High blood pressure

[weeblackcat]

I am 33 years old, female not THAT overweight - maybe by 4lbs - don't smoke or drink excessively. I have a BP of between 145/90 - 200/120. It can be extremely high. Of course I am concerned and have been given limited time to try and reduce the reading before being put on some horrid drug to lower it. What could be the problem and does anyone have any advice?
Thanks!

[Katie~77]

Causes
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.a spx?articleId=203§ionId=35305

[Katie~77]

Treatment
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.a spx?articleId=203�ionId=35307

Good luck.x

[peppy]

Had mine done yesterday and it was 224 / 147.

I'm 43 and quite a bit overweight, so at least now ( looking for the positive side of it ) I have extra incentive to do something about it.

Like you weeblackcat, don't fancy the drugs much.
Good luck x x

[weeblackcat]

Thanks Katie - those links were useful

Peppy - Thanks for your kind reply - what was your doc's reaction - very concerned or not? I'm dead anxious about it - which I know doesn't help - but they don't seem that bothered. Does your doc seem to think weight loss will help you? I had lots of bloods done and cholestrol came back 4.2 ( fine) they sent me for a chest x-ray ( not sure why) fine....kidney function etc - fine. I'm still at a loss as to why mine is so high....have been sugested that garlic tablets may help so popping them...still no lower!

I'm so loathed to go on the meds - sound quite nasty!

[peppy]

Had it done independently, as I was concerned.
Have got asthma and hay fever, and the two combined have made life really difficult recently. I have been gasping with the slightest exertion, so I went to my GP ( locum )
After listening to my chest she doubled my daily dose of inhalers, gave me antihistamines and put me on a course of 8 a day steroids. But didn't take my BP.
This was on thursday, but I have to wait til tuesday to go back.

Hoping it's back down by then !!

[fran2]

wbc, You can buy drinks to help lower blood pressure from most supermarkets. They're in little pots just 1 daily.

[ruby27]

Its probably hereditary - I am on the tablets (age 45) my Doctor said any side effects are far outweighed by the damage done by HB. My mother has been on medication for the last 30 years and is still taking them at 72, her father who had HB died at 86 and was a heavy smoker so for our family the medication seems the best thing