High Blood Pressure, anyone? A few questions about it...

KlassicalKat · 09-21-2007, 02:22 PM

Is anyone out there dealing with High Blood Pressure?
I strongly suspect that I have it and am planning on going to the doctor to specifically investigate this. I realize that it's very probable at my age (50). It also runs in my family.

Did you have obvious symptoms? (I notice that my heart rate is very high on the gym's treadmill sensors even before I start exercising on it, sometimes a strange fatigue overcomes me, but other times I feel an anxiety and tenseness, like I've had way too much coffee. Also have had higher than normal blood pressure readings when I have visited various doctors.)

Do you take medication? Was it hard to find the right dosage? Does it help? Does it help you to go about your daily activities or are there side effects that hinder?

Thanks so much for any input!

Kathryn

DianeJ · 09-21-2007, 06:21 PM

A main symptom for me was pressure in my head. Mostly when I got up from sitting or when I exercised. Like a head rush with a lot of pressure, if that makes sense. I really don't know how else to explain it. That's all I really remember; I can't recall having other symptoms, if I had them. Oh, one other - that swelling, tight feeling in fingers and ankles. Like I had had too much sodium (which I hadn't). I also have a high heart rate, but I've had that all my life so I can't say if that's a symptom or not.

As for dosage - I guess there are set dosages that you start off at. If needed, the dose can be raised. I've had to have that done a few times, but that was only because I was only taking one med; I really needed to take two. However, it might take some fiddling with the type of medication that's right for you. I've been on a couple of different ones. One of them was given to me because I was ttc, but it didn't do much for me. There were other kinds available that were fine to take while ttc (beta blockers) but I couldn't take them because of my asthma (and one doctor tried to tell me that they weren't good for diabetics - I'm IR, not diabetic). I wish I could have taken one; it's supposed to help with fast heart rates.

Side effects - it depends. Right now I'm on hydrochlorothiazide (diuretic) and lisinopril (ACE inhibitor). I had no s/e with the hydro, but it didn't work on its own for me. When I had taken lisinopril a few years ago, I had to stop taking it. It was sending my blood pressure way too low (I got dizzy and fell one time when I stood up; hit my head pretty good; when I finally got up and tested bp, it was 86/60). But the doctor I'm seeing now, she asked me to give it a shot again and I did. It's working a lot better this time; I have absolutely no s/e. I really don't understand why it's working this time?

Anyway, there are a few different type of meds out there and they all have possible side effects. However, I really don't know anyone who has had any severe ones (besides the one I had lol). Mostly they can cause fatigue or dizziness. The one I had been taking for ttc (aldomet - and doctors hardly ever use that anymore), it made me very tired and I easily swelled on it. But the combo I'm on now is working pretty well this time.

Here's a link that explains the different meds along with possible s/e: http://www.cardiologychannel.com/hyp...on/pharm.shtml I also read somewhere that magnesium pretty much does what calcium channel blockers do. I'll see if I still have that link.

Good luck.

JosieFB · 09-21-2007, 06:40 PM

I take medicine for high blood pressure. I can usually tell when my BP is high because I feel tense, especially across my collarbone area. I also feel jittery.

There are tons of BP meds out there all that work in varying ways like slow your heart, relax your arteries, reduce pressure of artery constriction, etc. Finding one that works for you that doesn't cause unbearable side effects might take time or you might get lucky on the first one. When you start a new BP med, expect side effects for a week or two. Headaches, feeling draggy, dizzy, racing heart, are all possibilities. Usually you get over the worst of the side effects in a few days and begin to feel normal in a week or two.

My story is probably a worst case scenario. I have taken several different brands of BP meds in my life. First was Cardura (Doxazosin). It made my ankles swell because it relaxes your arteries. Then I read an article that cardura had been shown to cause heart attacks. I showed that article to my doctor, and he changed me to Tenorectic (50mg Atenolol & and 25mg Chlorthalidone(diuretic)). I took that for several years, and it was during that time I gained weight, my hair growth got worse, and I was diagnosed with PCOS. When the gyn started me on Spiro, my GP changed the BP med to 25mg Atenolol without a diuretic, and my BP went sky high. So he added Hyzaar (50mg Losartin & 12.5mg HCTZ), left me on the Atenolol also, and told me to stop taking Spiro. Two years later, my endo asked me to try Spiro again and my gyn asked me to try Yaz. After taking them 6 months, my insurance company sent a note to my GP that he needed to take me off Hyzaar or Yaz because it can increase postassium and so can Yaz. So can Spiro too, but the insurance company didn't mention it. I was ticked off because my postassium was fine, but the GP was insistent. He changed me back to Tenoretic (he loves that because it's old and cheap), and I had very weird problems from it. All of a sudden I needed reading glasses to read anything, and I was having constant leg and foot cramps even if I stopped the Spiro. I also remembered that I had read that 1st generation beta blockers (which Atenolol is) have been shown to cause increased IR. Anyways, I told him about the strange vision and cramping problems, and he changed me to Coreg CR 20mg and HCTZ 12.5mg. Since I've switched to Coreg my hunger pangs / hypoglycemic episodes have disappeared, so I guess Atenolol made me more IR just like the study says. My vision is back to normal (no reading glasses required), and I've started the Spiro again with very few foot/leg cramps.

sinnie · 09-21-2007, 08:20 PM

I have had moderate high blood pressure since I was 18. I just recently quit taking my blood pressure meds because they were getting me so dizzy (after being on them for over a year.)
I was on a small 20mg Lisinopril dose. My pressure never went above 140/90

After losing 30lbs, and cutting out a lot of sodium (I mean A LOT, I would normally have 3000-6000mg a day) and now I'm below 2000 a day. My pressure has come down greatly. I take it several times a day, even after working out and it is rarely above 120/75 after working out. When resting it's 112/70-115/75

My heart rate has also come down. Before, while resting my HR was rarely below 100! Now it even dips into the 60s. I don't get headaches nearly as much anymore, or a pounding pressure feeling in my head. I don't get vertigo anymore either.

My doctor doesn't know I quit taking my meds for it, I don't see her again until November. I'm sure she'll be happy to see I've lost 20lbs since I saw her and my pressure is doing great!

Hope this helps!!!

sinnie · 09-21-2007, 08:22 PM

Also, for me, the side effects were mild dizzyness. The dizziness got worse because I was taking the medicine and making my blood pressure way lower then it should have been.

Aside from that some BP meds have water pills to them and make you pee all the freaking time, no matter how little you drink. This is a method to flush the sodium out of your body.

The only major side effect of Lisinopril I didn't have was developing a cough. I hear other people get super sore throats from it, but it didn't bother me.

SuzanneStar · 09-21-2007, 10:40 PM

I was just diagnosed with high blood pressure this year and i am currently on 5mg of amlodipine and will prob be going up to 10mg if my blood pressure is still high next week after having it done again.

I used to get a pressure in my ear before i was diagnosed and suffered from migraines 3 times a month i have not had one in about 5 months now

My heart used to race aswell and it was a horrible feeling.

I have not suffered with any side effect on amlodipine but i did when the doc first started me on Ramipril it made me vomit for a bout 2 days.

KlassicalKat · 09-21-2007, 11:23 PM

Cysters, I can't tell you how much I am appreciating reading the great information here!

It made me realize that I have had some migrane-like headaches, too and that I had rarely if ever had a headache in my life until about 2 years ago. I get about 3 or 4 a month, now. I was thinking it might be menopause (and it still might), but it being a possible symptom of High Blood Pressure makes sense.

I am glad that you warned me that it might take some time to find the right medicine and the right dosage. I guess though, in the end, it's better than the risks of the high pressure.

I will definitely be making a doctor's appointment this Monday morning.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH and I will keep checking this thread to see if there are more responses.

Kathryn

SuzanneStar · 09-22-2007, 01:28 AM

You are very welcome hun and good luck with your appointment

Eva37 · 09-22-2007, 08:32 AM

aww, sure all will go well at your appointment Mon. I take spiro, bendrofluazide, and amlodopine for mine

eva

Sarah Louise · 09-23-2007, 06:09 PM

I am really glad I found this thread !! I have always had normal blood pressure but I haven’t really had a blood pressure test for about 2 years now during which time I have piled on the weigh, my mother suffers with high blood pressure so she bought herself a home pressure measuring kit, last night she was showing me how to use it and to show me that it shows how high her blood pressure is, anyway I had a quick go to measure mine the reading was 171/90, when I checked the chart it showed that the reading was classed as hypertension. So now I am stressed out I know that blood pressure varies throughout the day but I am still really worried about it, I have read some of the symptoms that some of you have experienced but I don’t have any of them. What I really want to know is do you think I regulate this without having to resort to taking medication ?? any advice would be greatly appreciated !

alexander4372 · 09-23-2007, 09:27 PM

At what point is medication necassary to treat HBP? I have noticed that sometimes my top # is a little higher than it should be like yesterday I took it a the store and it was 127/76 the bottom # always seems good but the top number is really varied in the am its always lower and then it goes higher in the evenings like 118/70 in am and 130/79 in late evening should i consider medication? Does anyone notice the top being high and the bottom normal?

sinnie · 09-23-2007, 09:51 PM

The reason I went on BP meds in the first place is my doctor was concerned with my bottom number. Which was always 90 when she tested. It has since dropped back into the 70s since I am off the meds now.

I think anything 140/90 is considered high. They'll put you on BP meds if you visit 2-3 times and get a high reading... or at least they did with me.

autumnleaves · 09-23-2007, 09:59 PM

I dont have high blood pressure however my pulse is always high. You mentioned that yours was high and maybe linked to you having high blood pressure. Just wanted to let you know that you can have a high heart rate and blood pressure be fine.

BTW-Ace inhibitors will sometimes cause a horrible dry cough. One of the pills I know has this as a bad side effect is Lisinopril.

Yeah 140/90 or above with several readings like that is what they consider high and need for medication. Now sometimes you can have 150/70-80. You would probably still need something because the top number is high. And vice versa for the bottom number.

~*Proud*Female*~ · 09-23-2007, 10:33 PM

My BP had been high since I was pregnant with my youngest in 2001. The worst was in May last year when my BP was 190/120. I REFUSED to take any meds. I ended up going to my doctor a few weeks ago and through diet and exercise, my BP is now down 120/80!!!!!!!!! I AM NORMAL NOW!!!!!!!

JosieFB · 09-24-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexander4372

At what point is medication necassary to treat HBP? I have noticed that sometimes my top # is a little higher than it should be like yesterday I took it a the store and it was 127/76 the bottom # always seems good but the top number is really varied in the am its always lower and then it goes higher in the evenings like 118/70 in am and 130/79 in late evening should i consider medication? Does anyone notice the top being high and the bottom normal?

Those numbers don't warrant BP meds. Only if you have consistent readings greater than 140 on the top or 90 on the bottom would a doctor consider medicine. Everybody's BP goes up and down. Ideal is lower than 120/80 because it puts less stress on your heart and circulatory system. A person walking around at 141/91 who is just beginning to develop high blood pressure isn't likely to have a stroke, but over the years high BP can cause your heart muscle to harden (which can cause arrhythmia) and you blood vessels to weaken (which can cause stroke or aneurysms). That's why its important to treat it if it stays consistently high.