Lowering High Blood Pressure

[coccinelle]

I've just been diagnosed with a very high blood pressure reading (22 over 10!) As I'm not at all overweight and physically active this doesn't concern my doctor as he feels it's due to bereavemant and having to cope on my own. He does advise me to keep on top of this by popping in to monitor it or in buying or renting something to monitor this. I have a healthy diet other than a few glasses of wine which I'll now be cutting down on but are there other ways of bringing this down. I don't want to be put on medication.

[Buenchico]

Start here:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Blood-pressure-%28high%29/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Chris

[gingejbee]

22 over 10? Sounds very very low to me!!!

[ttfn]

My GP advised I got one of these. I did and it is simple to use.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[bednobs]

unless thye have a different way of measuring it in france, 22/10 is not a high blood pressure!

[woofgang]

If its stress hypertension, then although a healthy diet will not hurt, it won't help to bring your BP down. Can you make a list of the practical things that are stressing you? I know that bereavement on its own is stressful as I lost my husband in 2011. There are various things that can help, talking therapies, support from friends or family or a bereavement group, meditation. Its about finding out what will help you. If the GP thinks that it is stress related, i wonder why he didn't tell you about what support is available locally...maybe you could go back and ask?

[ttfn]

coccinelle - did you leave an 0 off each figure?

http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Yourlifestyle/Eatingwell

[Buenchico]

>>>22 over 10? Sounds very very low to me!!!

Sounds like a corpse to me!

105 over 70 is in the middle of the desired range (with about + or - 10 being acceptable on each of those figures).

[coccinelle]

Thanks Chris but I know all that , I just want to know if there are AB ideas on this. I can't get over the fact that though I do like a drink or two I eat very healthily I'm very active I'm slim ...but my blood pressure is so high... I'm only 51 as well.
I hope to bring this down without medication.

[LazyGun]

I have a feeling that in France BP is measured in cm/Hg rather than as we do in the UK with mm/Hg - so 22/10 would read as 220/100 mmHg which would indeed be regarded as v.high blood pressure.....

[humbersloop]

bowl of porridge every morning, eat more broccoli and mackerel

[Buenchico]

>>>I eat very healthily

Salt? Caffeine?
(I'm just trying to think of what you might have missed)

[coccinelle]

Oh crikey, you've replied well ahead of me. 22 over 10 is in fact in the UK 220 over 100. Sorry. it is a high reading.

[LazyGun]

Actually, scratch that - They actually use KPa as a measure.

To get mmHg from KPa you have to multiply by 7.5

so 22/10 would =165/75

Which is not as bad, but still on the high side :)

[ttfn]

Do not get paranoid about the hypertension, for starters - easily said, I know.

Mine was higher than yours and I was hospitalized because of it. Despite many and varied medications it is still a problem for me, but it has come down somewhat. I don't understand why it higher some days than others. Anything you can do to reduce it naturally is a great idea. If I am relaxed it helps me. Try and find something that you will enjoy to relax. Good luck :)

[coccinelle]

Chris that's another factor: I make my own meals mainly so I don't use much salt and I only drink very weak tea.
I think my factor is stress and I'm going to look into yoga and helping me out in that sector.
Thank you everybody for your support.

[coccinelle]

ttfn, thanks especially for your input and everybody here. I'm rather concerned as you can imagine so just sharing will help me through this. I've ordered a blood pressure monitor so will monitor the situation. I feel I've done so much to lead a healthy life then this comes up, but I suppose everybody feels the same.

[ttfn]

It is disappointing and frustrating for you, I understand that coccinelle.
My hypertension was discovered when it was 240/140. I have had a stroke and heart attacks. However, I am still here and a working pensioner. My GP told me that a little alcohol will not harm me :) Life goes on. Take care xx

[coccinelle]

thanks ttfn; lots of hugs to you. What do you do now to bring it down?

[ttfn]

Gardening is good, have done a little knitting - not really my forte but it does concentrate my mind - I enjoy my p.c., love listening to the wireless, I even do a little writing - mainly for my own amusement. In short, anything which occupies my mind on just one focus. I used to have lots of pets but don't consider myself fit enough to look after another now, but I do share my sister's dog every weekend :)

[ttfn]

I forgot - I do enjoy ironing ;)