Anyone dealing with high blood pressure???

[vicschics]

I'm freaking out here and just would like to know if anyone is dealing with high blood pressure. What do you do to help control it? Besides actual medication? (which I do take)

They say you can't feel it and there are no symptoms but I don't believe that that's 100% true. I can often feel when my bp is up and quickly go to have it checked. Sure enough it is...I lost my dad at 57 to a massive heart attack, my grandmother(his mom) suffered a lot of mini strokes (the docs called them) and she ended up with a pace maker. She passed in her early 70's. Her husband had a stroke which left him with some paralysis. So needless to say I'm scared to death...now of course I'm stressing so that makes it worse. To add to the stress my husband has Leukemia(but he is doing well and is still in remission). Lots of stressors here and I guess sometimes it gets to be to much.

Everytime I go to doc and have tests done they find nothing wrong. What's up with that? After my first child was born (I had toxemia-what a mess). I gained A LOT of weight. Bounced back quickly but couldn't get the weight off. Well, finally I did and my blood pressure went back down to normal. I have always been the kind of person who loses weight then gain it back. Right now I'm roughly 20 lbs overweight and hard as I try I can't get it back off. I think in that lies some of my problems. I get shook up about all of this and head to the nearest snack...whatever that may be...I'm a nervous eater...Any suggestions? I have tried the Atkins diet which certainly isn't good for your heart but I did get off over 70 lbs but have gained 30 of it back going back to eating normal foods...I can't get anyone to get on board with me to try to help lose the extra pounds. Any one interested...maybe that would help somehow...

I know so many people are dealing with heart disease these days and high blood pressure that it is really nothing out of the ordinary but such a scary issue for a lot of people.

Thanks for being there BYC'ers I appreciate your taking time to read my post...

Vicki

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't have any solutions for you but I'll tell you my story. One grandfather had his first stroke at age 72. The doctors told him he would never walk again after each one. I'll admit after the third stroke he had to use a cane when he went to feed the cows. He died at age 85, officially of kidney failure but really old age. He was kind of stubborn.

My other grandfather died at 48 of stroke. He did not seek medical help. That sometimes happened in what was truly a Great Depression. We have made some progress, but I digress.

My father had his triple bypass at age 62. He died at 86, mainly of old age, but he fought high blood pressure for years. He was 5'- 8" and never weighed over 145 in his life. It's not always weight but I know weight can contribute.

One sister age 42 and one brother age 48 died of heart attacks. My brother was overweight, actually obese, and had high blood pressure. My sister was underweight and had low blood pressure. Go figure.

Before I retired, I was spending half my life living on remote construction sites, eating construction worker type meals three times a day but mainly working an office job. I did a lot of walking and stair climbing but I can't say I really did construction work. After I retired, started my garden (50' x 75') planted over 100 trees not counting my 24 tree fruit and nut orchard, and started eating much less, I lost about 25 pounds, my blood pressure dropped about 30 points and my cholesterol went from 180 to 135. I credit a change in life style, not my will power, for that.

I can't tell you what will work for you. I can only wish you good luck.

 

[ams3651]

I dont have high blood pressure but there is alot of it in my family. My dad is 6'3", 190 pounds and works hard on the farm. His weight isnt an issue. He was diagnosed a few years ago after my aunt found him passed out in front of the barn. Apparently it happened several times before and he just got up and went back to work, hes not the type to take care of himself. He was put on meds and was doing ok but just started having problems again. I dont have much advice for you, do you have one of those at home blood pressure monitors? My dad also takes a nap in the afternoon and cut back on salty foods. So you see a specialist for this?

 

[Boyd]

Well, this is my lil quick story and what I do to try to lower my BP.

Had a "mini" stroke back in October of last year. Caused by super high blood pressure and an anxiety/panic attack. Never had one of those before so of course with the combination thought I was dying.

It was a relief to find out I wasn't but had to do bunch of stuff...

Take Lisinopril
Eat less sodium
Cut out the Pop
Eat more oatmeal, and other foods like that.
Get more exercise
Even though I was physically fit, I needed to loose weight, even if I meant loosing a little bit of muscle mass.

In short, I needed to mainly do what we should all have been doing, being healthy. Over the last month though... I've sort of slipped on my diet... Sigh

 

[Ol'FashionHen]

I have had high blood pressure since I was 19 yes I'm overweight, my DS was put on meds for it when he was 15 (maybe 15 lbs overweight) but very active, my DH put on meds for it at 34 not over weight at all. Nor is his mother never has been a day in her life still HBP started in her 50's. My aunt just had a heart attack and a double by-pass , always underweight but still HBP -she is 47. I think a lot of it is heretitary as well as diet and activity. I am soon going to be changing my eating habits my DH is always on me for not eating healthy

cause my sis and dad just found out they have diabetes on top of their HBP.

 

[risurocket]

I have it now during my pregnancy and one of the things you can do is adjust your diet as mentioned. A really really good thing to eat is raw celery. Eat 4 stalks a day if you can, and it will help to normalize things. I have actually watched my BP go down after eating celery. Watch sugars, caffeine and salt and the obvious junk food. Eat lots of veggies. Drink lot's of water and exercise to your abilities.

Good Luck!

 

[mom'sfolly]

I've just been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and my husband has had it for years. Even with running 30+ miles per week, my husband could not keep his down, I think it is heriditary in his case. Mine is probably wieght related....so I'm exercising more, eating alot of whole grains and veggies, eating less meat and more plant based protein, and taking a low dose medication. It is slowly helping. I think weight loss and excercise will eliminate the need for blood pressure medicine for me. The good side is the dietary changes and exercise have dropped my cholesterol from well over 200 to 192. Still a little on the high side, but for the first time ever, it is below 200.

Diet and exercise are the key, just like those darn doctors have been telling us for years!

 

[Cetawin]

Exercise, good multi-vitamin, lower your salt intake, watch your carbs too. Take your meds and drink lots and lots of water.

If you are exercising, drink at last a gallon per day. I am heavy lifting in the gym so I drink about 2 gallons per day in the warmer months.

Mine consistently stays around 120/84. If I do not do that and tkae my meds...mine will hit 160 - 180/100-140 in a flash.

Rest when you body tells you too.

 

[EricShane]

I have High Blood Pressure.. Im supposed to take Lisinipril and hydroclorithiazide

but.. Yes, you can Deffa feel when your blood pressures high.. I can anyway.. I feel all funky, like dizzy with a headache and stuff..

 

[briteday]

Be sure to take your meds as prescribed. And if one isn't working, let your doctor know as there are hundreds of blood pressure meds. Everyone's body chemistry is different and not every drug works for every person. However, some of the new protocols state that almost everyone with high BP should be on a duretic, such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) as part of their regimen.

Watch your diet. If need be, see a nutritionist so you know what a "serving" actually looks like. Most Americans consume far more that they think. Keep a food journal. Write down EVERYTHING that you eat for a week. All those little handfuls add up. Cut out the salt, fried foods, high fructose corn syrup (read those labels), butter, and excess carbs. Watch your caffeine intake or better yet, drink decaf.

Move. Any exercise is good, even if it's walking to the mailbox instead of sending the kids. Start a garden, take the dogs for a walk, park at the end of the parking lot when shopping.