Getting a tattoo with high blood pressure can be a viable option for those with control, but it is important to understand the risks associated with certain medications. Blood thinners, a receptor blocker medication used to treat high blood pressure, can make the tattooing process more painful and potentially lead to infections. Metoprolol, a medication used to treat high blood pressure, does not affect tattooing.
To avoid complications, it is essential to consult with a medical professional about the medications you will be taking and how they might affect your tattooing experience. Many people with heart disease can get a tattoo, but it is important to avoid medications that may bleed, make the skin sensitive, have rejection properties, or have anti-rejection properties.
Diuretics, which dehydrate the skin, are another potential risk. While many people with high blood pressure can get a tattoo, it is not recommended due to the risk of scarring, infection, skin sensitivity, or imprecise tattoo outcomes. It is crucial to inform your tattoo artist about blood thinners or blood pressure medications, as they can cause increased bleeding and blood pressure during the tattooing process.
If you are considering getting a tattoo or piercing, it is essential to consult with your medical practitioner to ensure the best possible outcome.
| Article | Description | Site |
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| Getting a tattoo with high blood pressure | Realistically a lot of people with high bp get tattooed and handle it well, but you should chat with your doc about what medications you are … | reddit.com |
| Can I get a tattoo if I am on certain medications or have … | It is just not recommended due to risk of scarring, infection, skin sensitivity, or imprecise outcome of the tattoo! Be sure to let your tattoo artist know … | kelley-ross.com |
| Things you Need to Know Before you get your Tattoo | Blood Thinners or Blood Pressure Medications: Blood thinners can make you bleed more while the pain from being tattooed can cause your blood pressure to rise. | sinonskin.ca |
📹 Side-effects to taking blood thinners
Americans spend more than $1 billion on blood thinning drugs every year. Despite their benefits, these medications can have …
What'S The Worst That Can Happen When Getting A Tattoo?
Getting a tattoo comes with various risks, primarily localized skin infections such as bacterial infections (e. g., impetigo and MRSA) and viral infections (e. g., HPV and herpes) at the tattoo site. The risks are most pronounced when the tattoo is fresh, as the skin is healing, requiring diligent aftercare to avert complications. Potential side effects include allergic reactions, infections, and skin problems. Common side effects may mirror those of abrasions, such as shock, nausea, and mild fever, and while most issues are temporary, some can result in long-term health effects.
Uncommon yet severe health problems can arise; for instance, a model nearly lost her eye to a serious infection post-tattooing. Infection risks exist even at reputable tattoo parlors, given that the tattooing process breaks the skin, creating a pathway for infection. Bacterial skin infections like staphylococcus often result from unsterile environments or contaminated inks or water. Other risks encompass allergic reactions to tattoo ink, particularly to dyes such as red, yellow, green, and blue, which can lead to itchy rashes at the tattoo site.
Additional complications can include keloids and swelling, alongside concerns regarding MRI scans and needle sterilization. The FDA has reported cases of infections resulting from contaminated tattoo inks, and symptoms indicating potential issues can include worsening pain, rashes, blisters, fever, chills, and pus formation. Moreover, individuals may experience allergic reactions to tattoo inks, even if they have been tattooed previously.
Awareness around the accumulation of tattoo dyes in lymph nodes was noted among some participants in studies. Ultimately, while tattoos can be a form of self-expression, it's crucial to understand and manage associated risks effectively.
Does A Tattoo Affect Blood Pressure?
Experts advise that certain individuals should avoid tattoos, particularly those with high blood pressure. The tattooing process involves needles that can cause pain, potentially leading to a temporary spike in blood pressure. While having controlled hypertension generally allows for tattoo procedures, the act of getting a tattoo can create complications such as excessive bleeding and a slower healing process. Clients with high blood pressure should consult a healthcare professional before proceeding, as they may face risks like fainting or difficulty in managing bleeding.
Additionally, individuals on blood pressure medications should be cautious—diuretics can dehydrate the skin, which might affect the tattoo’s appearance and healing. It’s important for those with blood pressure concerns to ensure their levels are stable. Similarly, individuals need to be aware that the pain associated with getting a tattoo might temporarily elevate their blood pressure. Elevated cortisol levels over time can also complicate blood pressure and food processing.
Furthermore, issues such as Koebnerization—where skin lesions appear after trauma—can arise, impacting healing. Overall, while tattoos are becoming increasingly popular, those with health concerns like high blood pressure should thoroughly understand the associated risks and take necessary precautions to promote safe healing.
Where Should You Never Get A Tattoo?
When considering tattoo placements, it's crucial to avoid certain areas of the body due to pain, practicality, and visibility concerns. The feet, hands, stomach, chest, elbows, lips, and inner ear are cited as the worst locations for tattoos. Getting inked generally does involve pain, and some areas are more sensitive than others. It’s important to reflect on whether the timing is right for you to get a tattoo, as tattoos are permanent decisions that require thorough consideration.
According to a 2010 study, approximately 38% of individuals aged 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo, raising the question of whether getting a tattoo hurts. The answer varies, depending on personal pain tolerance and the specific body location. Experts recommend focusing on areas that minimize pain; typically, locations with thicker skin and fewer nerve endings are more tolerable.
There are popular tattoos that professionals advise against getting, and it's essential to consult with healthcare providers if you suspect any infections or complications with your tattoo's healing. Should you regret a tattoo, there are options available, including laser removal therapy, which can help erase unwanted ink over several sessions.
The article highlights five specific areas to avoid for tattoos, including elbows, armpits, behind the knees, hands and fingers, and the rib cage. These locations are notorious for being particularly painful and can lead to complications, especially for those active in sports or other physical activities, as tattoos in these areas might hinder movement or create discomfort.
For first-time tattoo seekers, choosing the right location is crucial. Starting with places like the ankle or wrist might provide a more manageable experience if pain is a concern. It is also wise to consider job prospects, as tattoos in visible areas could limit employment options. Overall, the key factors to weigh before committing to a tattoo include personal readiness, pain tolerance, and the implications of permanent body art on your life. Engaging a skilled artist and investing time to think things through will help ensure a tattoo decision you won’t regret.
Can Acne Medication Cause A Tattoo?
Acne medications significantly increase skin sensitivity, leading to heightened pain and discomfort during the tattooing process. This sensitivity can also result in permanent scarring. Particularly, isotretinoin (found in Accutane) is known to impair wound healing. Medical practitioners generally advise individuals to refrain from getting tattoos for 6 to 12 months after discontinuing isotretinoin due to these concerns.
While some believe that acne blemishes won’t affect the tattoo, picking or popping pimples can spread bacteria to surrounding skin, increasing the risk of infection. Additionally, using acne treatment products on a fresh tattoo is discouraged, as these can aggravate the skin and cause complications.
Tattooing over active breakouts, even if it’s just a pimple, is not recommended as it can inflict skin damage and allow bacteria to spread. If acne persists over a tattoo, patients should consult a Board Certified Dermatologist to explore safe treatments that won’t compromise the tattoo's appearance.
Though individuals with acne-prone skin can still get tattoos, doing so over inflamed or irritated areas is inadvisable. Accutane is effective for severe acne, but it alters skin condition, making it crucial to wait at least 6 months post-treatment before considering tattoos.
Moreover, any medications causing blood thinning can also affect the tattoo outcome. In summary, individuals on acne medications need to be cautious with tattoos due to increased pain, risk of infections, and poor healing. Consulting with healthcare professionals prior to getting a tattoo is essential to ensure both safety and desired results. It's critical to prioritize skin health and recovery over aesthetic desires when dealing with acne and potential tattoo procedures.
Does Ink Go Into Your Bloodstream When You Get A Tattoo?
Tattoo ink is not injected directly into the bloodstream but is deposited between layers of the skin, mainly in the dermis. Consequently, there is no ink in the blood itself; however, some small particles may migrate through the lymphatic system and enter the bloodstream, ultimately reaching the lymph nodes. There is research suggesting that certain ink particles may also go to the liver. The tattooing process involves inserting ink into tiny punctures created by needles, which the body interprets as a wound.
In response, the body mounts a defense against the ink, with white blood cells attempting to neutralize the foreign substance. This results in some ink being retained in the skin, while other particles may flake off over time.
The popularity of tattoos in the United States has surged over the last two decades, with about 29% of the population reporting at least one tattoo. Tattoos can vary significantly in design—from intricate artwork to simple symbols—and the body treats the tattoo application as a healing process. As cells react to this 'wound,' specialized cells may absorb ink particles, leading to their retention in the skin.
Additionally, minor bleeding can occur when capillaries in the skin are punctured during tattooing, allowing ink to enter the bloodstream, though the amount is negligible. While tattoo ink does enter the bloodstream temporarily, it does not remain there long-term.
Some researchers point out that nanoparticles in tattoo ink can eventually be transported through the body, including the lymphatic system, and may deposit in other organs like the liver. Although the presence of ink particles in the bloodstream is a documented phenomenon, it is generally considered harmless if the equipment used is clean and free from infectious materials.
Tattoo equipment that has been contaminated with infected blood can pose serious health risks, as diseases can be transmitted through blood. Overall, while tattoo ink is predominantly housed in the skin, certain small particles can enter systemic circulation, though whether they cause significant health issues remains uncertain. Thus, understanding how tattoo ink interacts with the body’s biology is critical for both artists and clients.
Is Tattoo Ink Toxic To The Body?
Evidence indicates that certain tattoo inks contain carcinogenic substances, identified as known or possible by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer. This article explores the ingredients of tattoo inks, their metabolic interaction with human skin, and the potential toxicological risks posed by impurities. Concerns include the long-term effects that tattoo inks may have on the immune system and other unforeseen health issues. A 2012 study by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency revealed that some tattoo inks can be toxic due to carcinogenic compounds.
Moreover, research found that individuals with tattoos had a 21% higher risk of lymphoma compared to non-tattooed individuals, accounting for factors like smoking and education level. A recent study testing 75 tattoo inks highlighted the presence of harmful ingredients that could jeopardize health. The FDA has documented cases of infections resulting from contaminated tattoo inks, as well as allergic reactions to the inks themselves. A 2019 FDA investigation revealed that sealed bottles of tattoo ink, even those labeled sterile, hosted millions of harmful bacteria.
As tattoo ink remains in the skin for extended periods, the recruitment of immune cells and evidence indicating pigment migration to lymph nodes heightens concerns about potential health impacts. Allergic skin reactions, notably itchy rashes at the site of tattoos, can occur years after the tattoo is applied, with red ink being particularly associated with such reactions.
Tattoo inks are comprised of various organic and inorganic pigments, which can be tainted with toxic metallic impurities. Studies from Germany and France have examined the direct exposure of the body to these toxic ingredients through the injection of ink into the skin. Accumulation of pigments in lymph nodes and other organs remains a matter of concern, and whether the chemically altered remnants of these pigments are toxic is still unknown.
Notably, tattoo inks may contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury, which can lead to harmful effects. Overall, tattooing can pose risks including skin infections, allergic reactions, and potential cancer linkages.
Who Should Not Have A Tattoo?
Before getting a tattoo, individuals with medical issues—like heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin conditions (such as eczema or psoriasis), a compromised immune system, or bleeding disorders—should consult their doctor. Those prone to keloids should likely avoid tattoos altogether. Proper consideration is vital, especially if unsure about the tattoo artist or the decision itself. If you have lupus, wait for your symptoms to stabilize before proceeding. Opting for a reputable tattoo facility is essential to reduce infection risks.
Tattoos can be an excellent way to express personal beliefs or mantras; however, it’s crucial to assess the associated risks. If concerns about infection or healing arise post-tattooing, seek medical advice. For those unhappy with their tattoo and contemplating removal, consultation with a healthcare professional is advisable. As tattoos have progressed from counterculture to mainstream self-expression, the safety of the procedure should be discussed with a healthcare provider, considering any underlying conditions.
Common mistakes following a new tattoo include neglecting to care for the bandage, exposing the tattoo to water without caution, and not recognizing if they are ready for a tattoo. It’s important to ask if the desired tattoo has personal significance and if the individual genuinely appreciates the artwork.
Some conditions that should preclude tattooing include pregnancy, breastfeeding, diabetes, psoriasis, eczema, blood disorders, and the use of specific medications—especially immunosuppressants or blood thinners. It is also wise to refrain from tattooing while intoxicated, under pressure, or dealing with sunburn.
Numerous accounts exist of people facing employment challenges due to visible tattoos, particularly on the face and neck. Consequently, some tattoo shops may refuse service to individuals with active psoriasis or eczema or tattoos over moles. Pain tolerance is another factor; regions with less flesh, like bony areas, can be more painful to tattoo. Additionally, weight fluctuations or pregnancy may affect the tattoo's appearance over time. Overall, careful consideration and appropriate consultation can help mitigate risks associated with getting a tattoo.
What Is A BP Tattoo?
The innovative tattoos utilize bioimpedance, a method that tracks blood flow's reaction to electrical currents to accurately measure blood pressure. Constructed from graphene, a material akin to that in graphite pencils, these tattoos feature tiny electrodes that transmit a small current to wrist arteries and assess the current's alteration due to tissue impedance. Worn on the wrist, they allow for continuous blood pressure monitoring, integrating sophisticated sensor technology.
In addition to their medical significance, people within mental health communities—especially those affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD)—share the deeply personal stories behind their tattoos. For instance, a semicolon tattoo symbolizes resilience; a butterfly emerging from a cocoon represents transformation and hope. Such tattoos not only serve as reminders of support during challenging times but also signify triumphs over adversity. Various designs reflect unique meanings, from ancient symbols to contemporary motifs, embodying personal narratives and cultural significance.
The dialogue surrounding bipolar disorder tattoos is vibrant, fostering a supportive environment for individuals seeking meaningful symbols to express their experiences. As tattoo ideas circulate, individuals often share the thoughts and motivations behind their ink, further solidifying the powerful role of tattoos as forms of self-expressions. Whether embodying cherished memories or marking life's struggles, these tattoos connect individuals to their journeys while offering visible reminders of their inner strength and perseverance. The merging of technological advancement in health monitoring and meaningful personal expression through tattoos exemplifies a unique blend of art and science in today's society.
Can Tattoos Cause Blood Clots?
Tattoos pose several health risks and potential side effects, primarily due to the skin damage inflicted during the application process. This damage leads to the formation of blood clots around broken blood vessels, often resulting in bruising. Individuals using blood thinners face increased risks during tattooing procedures, as these medications complicate bleeding issues. It is essential to inform healthcare providers about such medications prior to getting a tattoo, as there have been reports of deaths linked to blood clots post-tattooing.
Although nerve damage from tattoos is rare, it can occur, particularly in those on anticoagulants, leading to severe bruising or infections. Ensuring the cleanliness of the tattooing equipment is crucial; contaminated tools can transmit bloodborne diseases such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. There are concerns regarding potential swelling or blood clots in lymph nodes caused by tattoo ink depositions, although a direct correlation is unproven.
Complications arising from tattoos may necessitate various local treatments like cryotherapy or laser destruction. It is important to note that tattoos themselves do not directly cause blood clots; often, the association arises from misconceptions. For those with a history of COVID-19, increased risks of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms may also be a concern.
Tattoos can be particularly risky for individuals with certain conditions, such as hemophilia, who may experience prolonged bleeding. Additionally, tattoos over varicose veins may lead to complications like deep vein thrombosis. The procedure involves initial bleeding, and as the area heals, blood clots will form on the skin surface. Thus, individuals considering tattoos should weigh the potential risks carefully and consult with their doctors, especially if they have pre-existing health conditions.
Can A Tattoo Make You Pour With Blood?
Un tatuaje no provocará una hemorragia excesiva, pero abre la piel, lo que plantea consideraciones para la salud. Generalmente, se aconseja a las personas que toman anticoagulantes que eviten tatuarse. Sin embargo, si un médico general considera que es seguro, entonces se puede discutir con el artista del tatuaje. También hay que tener en cuenta condiciones que requieran inmunosupresores, como la enfermedad de Crohn o el lupus, ya que hay riesgos asociados.
El uso de equipos contaminados con sangre puede provocar la transmisión de enfermedades infecciosas como el estafilococo resistente a la meticilina y hepatitis B y C. Además, investigaciones han relacionado los tatuajes con un riesgo incrementado de cáncer, con pruebas recientes que sugieren que los tatuajes podrían elevar el riesgo de cáncer sanguíneo en particular.
Es normal que tras la realización de un tatuaje haya algo de sangrado; sin embargo, la cantidad varía según varios factores, y puede durar desde unas pocas horas hasta varios días. Si aparecen síntomas como fiebre, escalofríos o secreciones purulentas, se debe consultar a un médico, ya que podrían indicar una infección. Para donar sangre, se deben cumplir ciertos criterios; por lo general, no se puede donar si el tatuaje es más reciente que tres meses.
El estudio en The British Journal of Dermatology indica que las nanopartículas en la tinta del tatuaje son lo suficientemente pequeñas como para penetrar en las capas de la piel. Se menciona que la radiación UV puede descomponer algunos tintes, convirtiéndolos en sustancias tóxicas que pueden aumentar el riesgo de cáncer de piel. Se ha observado que los pigmentos azo en la tinta roja pueden degradarse en compuestos carcinogénicos.
Es habitual que el área del tatuaje produzca pequeñas cantidades de sangre durante 24 horas y fluidos claros o amarillentos durante algunos días más. Para manejar la hinchazón o picazón, se recomienda aplicar compresas frías, evitando el contacto directo del hielo con la piel. Aunque es normal ver un poco de sangre, el bienestar general y la prevención de infecciones deben ser prioritarios.
Por último, aunque las personas con tatuajes pueden donar sangre, deben asegurarse de no tener enfermedades específicas y de haber pasado un tiempo razonable desde la adquisición de su tatuaje. También es crucial que los tatuadores sean profesionales experimentados para minimizar riesgos asociados a infecciones.
📹 How High Is Too High For Blood Pressure? Cardiologist Explains
The surgeons would once again like to thank Dr. Heffernan for sharing his knowledge on the topic of high blood pressure.
I’m 21, one day decided to take my blood pressure at a Walmart just for fun. Read 187/128. Checked it over a few days and it was consistently that high. 6 months later and this Tuesday I’m having my second consultation with a neurosurgeon, turns out I have a tumor on my pituitary gland in my brain causing the high blood pressure. Was feeling terrible with headaches for years and couldn’t figure out why! Wish me luck Update: I ended up have two brain surgeries, the first unsuccessful, and I’m in recovery. 80% of my pituitary was removed and most of my symptoms have gone away. My blood pressure is stable in the 120/80 range without medication. I’ve lost 150lbs in the last 7 months since my successful surgery. I’m still very weak but I’m going to physical therapy to hopefully start getting better. I am most likely going to need to take prednisone daily for the rest of my life because it’s keeping me alive as my pituitary is no longer creating cortisol. I have a weakened immune system and I’m still physically unable to do almost everything I used to love, but I’m holding up very well and am finding meaning in my life every day!
Well, I’m 44 yrs old and my blood pressure was in the 155/80 range and my resting heart rate in the high 70s range. I’m 5’8″ and I was 209 lbs at the time. I began an oil free Whole Foods plant based diet in October of 2022. My weight is now 178 lbs. I work out daily, because I have so much energy. My blood pressure is in the 105/60 range, my resting heart rate is 55 and my total cholesterol has dropped from 215 to 135, my LDL is 65, from my last physical. I only supplement with B12, but before this I was taking a bunch of vitamins with no effect. Now I just eat a lot of colorful fruits, veggies, greens, whole grains and legumes, sweet potatoes and yams, until I’m full. I’ve been feeling great. I followed the book arresting and reversing heart disease by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. My BP lowered and as per my blood work, I’m doing fantastic, so I’m going to continue with this.
The last couple years of my 29 years of being on the Birth Control Pill, I’d get horrific headaches the same week each cycle. One day I finally checked my BP during a headache. It was 245/143. I drove myself to the hospital at midnight (left my husband with sleeping grandkids) and they looked at me like I was a ghost. My headache wasn’t very bad at this point and I felt pretty normal. They thought their BP machine was broken. They kept me 3 days. I’m CERTAIN it was Pill/hormone related. I’m so blessed I never stroked.
5 years ago my cardiologist gave me a stress test and I failed. I was sent to St Michaels hospital in Toronto and had 5 blockages opened with stents (3 of the blockages were in a row). They figure it was a miracle that I had never had a heart attack or chest pain. Last November when taking my routine BP check at home, it was up a bit. I continued to check every 2 hours and it kept climbing. Big mistake on my part. I obsessed over the numbers and my own anxiety caused pressure to increase. I went to the hospital when the numbers became ‘critical’. Diagnosis – calm down and stop stressing. That worked fine. Now I take a reading once a day – Maximum. The lesson here is to monitor sensibly and take your meds as prescribed.
I went to the hospital on March 14 with shaking, heart palpitations, fast heartbeats, sweating too much, and shortness of breath. On the first reading, my heart rate was over 167 and my blood pressure was 160/112, while on the second reading, it was 199/115. In a blood test, they diagnosed me with overactive thyroid, and I had to take medication and have blood work every month. The staff at the hospital were so kind and helpful, thank you for explaining everything to me. I live in Alberta, Canada. 🇨🇦😎thank you for explaining blood pressure
This was great information. 👍🏿 My Mom was a nurse from the old school. She had high blood pressure, and was taking medication for it. This was years ago. At home she had a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer. I smile every time I say that word), and taught me how to take blood pressure. She has since passed away. I gave away the stethoscope and lost track of the cuff. How I wish I still had both of them today.
Middle of Covid my blood pressure was sitting at around 180/95 and I had consistent nose bleeds. Seeing an endocrinologist for the past year and I’ve gotten it down to 120/90. Still in need of some improvements but being 35 years old that scared the living poo outta me. So glad there are specialists out there to help with these sort of things.
Taking Entresto and a blood thinner after Saddle Pulmonary Embolism. The Cardiologist in the hospital said it was “the biggest clot he had ever seen”. Have Atrial Flutter and an Ejection Fraction of 35-40. My Cardiologist has me logging my BP. I’ve always had BP a little lower than the classic 120/60. Now my BP is usually between 116/@65 and @123/@77. Feeling good 1 month after they removed the clot. Still taking it pretty easy. The doctors, nurses and everyone in the hospital literally saved my life. I’m very grateful!!
I have ‘whitecoat’ syndrome where my BP is extremely elevated at the doctor’s office. My would be 190/110. After a month on 10mg of Amlodipine I’m averaging 130/80. But I notice my thoughts while taking my own can make it 150/90 just by thinking about it. So I take it 3 times while breathing slowly and I’m 130/80. I’m happy because that’s much better than 180+ when I first started taking my BP at home.
I suffer from complex ptsd and have hypertension. My BP sky rockets when I have an episode. I once was clocked by a paramedic after an incident with BP @300/250. They wanted me to go the the ER but I refused as I knew I’d calm down in a few minutes. It’s pretty tough maintaining control of yourself at those numbers.
I went to my gp bc I was’nt feeling well – he took my bp and became alarmed at how high it was (228 – 198 ) I was admitted to hospital and spent 5 days there – I had X-Rays Blood Tests MRI Scans ECG’s – I was in and out of hospital before I finally had a quadruple bypass surgery the surgeon told me if I had’nt gone to see my gp I would’ve been dead in 6 months – I’m ok now but that really rocked me since I never smoked or drank
Everybody’s got high blood pressure in my family, at this point I think it’s genetic as my diet’s pretty good. It was usually 160/90, but with some light medication it’s 120/70. The feeling is so much different, if you’re worried about your blood pressure readings, I recommend getting it looked at sooner rather than later.
You guys have obviously picked up on the fact that people are afraid of medical conditions, and therefore avoid discussions, that could lead to easy solutions that create positive stress, and ambition to take back our lives from fear. This article shows that real breakthroughs in managed healthcare only come from patient sided management, which is proactive, vs reactive clinic management. I love this website. I love the candid and light hearted conversations, and importance of topics.
Diagnosed in my late 30s with hypertension with a hypertensive crisis episode with 250 over 150. Started bp meds. Then approx every 7 years ended up in ED with another hypertensive crisis. New type of bp med ordered Diagnosed with gestational diabetes. And type 2 in my late 50s. Finally at age 69 and a new young internal med md asked the question of secondary hypertension. Turns out high aldactone levels high and had been on the wrong bp med for years. Now it is 120 over 78. HR is 80. Geez so much for the bandaid approach. So glad i found this md.
Thanks guys I’m glad to see Canadian doctors talk about this. I’m usually mid twenties to low thirties. But my diastolic is usually high eighties low nineties. This morning it was 124/86. The reason I bought my own machine is because the doctors office had me at 155/95 (I believe I have white coat syndrome). Hoping I can lower this without meds (especially diastolic).
For most of my life, my BP was 140/70. It only went up when I reached 59 years of age and was caring for my aged father, who was a control freak. By that time, my weight had increased from 10 st 7 lb, to over 13 stone, due to not getting the regular exercise I was used to, before caring for my father. I only discovered my raised BP after my father died in 2006. The following year, I started caring for my mother, who had developed Dementia. That was even more stressful than caring for my father. She eventually died in 2017. Since Covid in 2020 – which destroyed my social life – my BP has increased, but has stabilised at about 180/95. That said, I have recently changed medication and am showing an improvement of 150/80, which I am hoping will improve further, as I start exercising again, now that spring is here. My weight has now reduced to 11 st 5 lb since Christmas and is stable to within a couple of pounds.
Man my wife about 20 years ago was admitted to the hospital with some of the highest pressure they ever delt with. Stroke levels. Back then she took Procardia under the tongue and it took 3 weeks to bring it under control. She was in Kidney failure which did not help. Since that time she went on dialysis for 10 years, got a new Kidney from a brother and is now in good health today. I will never forget how bad it was though.
I am a 24 year old woman / girs from INDONESIA. with hypertension: systolic value: 173 / DIASTOLIC: 140. I complain of shortness of breath. 4 years, & 5 times ischemic stroke, liver, chronic stomach pain. joint problems, & bones. I always cry. & always treated in hospital. My youth was miserable. 💪💪💪
My very recent hypertensive crisis (220/113) “urgency” was diagnosed in the ER as Labile Hypertension. Further tests with an Endocrinologist may reveal secondary hypertension. I’m a Vietnam veteran with over 50 years of PTSD anxiety. I’m thinking that my Adrenal glands are exhausted or worse. Thank you for your help.
120/80 is only realistic right after you wake up in the morning. Most blood pressure readings are done middle of the day after you’ve had 2 cups of coffee, work anxiety and a hectic morning in the office and then climbed 2 flight of stairs after battling traffic to get to the doctors office… dont be alarmed if its in the mid 140s, thats actually pretty normal. Clearing your mind and resting for a few minutes with deep breathing will help but might still be high
120/80??? Wow, my entire Army career of over 20 years and I don’t think my BP was ever below 140/90. It was regularly 150+. Every time I saw a new Army doctor they would monitor me for a few weeks and then leave me alone. Once in a great while it would go to 210/105 or so. Toward the end of my career, I was over 40, they put me on BP pills and my wife bought me a BP machine. I got out of the Army about 05 and my bp leveled out to just under 140 most of the time. Of course in 2020 I was back up over 200/100 every time I turned on the news.
Great to have explanation about blood pressure. My highest was 185/130 before extensive tests diagnosed me with Conns Syndrome. Although I’m on some meds each day changing to a low salt diet, no alcohol, no caffeine and regular exercise helps keep my BP low. In fact after exercise it can be well below 120/80. Last reading was 120/78.
Cant express how much stress and anxiety yall relievd me of. I have a family history of high blood pressure on both my mom and Dad’s side and recently lost my uncle to a heart attack so I’ve been hyper vigilant about my health (to the point where i stress over it more than i should). Went to the hospital a couple of weeks ago because o was feeling weird spasms in my chest that i thought was heart arythmia at the time (it was probably stomach spasms or something else), and i used my grandma’s No machine to see what my BP was. The readong was 142/86 I believe and at the time i thought i was bordering a heart crisis or something so i rushed to the hospital. Of course, they told me my heart was okay and after being in there for awhile, my BP dropped to about 122/70. They said i was jist deficent in electrolytes and that so long as i replenish them I’ll be fine. However, in my head, I was under the impression that any reading over 120 and/or 80 was bad and considered too high. So after seeing this article and reading the comments, I let out a giant sigh of relief because i can now confirm that I’ve been stressing over nothing. Thank you guys again!
I am seeing a cardiologist in 2 weeks for high blood pressure. I’m told I have chronic hypertension. It goes through the roof when I am pregnant which unfortunately caused me to have a stillbirth at 28 weeks 2 weeks ago. It got as high as 180/110. My Dr was trying to put me on the highest dose possible of medication to keep it down. Finally she said I need a cardiologist. I was nervous at first about seeing one but after perusal your articles I feel better about going in.
Hey Doctors, just found your website. Thank you guys for talking about blood pressure. I have been on Lisinoprilz for over 10 years now. Currently at 40 mg. My numbers have been creaping up to around 140/89 in the morning. In the PM they settle in at 132/82. Recently started taking the Lisinoprilz at bed time to see it makes a difference. It does bring both reading down some (135/85) in the AM. Going to be talking to my cardiologist today about how to lower the numbers even more. I am a very active 75 year old senior.
When I do some deep breathing my bp goes down big time. My mom was put on meds at age 81 because of white coat syndrome and it led to a pacemaker and more meds. She went down hill after all that and she was full of life and energy before. She just blindly believed everything her doc told her and didn’t question him. Ugh!
Thanks for the info! I have had high blood pressure for many years. My doc, when I was 37 or so, finally after years of dealing with it, new doc btw, said lets dig a little deeper and ultimately found that I had a bad kidney, had a nephrectomy when I was 37. Im 56 now and I have high blood pressure again and on meds. BP normally reads approx 134/90. Working on lifestyle changes, ie; diet, excercise, etc.
Great segment gentlemen. I had chronic mildly “on the high end” blood pressure that was being controlled by medication. In December 2018 is suffered a very significant “lower aortic dissection”. I fortunately somehow survived with an extended stay in hospital and am now “stable” after lowering my blood pressure to sub 120/75. For those whom think, I am a bit on the high side and I will be o.k. – think again – see your doctor.
My average blood pressure is 160/90. That is the average taken daily at home over 5 months. I have seen it as high as 205/110. It’s been that way for years. I am 58 years old and am taking 3 different blood pressure medications. They don’t work so I just stopped taking the medicine, it did not change my blood pressure average without the meds over the next 5 months. My home measurements do coincide with readings at my doctor’s office.
blood pressure is an issue that you don’t mess with. Genetic can play a part. my grandma’s blood pressure reading was 200/150 on a good day. the drs couldn’t get it regulated no matter what they tried. she had a nasty stroke. So I am careful about my blood pressure. I am proud to say that mine is a normal reading which is good for me as mine used to run 88/60 for years. I exercise each day and am on a low salt diet.
The AAFP strongly recommends a standard blood pressure target of less than 140/90 mm Hg to reduce the risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The AAFP also recommends that clinicians consider a blood pressure target of less than 135/85 mm Hg to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction.Dec 15, 2022. These are newer guidelines I found
I have genetic hypertension, from my paternal side of the family. Diagnosed when I was 24. My b/p could go as high as 200/150 if I was anxious. I have been on meds since I was 24, I am now 63. However, if I take an anti anxiety pill before visiting my cardiologist, it is in a good range. It runs in the 130’s over 80’s. When they tested my blood pressure, it kept going up and up because I was so anxious. I never had any headaches and felt fine. I have blood work done, EKG’s etc. My mother’s side has longevity, and my dad’s side also does even with high blood pressure. I don’t eat meat or have any kind of sugar. All my blood work is good. Unfortunately, mine is a pre-disposition within my genes .A lot of people in my dad’s side of the family have it. It would be high regardless. My b/p can go as low as 117/75 and my body does not like it.
The biggest issue with getting an accurate assessment of blood pressure is the sampling. My BP is almost always high at the doc (white coat someone). What we needed is real time monitoring, unfortunately it’s still under development and isn’t very accurate. I have records from over 15 years so I can track measurement over time to see trends and I now check at home regularly. This is about the best way to know what my BP is at rest. I try to get at least two measurements each day, a few times per week. I have real time monitoring off my BP from my Fitbit and HRM strap for measuring HRV.
Friendly reminder that certain foods can also cause elevated blood pressure, too. People who have chronic hypertension probably shouldn’t eat natural black licorice, for instance, because anise seed usually raises blood pressure (same with fennel, which is frequently used in Italian cuisine and meats). Oh, yeah, and some medications do it, too. Like how the medication I’m currently trying got me up to 132/96 a couple days ago. It’s going down, tho, so that’s nice.
Two recommendations from (non-medical) scientist with “high blood pressure” to MDs and particularly Cardiologists on this topic: 1) Studies are needed to see if particular physiologies of people naturally and safely have higher blood pressure than others, “120/80” might not be normal for all. In my particular case, from the very first time my blood pressure was measured in 5th grade ’till now when I am in my 50s if I am not on medication it sits between 140-160/95-100 (in 5th grade, the very first measurement was 150/100). No GP since I came to USA accepted that as normal and I am on medications since my late 30s. But, is it really needed? Nature gifted me with body type counter-indicative of this problem (tall and lean) and I am very physically active. I had several detailed Cardiologist exams (typically EKG, echo-cardiogram and stress test asked by my GP every time I move and I get new GP…). All of them perfectly normal but everytime Docs want the pressure lower… Shouldn’t there be a range of “normal” just as with height and weight? 2) Modern tendencies to check BP only expeditiously with automated machines should be questioned. Aside of “white coat syndrome” there is obvious inconsistency, sometimes dramatic with these machines. I typically get almost insane results on every first automated try (ex, just recently, while in perfect real condition machine at my dentist determined I had 245/185 BP… Manual attempt by the Doc,… and it was 130/100,…. and this happens regularly for me)!
A word of advice from a recently retired Family Doctor in Australia. I only use a manual mercury manometer. There are a few reasons. Firstly they allow you to hover around the two pertinent zones and secondly you can lower the pressure at your own rate. Automatic machines are always going to be out by one heartbeat. I never rely on a patients home machine unless I have done an AB comparison in my office. (Most home machine over-read, especially the systolic
Great article- especially to hear from doctors. I’d also love to hear more specific tips in addition to life style changes; perhaps breathing techniques, and how to properly take one’s own bp. I discovered I had not been doing it correctly- so I kept getting false readings. Thank you for addressing this very important health issue!
my highest over the past 5 years was 225 over 120 when i went to the GP and they made me lie down for 4 hours with an ECG to 90 over 50 when chilling out, it is usually about 125 over 75 when checked at my hospital which is currently every 3 weeks. It’s called stress or nerves and I’m 74 years of age
Thank you for all your advice. I’m in the UK and I called the doctor a couple of weeks ago as I just wasn’t feeling right, I took my blood pressure and it was higher than normal for me. The dr said, he’d bite my arm off for blood pressure like mine, it was 146/54 and said he wouldn’t take it seriously unless it was 180 or over. Just over two weeks later my blood pressure is still rising, today its 158/67 so I have called them again and I managed to get an appointment, however I am here on youtube looking for ways to help lower it naturally because I know it will just be…here’s a prescription and off you go. I eat healthy, no processed foods, I work out every day, I have never smoked or drink caffeine and I only drink a small amount of red wine, my weight is 41kg, so for me, I want to find out what is the cause of my high BP not just take medication for it. Any tips of what I should be asking when I see the doctor? Many thanks
I take my BP at home. My BP just seconds ago was 116/69 pulse 62 (average of 3 readings). Yes, it is always higher at my GP; 120 to 125/80 normally, but when I see her it is normally earlier in the morning. It is now mid-day. I use an OMRON M7 meter, which is pretty much the standard used at clinics. But the Dr’s still use the mercury system, which I guess can also be susceptible to faulty readings, depending on the Dr’s hearing! I do use a low-dose betablocker and lisinopril 10mg once a day; have been for years. Doctors are reluctant to reduce medication if “everything is under control”. The meds have no side effects, so I just continue taking it. My health actually pretty good, as far as I know. My other blood worx look great.
This was brilliantly explained, I on a few occasions have had high readings . Recently in hospital with a bout of gangrene in my toe not due to any disease. Used a freeze spray which caused it. During routine blood tests I was diagnosed with Familia Polythycemia. I run to help keep my blood circulation . I take baby aspirin at bedtime and BP meds in the morning . I still suffer the occasional bout of elevated BP . Directly get my legs in the air and do breathing exercises which works . Sorry to bore you . Thanks again for this info.
Numbers are just numbers. I had BP of 140/90 for close to 45 years. Energy to burn. My job was physical in nature. I also maintained my huge property and my home. I also played soccer 3-4 times every week and coach kids 2 times a week. Never been sick. Not even with flu or cold. Never took a sick day from work. Page forward…I was diagnosed with BPH, typical of most men my age. They put me on BPH meds. Basically vasal dilator. That helped with BPH but it also did the following: Dropped my BP to 120/80, I have no energy, I always feel tired, I have no sex drive, I have ED and aches all over. I can’t fall asleep, my vision got worse….oh, yes, on the plus side, I’m growing hair in places no hair should grow. Also my nails need clipping every 3-4 days… I miss my high BP…there, I said it.
Three medications and still high 140s/90s… Simply converted to SOS (no Salt, Oil, Sugar) and Whole Foods (no Meats, Dairy) diet. In 30-days I’ve already eliminated one medication and just started to remove second (all with Dr. support) via monitoring BP. Unbelievable… Goal is to be completely off all BP medications in a couple months!!!
I know this is a bit over a year old, but during my time in the military I began to have issues with high blood pressure. When I finished active duty, despite still being VERY active, my blood pressure was even worse. The highest reading I remember was 234/204. My mother, a nurse, told me that was impossible, but that was the reading they took, and several other readings taken around the same time were similarly high – they kept taking it because they didn’t believe it. I even had to do a physical for a job and the reading they took was 227/197 – I had to sign a waver to leave (drive) the facility AFTER they called my PCP to confirm that I normally had readings that high. Since then, I’ve had readings that vary, but frequently they are high to the point that they want to send me to the ER immediately. I’ve done stress tests, kidney tests, and a bunch of other tests and they’ve all come back normal if not great. After more than 30 years with high blood pressure, they’re finally sending me to a hypertension clinic to try and figure it out. A few other notes – I’ve been on a low sodium diet for over 30 years, my BP when taken at home is still high, and I’m on the highest doses of four different BP medications – but they don’t really help. My Cardiologist and numerous other medical providers have told me that they don’t understand why they can’t get my BP under control, and I’ve frankly given up on anyone helping me, as I’ve been told for 30 years that I’m going to have a stroke and die, and yet here I am still.
Great article as always. Could low blood pressure be addressed on one of your articles? I always thought it was a sign of good health, but during a recent procedure at the hospital, I heard the terrifying words of the doctor saying they would have to go easy on sedation due to my low BP – now I’m a bit confused about what it means, health wise.
While this is a very good explanation of what we are measuring, the thing I cannot find anywhere INCLUDING MY DOCTOR is the best practices for how and when to measure. I do know as a chronic pain patient that pain drives my BP much higher than when it is under control. If I take my meds and wait half an hour for them to start working the BP drops drastically and usually down to very good numbers, but once they wear off I am back in the danger range. I hate the thought of staying in bed all day to avoid the pain levels. The other thing that is hard to find is what are the adjustments to the numbers that are considered acceptable based upon age and lifestyle. I am no where near as active at 68 as when I was thirty and a shingle roofer by trade. It does seem that some of my medications cause muscle ache and fatigue that causes me to be less active and one might be my BP medication. I often wonder if I would be better off without the medication if it allowed me to be more active. All of this seems to be a bunch of “trade offs” that are poorly understood and one size fits all is not very helpful.
I’ve known for years that my BP was on the high side but didn’t take it seriously. My dentist started checking BP at every vist and it was 190/100 and she refused to treat me until I got a note from my doctor. I got put on meds and now it’s down to 150-160/90 during dental vists and 120-140/80 at home. My doctor seems satisfied at this in terms of medication and of course pushes lifestyle changes for further reduction.
The most common issue I have at the doctor’s office is they will do a pressure test as soon as I’ve gotten in the room not allowing for a resting pressure to come back after walking in and getting weighted, which results in higher readings than my home test shows, and different staff will test differently which also means different results if we lived in a perfect world then a standard reading could be expected but in the real world of stress we get what we get not what we want.
I seem to have severe “white coat syndrome,” my bp was 171 over something (I only heard the 171, I was in such shock). That was the highest I’ve ever known it to be. Scary! But every time I go to the doctor it is very high. At home, my bp is anywhere from 111 over 66 to 130 over 74. I’ve taken it after coffee, exercising, and even arguing with my husband just to see how high it might be. Also, I read that Prozac can increase blood pressure, and I’ve been on it for years and am thinking of transitioning off it. I have an appt. with my new dr. (new insurance) soon and will address this. with her. But, what in the world is going on at the doctor’s?! How can I be that anxious? I don’t feel that anxious, it’s always shocking – and scary – how high it gets there, and I wonder if there are other places it’s soaring that I don’t know about.
Hi there, Im in Australia, so I’m not sure if it’s different here. Last year, my BP went up to 203/103. The hospital did have trouble getting it down & my troponin levels were a touch too high (I did end up having a MINOR heart attack at the age of 46) & whilst my BP is still a bit high (170 (ish)/ 90 (ish) and after changing my meds 3 times, we are still having trouble keeping it down. We will get there though
Great article folks. If it helps anyone I was diagnosed with high BP by a doctor at the age of 32 and he said I may not live for another 30 years. Although he couldn’t figure the exact cause but I think I was quite overweight at the time. Since then I managed to change my diet and had to accept eating less. I found the change difficult at first but I did it slowly…..now I’m 60 and my BP is in the normal range though still with the aid of medication.
I have high blood pressure 179/101 @79bpm was the latest reading and I’m on meds (Amlodipine 5mg). I’m 59yrs old + weigh 100Kg/220lbs @ 5′ 8.5″ and since having covid19 4 times I can’t seem to loose weight. Also have Gouty Arthritis, Both recently diagnosed in August 2023. I lead a sedentary lifestyle since breaking my neck and having nerve damage that affects my ability to walk as well as loss of fine motor control in the right hand, arm & leg. I have been on Tramadol 200mg (Since 2006 when Coproxamol was withdrawn) and Diclofenac 150mg daily for pain relief since 1996. My question is: Why does my blood pressure increase as my heart rate drops? I get a higher reading at 70bpm than I do at 80bpm.
My BP was always within the 110-120/70-80 ish but I always had a faster heartbeat, resting was at 115 BPM. 2 years ago I went in to the cardiologist to see why my heart rate was higher. Went to the cardiologist and he did a echo and found my heart not to be pumping correctly. Ejection rate was 10-15% without meds. Did look with an angiogram which was normal. It took a year to restore the ejection rate to normal limits. What I notice though is I lost a lot of strength after this.
My brother-in-law went to ER middle of night with chest pain. EKG and lab work was negative. They were about to send him home and he went into an arrhythmia and was med flighted for an emergent CABGx3. I went to ER years ago (age 30) with blood pressure of 230/132 was given Valium and sent home. I have since been diagnosed with intermittent afib and CHF
When I started Chemo my top was between 151 and 157. They would always wait a minute and then take a second one to see if it went down and it generally did by a few and I would tell I was just nervous. My Onco never seemed concerned. About a month after my last treatment my blood pressure had dropped to around 140 -142. I hadn’t been to a doctor for anything major for years before all of this. This kind of scared me. I think when I see her the next time a discussion might be a good idea.
I had severe panic attacks and my BP was going to 200/120… After those episodes, measuring my BP is become impossible, when someone try it, i go totally in panic and i can’t measure them neiter because i go in panic too. My cardiologist has checked my heart and all is perfect and he said, my pressure is normal when no one try to measure them… So no damages or so. I lost meanwhile like 40kg and i eat healty… Meh, the movement can be more (i am a lil lazy LOL) but i really don’t eat junkfood or fritters, i eat a lot of vegetables, salads, white meat and stuff. I take anyway 40mg inderal (non selective betablocker) against anxiety.
I knew a guy who constantly had extremely high blood pressure. The docs kept adjusting his meds, just as soon as they’d get it under control it’d get out of control, finally he maxed out on the most powerful bp meds. Even before he died, I reevaluated my status on the BP meds I was prescribed. They were making me feel awful. I was going down the same road as he was, they were talking about increasing my doses. So I quit taking my meds, because it occurred to me that it’s only a numbers game. They aren’t curing your high BP. In addition they keep moving the goalposts and redefining what qualifies as high blood pressure. So no. I quit.
I had two strokes last year, now on meds. I “experimented” with stopping the meds after 6 months, just to see. Sure enough 3 days later – at home, with my usual BP monitor that I’ve used for three years and I know to be accurate – I was back up to crazy numbers again, 236/139……..So, I simply take my meds every day. All I’m saying, if your regular doctor put you on meds, TAKE THEM.
thank you for explaining it to me. I went into the emergency room about 10 years ago because I had a pain in my arm and I thought I must have broke it somehow, they took my blood pressure and it was 211/152, now this is a small remote country hospital, the nurse thought I was having a heart attack and rushed me into a room where she hooked me up to a heart monitor. after 4 hours my blood pressure was down to normal so the doctor finally came in the room and told me I could go home as I must have just been anxious about being at the hospital. ???
I’ve never had high BP. On blood donation checks spaced anywhere from a year and a half to a few months over decades, it’s always ran between about 115 to about 124. The right side figure always around 80. Last two in the last year that I remember, 121 and 118, and I’m 60 y.o. now. What I’ve only thought about lately is the idea of readings being too high from the clinical aspect of blood donation rooms, which would be the “white coat” business, along with getting stuck in the finger for the iron test, along with oftentimes having an extended bike ride to get there ending right before, and dashing up stairs right before, along with morning coffee too. So I just ordered a BP reader to get a better and possibly more realistic idea of what it is week to week, not because I’m concerned at all. It’s almost like a neurotic thing when I think about it in a sense, but then again most people see doctors and get those more often than I do while I never see them, and I put a lot more effort into physical fitness than most people do, at least most of my life I have, and BP interconnects with that and reflects with that. So there’s the rationalizing for the purchase of it.
my average bp is like 165-175 over 115-128. My cardiologist who is highly respected in his field is not overly concerned. He told me that mine was mostly caused by extream chronic pain because everything looks good. I was with a painmanagement for a while and with the pain medication my bp was at “normal” range. Because of all the opiod concerns I was taken off pain medication and I am back to the big numbers.
Was hoping to see more discussion in your article about what activities raise your blood pressure and how to properly take your blood pressure and how long you should be at rest before you do so I believe when your heart rate is raised that also raises your blood pressure running heavy lifting chopping wood bicycling climbing stairs or ladders just would be interesting to hear someone else’s perspective on how blood pressure can change in these cases people that are extremely well fit won’t see as large of a change in pressure and those who are less physically fit will see more change in pressure time it takes for heart rate to return to normal based on physical fitness I will keep perusal thanks for the article
My doctors are only too pleased to instantly take my BP when I arrive while asking questions and – needless to say it is always quite a bit higher than when I am home – where it is in the mid 120’s and 70’s…. I recently was in hospital for something unrelated and noted that my BP (on the monitor over the bed) was consistently normal. They STILL prescribed meds for high BP. Money hungry jerks.
Long story, my son at 18 months was diagnosed with extremely high blood pressure systolic 180. He was found to have superior renal stenosis. He had angioplasty done. But still we went home on 3 blood pressure medications. In time he received a Stent and eventually was able to come off his blood pressure medications. He was crying alot and appeared to be in pain. That is when we took him to see his pediatrician. Who checked his blood pressure in the office. Not a common thing to check in babies. That doctor saved our sons life. Very important to ask and have your childrens blood pressure checked.
For years I rarely ate processed foods and used no salt. Never even had salt in my home. At age 65, my morning blood pressure is usually no higher than 130. Bottom number usually no higher than 90. Something happens as the day goes on, by 3-4 pm it can be as high as 150/90. Higher in Doctor’s office. I added some sea salt and it seems to have brought it down a bit. But I think as I got older, mine is related to stress( I have no stress in the morning) and most likely insulin resistance.
Dr. Ken Berry says the reference ranges were initially calculated for people who’d been sitting for an extended period of time to equilibrate, with environmental stressors minimized, and a blood pressure reading over 140/90 with stress and recent exercise isn’t cause for concern. I’ve never had a doctor measure my blood pressure when I wasn’t noticeably stressed, and I’ve frequently had it done with recent exercise.
I had no idea my BP was high. I twisted my leg in dance class so went to our walk-in clinic…too full so went to the ER. My pressure was 216/118…will never forget that moment. I had always been 120/80 for check ups. That was 8 years ago and often think if I hadn’t twisted my leg, I might not be here! The medication I take works great and I am usually 105/62 to 115/70…. Watch my salt and only one cup of Tim’s a day. Still do lots of exercise and walking as I did before. I have a monitor that has an app on my phone. Easy to use and to share the results with my GP. Great info fellows!❤️🩺
I am 61 yrs old and have had high blood pressure since I was very young, I didn’t know until just over a year ago that I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, 7 months ago I had the bentall procedure with mechanical aortic valve and now I take a very low dose of bisoprolol, high blood pressure can really cause damage so be vigilant about it, I’m a lucky guy as I was a ticking time bomb with an aneurysm in the ascending aorta, take care all from the UK.
I am/was a “moderate” drinker (average of 1 dink per day, and never more than 2). I stopped drinking for 60 days and bp dropped from average of 130/80 (borderline hypertension) to 115/75 or less. At the doctor yesterday and it was 108/65. I’m going to stop drinking for the rest of the year… and likely forever. At my last checkup 6 months ago, I asked my doctor if he recommended quitting… I thought he’d would be excited and supportive, but he was ambivalent and said that my alcohol intake was not enough to matter. I’m starting to question his judgement.
I had to make it list of my blood pressures over a month to see what it really was. At the doctor, for some reason I was getting a higher blood pressure than at home. I brought my machine that I use at home to my doctor. It worked perfectly. So they said it was a good idea that I was kind of keeping track of my blood pressure over a period of time. Because sometimes it can show high at the doctors office, but when you are relaxed at home be lower.
My best? effort was 239/157 with a bpm of 144. I’m 185cm tall and just under 100kg. I used to be incredibly fit. I’m 47. My doctor prescribed medications but I was told that my blood pressure will never be able to get down to the nominal 120/80… Within a week of the new medications it measured at 117/79. My heart does very strange things and a cardiologist said he has never seen a heart doing what mine was doing. He has 20 years experience.
I recently had a mini stroke. At the hospital,my BP was near normal they said. My doctor checked me 3 weeks later and said i was 148/94. I bought a BP monitor and checked myself regularly at home and it ranged between 108-136 over 68-86. On my recent blood test,he says i have high cholesterol even though on the day he checked my BP which read 121/70. Can cholesterol fluctuate like BP.? A happier outcome was i lost 5lbs in 4 weeks for not eating fried food and drinking fizzy drinks. Been eating porridge apples bananas grapes weatabix and a normal even meal thats not fried. Replaced drinking coke with oatmilk in the morning and the odd glass of OJ or water. My doctor wants me to take statins but i dont trust them as i suffer with arthritis and statins cause muscle pain which i dont need. I’m hoping my recent weight loss might of lowered my cholesterol but not sure how long it takes.
Hey guys. I have moments when Im having stomach issues and get a vagal response i do believe and it jumps my BP up to about 175/95 and even recently had an ambulance come over and check my heart doing an EKG and they told me i was having normal sinus rhythm with this high of blood pressure but my heart rate was under 100. Now a month earlier i had a moment again where my heart rate went to 163 but my blood pressure was in normal range. So i just got a CT Angiogram done with a Calcium score of 0 and it was a negative CT angiogram and i have had a CT angiogram done of my neck and brain to see if there is anything wrong. I do suffer from hypertension and take meds as well as wear a CPAP machine and overweight which im working on. Im curious if a neurologist and an EEG needs to take place to find out if my brain is misfiring or what is going on cause all my blood tests keep coming back fine and my egks come back as well as urine tests and so on but i keep having episodes i cant explain and would like to get to the bottom of this soon. If anyone has any ideas please let me know. Long COVID may factor in some of these problems. Thank you.
Great article. Thanks for taking the time to explain all that stuff… I do have a question; like most on here I have a concern about my pressure. I was working out quite a bit a while ago and my pressure was usually around 115/something… one time I took the pressure at a grocery store and it read 108/something… is that not enough pressure? at the time I thought I was doing well because of all the cardio training I was doing. My heart was “skipping beats” about once and hour several times… I’ve since stopped working out due to injury and my blood has gone back to “normal” 124/75 and no longer get the “skipped beats”. Am I better off now or before with all the cardio?
I am 66 years old and am a virtual BP EXPERT–especially my own as I have been measuring it at home for decades. I have several cuffs and I know they are accurate (only use manual ones). My BP can vary at home tremendously. I have a health anxiety problem with some OCD thrown in and I can get obsessive about my BP. When I have gotten “worked up” with fear over anticipated high readings. it will be high, VERY high sometimes, guaranteed. A doctor told me 40 years ago that I was “one of those people” whose brain-body connection is too acute and I have a huge BP response to anxiety. I have gotten systolic readings of 220 at home when at max stress. Believe it or not, other than at stressful times like that, it runs very low–typically say 82/70 or so. Very low pulse pressure of about 12, sometimes less. Strange I guess, but I’m still here and still very fit so I carry on. My BP also shoots through the roof when being measured out in public, including at doctor’s offices of course. It is very embarrassing having this nutty reaction. It is not the doctor or nurse making me nervous, but just the fact that it is being measured and the anticipation of their reaction when they see the high reading. I don’t go see doctors very often.
I do have whitecoat hypertension and whenever I go to see ANY doctor, even my allergologist who’s literally just talking to me, my blood pressure is around 160/100 and 150+- bpm. When Im at home, its absolutely spot on 120/80 and 65+- bpm. I eat well and healthy, I do many sports also I’m walking or using a bike almost anywhere I go, so I would call myself a pretty healthy young person and this still happens to me 😅
My experience: I noticed often occuring headaches. I asked my classmate to measure my blood pressure and he let the gauge down too quickly and said 120/80. Weeks later i measured myself at work with an automatic and it said 144/112. Wat? i thought it was the caffeine at first and i was physically working. Next day i measure with auto before work and it was 151/98. Checked my blood sugar and was 72 before eating. Then i checked manually at home and was 135/85. I go see doc and she checked me up. She measured manually and said 136/80. I get Ramipril 5mg. My headaches magically gone and it is like heaven. Manually i get around 110/70 while laying down and goes about 126/80 when im upright. I go to other doc for exam related paper work. I get automatically checked up and 136/90. Bro i dont know which cuff to freaking trust. All i know is that my headaches are gone.😂
I have hardcore anxiety and I’m fat but the highest I’ve ever seen my BP is 130/80 (at the doctor’s while panicking) and it’s often in the 90s at home… can’t explain that but I got lucky I guess. Working on losing weight to hopefully stay that way. Edit – holy shit I just realized Dr Zalzal is my dad’s orthopaedic surgeon and Dr. Heffernan is my grandfather’s cardiologist. Small world lmao. Congrats on the YouTube side hustle!
last november i went to the docter, i lost parts of my speech, i coudnt find words. The doc took my bloodpressure and then he got a bit pale… (not a good sign) 225/125 he put me on medicine and send me for a MRI, and yes, i had a small stroke (actually, i had 5 of them over roughly 3 years) So, do me a favor, just get your bloodpressure checked.
On February 2nd my blood pressure at the ER was 155/110. It has been slightly higher a few times. Plus I had tachycardia. Normally my bp is low and pulse high, because I have Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. My bp has been as low as 96/88, 98/60 & pulse 149 to 150 & as low as 39 to 44. The ER wasn’t concerned. I had pneumonia. Only one ER doctor was concerned and told me to get to a cardiologist, bc my ECG was abnormal. He’s the only one that had been honest with me. At that time just last year toward the end of the year, he put me in observation. I didn’t have pneumonia then. I’ve been getting pneumonia quite often.
I had elevated high blood pressure since my mid 20’s. I’m now in my early mid 60s and still struggle with it. I’m in perfect health except my blood pressure hovers around 160/100 up to 175/120. I can lower my blood pressure with medication. I can also lower it as low as 110/70 drinking beet juice and foods that contain nitrates. Now my problem is that whether I take medications or natural drinks and food to lower blood pressure, there is one major drawback. My heart rate skyrockets. I have a resting heart rate of about 70 when my blood pressure is high. But it is over 110 when my blood pressure is low. I’ve lived with high blood pressure pretty much all my adult life. But this new accelerated heart rate is new to me.
I went to the ER back in January because my blood pressure was 272/165. So far I found out that I have slightly leaky valves in my heart. One side of my heart is larger than the other from pumping against that pressure. I have some kidney damage too. But after doing a heart catheter they still don’t know why it’s elevated so much.
I regularly check my BP, because I had a Brain Bleed, the doctors put me on Blood Pressure medication, which gave me problems, the doc changed my medication, but still problems. I’ve now stopped taking the medication, taken supplements, and I feel 100% better in everything I do. The supplements I take are La citruline, plus beetroot juice, beetroot, walnuts, dark chocolate, I regularly exercise, never smoked, not a heavy drinker, and I’m not overweight. My BP is still too high, can you help,
I just started having very high blood pressure with readings in the 170+/100+. My doctor put me on weight loss medication and blood pressure pills and now it is quite normal (120/80-ish). I take my blood pressure readings everyday with a blood pressure machine that uses a Bluetooth synced app to my phone and I send in the report to my doctor every 2 weeks.
I never had blood pressure problems until 2011 when I was diagnosed with cancer after I started my kemo treatments I was going for my third treatment and I told my wife I wasn’t feeling well when I got to the cancer center I was swimmy headed and had a headache I told the nurse how I felt. She took my blood pressure and it was 160/100 before then it was always around 130s over 70s so they had to give me meds to get it down before my treatment. So that was the start of probably being on bp meds for the rest of my life and what helps me the most to control it is b12 and frolic acid now mine runs usually around 125/65 not bad being 61 years old
This article was a year old when I watched it, but I’m throwing my 2 cents in anyway. I started BP medication a couple of years ago when I was in my mid-60s as my readings were getting higher. I’m on a 50mg tablet twice a day. It is my understanding that as one ages, it is common for BP to increase. I monitor it just about every day. One other online doc said that to get a true idea of one’s BP, take 4 readings per day for about a week. Morning, noon, evening, and before bedtime. Then average them to get a reading of one’s correct BP. Also, I have taken two readings at each time period. The first one is always higher. My doc said this is not unusual. I found that the lowest BP was the one before bedtime and the highest was around noon. Keeping sufficiently hydrated helps to lower BP slightly as well.
I had too many side affects from the blood pressure pills. Along with the blood thinners I now have a chronic skin condition that developed over time. I tried to follow the treatment but it became difficult and nobody was listening to me. I am on modified treatment but living a miserable life from the damage caused by the medications. I have accepted my fate and do what I can.
“You are in charge of your own health.” Wiser words were never spoken. Your doctor’s professions advice is always important. But if you don’t feel that his decision is right, always ask questions. If that’s not sufficient, get a second opinion. Remember, your doctors doesn’t go home with you, nor does he live in your body and feel what you feel. The final decision on what is good for you, always remains with the patient — YOU.