Fun ambulance ride, nearly passed out due to
blood loss, med tech damn near choked me out with the pressure he put on
my neck stopping the blood spurts.
Dr said it exploded because of my high blood pressure. Yeah, right.
More likely put a staple through it, or clawed it with the grapple hook
they use to pin the skin flap out of the way during operating.

One more operation to sew up a hernia around the catheter entry point.
That was a busy year for me.

2020 was also a busy year, hospitalization wise, due to Covid.
The only good outcome of that shit is, my blood pressure dropped so low
that I was taken off my blood pressure meds, and I've been pretty steady for
3+ years in the 130/80 range without meds.

Cliffs:
As vettemed said, don't procastinate with BP.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

Let's talk Blood Pressure.

Something's not right (we all ready know this but), thinking about going to the ER....?

I've been a 120/80 my entire life. No longer. I'm over 150/90. I can feel/hear my heart beating in my ears. Fatigued and moments of vertigo....

I'm the typical man, gotta drag me in....

The other day at the eye Dr.'s she even mentioned high BP and there were some evidence in my eyes....

This can't happen to me, I'm way to fit and do take great care, eating exercising, etc.

What's up doc's...?

Take a baby aspirin every day for a couple weeks and see if anything changes. (81mg)

Cut sodium intake.

[Little Red L98.]

Random rhr check. BP is good.

[Onebadcad]

I have been dealing with HBP for 20+ years.
I attribute it to genetics, as never overweight, exercise daily, not a drinker or smoker, and know how to manage stress.

When I first noticed it, a general doc put me on 6 meds, I fired him and went to a cardiologist, who got me down to two, minoxidil and a beta blocker.

Went well for 15+ years, and then a new cardiologist put me on valsartan and carvedilol, seems to work better than previous.

I have ask numerous times why I still have blood pressure meds even though I do all the right things.
The answer is that you cannot beat your genetics, as I also have mild diabetes even though my sugar / carb intake has always been minimal.

I would recommend seeing a cardiologist if you are going to take BP meds, as hopefully they can address the cause and eliminate the need for drugs.
Reqeust that they run every test, annoying, but may define the cause.

Unfortunately doctors today rarely address the cause, as they can give you a pill for the symptoms--not addressing the cause will harm you greatly in the long term.

[Taurus]

A couple things. First off is that as we age our BP goes up and 135/90 is actually considered normal now for men over 60. What you describe is stage 1 hypertension which is not emergent but should be looked at. If your average of 3 readings is over 160/100 that's stage 2 and I would go to get it checked as soon as possible.

Hypertension is usually diagnosed after three consecutive visits with an elevated BP, a bigger concern would be a sudden increase in BP that stays high. Many things cause that, BP is higher for two hours after eating, any illness even very subtle ones or simply taking your BP too often.

In my case, I've had controlled high BP since 2008 until I dropped a significant amount of weight. I'm currently coming off BP meds as a result as my BP can drop to 90/50 after my cool down period from working out.

If you don't like your current med, ask about Olmesartan, it works differently than Lisinopril which basically slows your heart rate which feels lousy in my case. Olmesartan works by essentially making your arteries more pliable to help absorb the pressure without causing damage.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by vettemed

I'm on Losartan for BP, no side effects that I can tell. Other than maybe making me more of an asshole, but who cares about that?

Man, I am on a plethora of BP meds and yes, I know what a Plethora is, El Guapo

Lisinopril, Amlodipine (Norvasc), Chlorthalidone...

that's not counting the other meds I have to be on for the rest of my life, too

Looks like I didn't treat myself kindly in my younger years, but damn, did I have a great time.

Now I eat better...much better. Per my family Cardio Doc who is also a good friend of ours, I eat salmon a couple times a week and when I want a snack at home, grab a handful of olives (yes, in the salty brine) and eat those. I eat red meat maybe once a week max if I do at all. My BP has drastically changed and I think doc wants to lower the dosages of the meds he has me on.

[Bruze]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

I have been dealing with HBP for 20+ years.
I attribute it to genetics, as never overweight, exercise daily, not a drinker or smoker, and know how to manage stress.

When I first noticed it, a general doc put me on 6 meds, I fired him and went to a cardiologist, who got me down to two, minoxidil and a beta blocker.

Went well for 15+ years, and then a new cardiologist put me on valsartan and carvedilol, seems to work better than previous.

I have ask numerous times why I still have blood pressure meds even though I do all the right things.
The answer is that you cannot beat your genetics, as I also have mild diabetes even though my sugar / carb intake has always been minimal.

I would recommend seeing a cardiologist if you are going to take BP meds, as hopefully they can address the cause and eliminate the need for drugs.
Reqeust that they run every test, annoying, but may define the cause.

Unfortunately doctors today rarely address the cause, as they can give you a pill for the symptoms--not addressing the cause will harm you greatly in the long term.

Diabetes/metabolic syndrome often raises BP. Cut carbs and your A1C will drop, probably significantly. Check or have it checked 3 months after diet change.

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by Taurus

A couple things. First off is that as we age our BP goes up and 135/90 is actually considered normal now for men over 60. What you describe is stage 1 hypertension which is not emergent but should be looked at. If your average of 3 readings is over 160/100 that's stage 2 and I would go to get it checked as soon as possible.

Hypertension is usually diagnosed after three consecutive visits with an elevated BP, a bigger concern would be a sudden increase in BP that stays high. Many things cause that, BP is higher for two hours after eating, any illness even very subtle ones or simply taking your BP too often.

In my case, I've had controlled high BP since 2008 until I dropped a significant amount of weight. I'm currently coming off BP meds as a result as my BP can drop to 90/50 after my cool down period from working out.

If you don't like your current med, ask about Olmesartan, it works differently than Lisinopril which basically slows your heart rate which feels lousy in my case. Olmesartan works by essentially making your arteries more pliable to help absorb the pressure without causing damage.

The big pharm companies and their pill peddlers, aka docs, have been in cahoots for 30+ years, telling us that the old standards are no more, and the new standards require everyone on a daily pill regimen.
And of course once they get you on a pill, you will need another pill to counteract the first one.