I Had A Blood Pressure Reading Of 135/98, I Am Really Worried.

[LostSoulx]

Hi there,

I recently went to the doctors and my blood pressure was taken on both arms, it was 135/98, he seemed concerned with my Diastolic and said it was high.

I am going to be given a 24 hour blood pressure monitor, but I m really worried about the high diastolic reading, apparently that is the worst one to have a high reading for.

I am 29, 5 ft 10 and I weight 17 st (238 Pounds). Do you think with excercise and diet, I will be able to get my bp down to normal levels or will i be put on meds for the rest of my life?

I have never taken any long term meds in my life, but iam worried about my heart.

I must also note that i suffer from severe anxiety and stress.

Thanks in advance.

[Buenchico]

You've got a body mass index of about 34, which is in the middle of the 'obsese' band. Losing 5 stone will take your BMI down to around 24, which is still at the upper end of the 'healthy weight' band and should thus be regarded as the minimum amount of weight that you need to lose.

If you do that AND increase the amount of exercise that you regularly take AS WELL AS reducing your salt intake (AND, if relevant cut down on alcohol and stop smoking) it's highly likely that your hypertension will become a thing of the past.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Blood-pressure-%28high%29/Pages/Causes.aspx

[pixie373]

Exercise and diet should certainly help, as would treatment for anxiety and stress.

[Sqad]

\\\\I am 29, 5 ft 10 and I weight 17 st (238 Pounds). Do you think with excercise and diet, I will be able to get my bp down to normal levels or will i be put on meds for the rest of my life? \\\

Maybe......maybe not.

You are young to have hypertension and if this is confirmed by a 24 hour BP monitoring, then it will need investigation and treatment.

Certainly the measures mentioned above by the post of Buenchico will be helpful but you will need tablets to bring your BP down......tablets for life.

However, if the hypertension is not seen to be a permanent feature on 24 hour monitoring, then treating your anxiety and stress with perhaps beta blockers as well as the life style change that has been mentioned, may all that may be necessary.

Keep us informed.

[LostSoulx]

Thank you very much for your answers Buenchico, Pixie and Sqad. I will be sure to keep you informed Sqad when i get my results.

[LostSoulx]

Hey all who answered. I have since taken my blood pressure and it was at 131/81 which is nothing to be concerned about. I do need to lose weight though.

[Prudie]

That's an improvement but still veering towards a high level.You know even gentle regular exercise like walking can lower BP. Good luck

[jomifl]

Blood pressure varies enormously and if you are prone to anxiety just having a BP measurement can push it up 20 or so millibars. Along with losing weight you need to eat more fruit and veg to increase your potassium intake. If you add salt at all use one of the low sodium salt substitutes which replace the sodium with potassium. 'Lo Salt' has a third the sodium of ordinary table salt.

[Sqad]

Much better.I agree with all the above posters?

[Sqad]

Sorry...didn"t mean to put a question mark at the end of the sentence

[Prudie]

Yes you did :-0

[Sqad]

LOL.