[Athens]

Last time I checked my blood pressure, 2-3 weeks ago I was standing at 150 over 95, normal is 130 over I think 80. How bad is this?

[KeriVit]

you'd have to check it more regularly for an accurate reading- once in 2-3 weeks could be situational. That's high but it could be completely different today.

[Doofy]

Not too bad, but you need to keep an eye on it and bring it down a little. Chill out.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by KeriVit

you'd have to check it more regularly for an accurate reading- once in 2-3 weeks could be situational. That's high but it could be completely different today.

I was steady for a entire 2 weeks, I havent checked in the last couple. I was checking every couple days.

[James L]

Originally Posted by Athens

Last time I checked my blood pressure, 2-3 weeks ago I was standing at 150 over 95, normal is 130 over I think 80. How bad is this?

Hey Athens,

Well.... hypertension (htn) is commonly known as the silent killer.

When you are measuring blood pressure, you are measuring the two phases of the heart beat:

Systole - the contraction phase of a heart beat.
Diastole - the "relaxation" phase of a heart beat.

The actual measurement measures how much force it takes to push the blood through the arteries, or more appropriately the amount of force exerted against the walls of the arteries during each phase.

So, during the systolic phase of a heart beat, when the heart contracts, there is a lot of pressure as the "wave" of blood shoots out through the arteries. When the blood is flowing through the arteries between beats the pressure is lower (this is the bottom number of the blood pressure... the diastolic reading).

Why is hypertension bad? Well, it is a long term, chronic kind of thing.

Imagine, for example, that you were born with an aneurism (a genetic weakening, in this case, of an arterial wall). Over the years, as more and more blood pounds through the artery under higher pressures, the pressure will push and push out that aneurism, causing it to balloon out. Eventually, it can rupture from the pressure. If this happens in your brain, for example, you have a stroke.

Another major type of aneurism is one called a dissecting aneurism. Your aorta is the main artery leading out of your heart. It curves right near its beginning, and each time a forceful wave of blood hits its wall and curves down the aorta, it can damage the wall. Eventually, over years and years, It can tear the inner lining of the aorta (I think it is called the tunica intima... can't remember), and blood starts getting in between the layers of your aortic wall... separating them.

Finally, one more idea of how hypertension can be bad. Your heart is really just one big muscle. Over years and years and years of use it just wears out. This process is accelerated by hypertension, because the muscle has to beat harder to push out the blood. When the heart muscle weakens, it cannot pump the blood out as fast as the blood comes in. This causes the blood to backfill, into your body and into your lungs. This is called heart failure.

Now, many people will say that a "normal" blood pressure is 120/80, and that anything over 140/90 is considered to be hypertension. These numbers will vary from person to person. Really, the bottom line is that the lower, the better (within reason of course, too low and you die of shock). The lower the readings, the less pressure in your arteries, the less contractile force the heart muscle needs to use, etc.

One word of advice... those automatic blood pressure machines in the malls and super markets are not that good. If you are going to use them, take your pressure like 3 times over a couple of hours, and average out the numbers. Remember that even being nervous about something increases your blood pressure. Your blood pressure can also vary throughout the day. If it is constantly over 140/90, during different times of the day, for a while, than I would say:

If you are concerned, see a doctor. Ultimately seeking medical advice on an internet forum is always a bad idea!!!

Cheers,

James

[Cody Dawg]

Stop eating salt, smoking, eating a lot of sugar, and drinking.

Seriously.

Don't know if you do any of those things, but they DO matter.



Good luck.

[wallinbl]

Originally Posted by James L

Cheers,

James

Not sure you said anything cheerful!

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Stop eating salt, smoking, eating a lot of sugar, and drinking.

Seriously.

Alternatively, Athens, you could take the plunge and go veggie.

(yes, yes, I'm banging on my "go veggie" drum again. It just so happens that I'm right, as usual. )

[ghporter]

What Cody said. You're in the "high" range from that measurement.

Now, you do want to stay alive and functioning, right? Do this: get your own BP kit (if you don't have one yet) and check your BP at home while you're relaxed. A lot of people have "white coat hypertension," an elevation of their blood pressure when a medical person (in a white coat, get it?) takes it. Checking your blood pressure at home is the best way to find out whether this affects you.

And do it while you're relaxed! Sitting back in a recliner (except for the straining to read the gage) is a Good Thing here.

Check frequently-maybe twice a day-for one week and record every single measurement. If your BP stays high like that when YOU measure it and while you're relaxed, SEE YOUR DOCTOR-who will start with what Cody said... But do see your doctor if it stays high like that. That's Bad.

[James L]

Originally Posted by ghporter

What Cody said. You're in the "high" range from that measurement.

Now, you do want to stay alive and functioning, right? Do this: get your own BP kit (if you don't have one yet) and check your BP at home while you're relaxed. A lot of people have "white coat hypertension," an elevation of their blood pressure when a medical person (in a white coat, get it?) takes it. Checking your blood pressure at home is the best way to find out whether this affects you.

And do it while you're relaxed! Sitting back in a recliner (except for the straining to read the gage) is a Good Thing here.

Check frequently-maybe twice a day-for one week and record every single measurement. If your BP stays high like that when YOU measure it and while you're relaxed, SEE YOUR DOCTOR-who will start with what Cody said... But do see your doctor if it stays high like that. That's Bad.

[James L]

Originally Posted by wallinbl

Not sure you said anything cheerful!

[cjrivera]

Make sure you have the right sized BP cuff. One that is too small will give you a falsely elevated BP.

Caffeine is also another cause of elevated BP, so cutting back on that (if you drink a lot) may help reduce your BP. Also watch for the "natural or herbal supplements" (which are not regulated by the FDA in the US) and cold/sinus meds that you can buy OTC. They can also have ingredients that can increase BP.

THe main thing is, like everyone has been saying, Get checked by your doctor. And when you do, bring along your home BP cuff and check it with his/her results. That way you know how reliable your home BP machine is.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Stop eating salt, smoking, eating a lot of sugar, and drinking.

Seriously.

Don't know if you do any of those things, but they DO matter.



Good luck.

Dont eat salt, and have cut down on sugar and dont drink. Most of it is prob from BF related stress.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by cjrivera

Make sure you have the right sized BP cuff. One that is too small will give you a falsely elevated BP.

Caffeine is also another cause of elevated BP, so cutting back on that (if you drink a lot) may help reduce your BP. Also watch for the "natural or herbal supplements" (which are not regulated by the FDA in the US) and cold/sinus meds that you can buy OTC. They can also have ingredients that can increase BP.

THe main thing is, like everyone has been saying, Get checked by your doctor. And when you do, bring along your home BP cuff and check it with his/her results. That way you know how reliable your home BP machine is.

quit caffeine months ago, only thing im doing now is smoking, I dont even eat alot of meat.

[Cody Dawg]

Sorry, but what is "BF related stress?"

I had high blood pressure when I was pregnant last time. I felt really bad. My blook pressure was 168/95 when it is normally 120/70. I couldn't believe how badly I felt. I also had gestational diabetes.

Is there any chance you have diabetes and don't know it?

Make sure you are getting enough exercise, also, and sleep.

Whatever is giving you that much stress needs to go. People think about blood pressure in terms of heart attack, but the truth is that you can have a stroke and be temporarily or permanently disabled also.

[Athens]

no diabetes, and i dont get enough sleep, BF as in Boy Friend related stress

[Cody Dawg]

Bad relationship? GET OUT before it kills you. That's all I can say. Life is too short.

[Athens]

im not going to GET OUT because my BF is really really sick, thats cold

[nredman]

i was worried about my BP last year - it was up around 160-150 over 70/80 - talked to my doctor about it and he said many things could bring it up - stress from work, lack of exercise, and eating bad. since then i have started exercising more and eating better - now its usually about 120/130 over 70 - i think the norm is 120/70 - sometimes i get to 120 - bp goes up and down all the time - my doctor also said he would start to really worry about it if it stayed over 160 all the time. hope that helped.

[nredman]

Originally Posted by Athens

quit caffeine months ago, only thing im doing now is smoking, I dont even eat alot of meat.

cut out smoking - that should help alot - i know that probably easy for someone who doesnt smoke to say. good luck

also i think i remember my doctor saying that caffeine doesnt have a huge effect on bp
\

[ghporter]

Stress is a major cause of elevated blood pressure, but it's something that can be managed. A few things to do are exercise, stretching, meditation, and even simply reading for enjoyment. If your dietary and health habits are moving toward a more healthy pattern, then start working on stress management. Remember, you can't help anyone else if you're about to keel over. "Being there" for someone is important, but you have to be there for yourself first. And see a doctor soon, ok?

[Cody Dawg]

Chill, Athens.

I didn't see where you'd written, "BF is REALLY sick and I am under a lot of stress right now."

How am I to know?

Sheesh.

Sorry I posted here. I won't anymore.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Chill, Athens.

I didn't see where you'd written, "BF is REALLY sick and I am under a lot of stress right now."

How am I to know?

Sheesh.

Sorry I posted here. I won't anymore.

calm down ms PMS

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Athens

quit caffeine months ago, only thing im doing now is smoking, I dont even eat alot of meat.

QUIT SMOKING!!! Seriously, smoking is one of the biggest modifiable risk factors for heart disease in general. You'll help your blood pressure too. Oh, and see your doctor.

[wdlove]

If the 150/80 is an accurate reading, that is a high blood pressure reading. For a proper reading should sit quietly for five minutes prior to the reading. Current standards are that it should be lower than 120/80. A blood pressure higher than 120/80 is now considered 120/80 is pre hypertensive. Yours needs lifestyle changes in addition to medication to bring your blood pressure down. I tend to be in the pre-hypertensive range which means life style changes. As mentioned above.

Restrict salt, no smoking, walk 30 minutes per day.

[Kevin]

Smoking also causes poor circulation which means weak erections.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Athens

im not going to GET OUT because my BF is really really sick, thats cold

Sticking with someone through the thick and thin is commendable.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Smoking also causes poor circulation which means weak erections.

I have NO issues with that

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Smoking also causes poor circulation which means weak erections.

Therefore... ...ugly girlfriends cause poor circulation?

[cjrivera]

Originally Posted by Doofy

Therefore... ...ugly girlfriends cause poor circulation?

Maybe ugly girlfriends cause you to take up smoking ...


...or drinking (which could also cause erectile dysfunction)

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Athens

I have NO issues with that

You are still young.

[ghporter]

Stress by itself can cause weak erections-and that can build over time so you don't notice it until you can't achieve a useful erection, no matter how excited you are or want to be. High blood pressure is an organic cause of erectile dysfunction, and if you add stress to high blood pressure, you can have some really serious problems quite beyond the inability to get it up (which is a stressor in itself).

So what are you doing to reduce or at least manage your stress?

[loki74]

Originally Posted by ghporter

SEE YOUR DOCTOR

^^ the single wisest, most accurate advice in this thread ^^

Perhaps the worst thing you can do is not see a doctor, IMO. I don't want to accuse you of anything, but when patients self-diagnose and self-treat, many times they are asking for trouble.

That said, I am not refuting any of the advice given by people who don't happen to have M.D.s in this thread--there are some obvious things to do, and I think it would definately be good for you to do.

Good luck, and God bless. oh and "Live long and prosper"

[James L]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Smoking also causes poor circulation which means weak erections.

Sticking with someone through the thick and thin is commendable.

Two consecutive posts... erections, and thick and thin.

Coincidence? I think not.

[EurekaHyperNova]

A weak erection may have many causes... Medications, depression, an ugly partner etc. I would deffinately see a professional to rule out a physical cause... Or you can do what I do.

Pound it with a hammer till it swells...:-)

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by James L

Two consecutive posts... erections, and thick and thin.

Coincidence? I think not.

I never noticed that.

[Cody Dawg]

I get worried when I can't get an erection, too.