Blood pressure shenanigans

kcult

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I've been on BP meds about half of my adult life. My long time (retired now) family doctor and I finally found a med that worked. I've always felt a little stupid having to take a pill just so I can maintain a certain lifestyle, meaning eating, drinking, and smoking what I want. I did quit smoking in 2004, though. I'm currently taking Tribenzor 40-10-25, and it works great. Unfortunately, when I do better, it works too good, in my opinion.

I've lost right at 25lbs this year and had even come close to a 30lb loss. I gain and lose a lb or two each week. I've been low carb and switched from all beer to whiskey, with occasional beers, like this weekend. Because of this, my BP dips into the 9x/5x range most evenings. Heart rate is usually high 60s to low 70s while resting.

Because of the lower readings, I reached out to the company doctor and asked if perhaps I should go to a lower dosage or quit taking the meds. She said if I want to quit, go ahead but keep checking it. So, I did. After about a week, it had climbed all the way up to 177/105, but with a PR of 48. I knew that was not good and my wife asked me to get back on the meds, which I did.

Two days later, things are looking "normal" again. Yesterday, I spent the first part of the day ripping shingles off of my 12x16 building, and boy was it hot! I finally got them all off and came in to cool down. I decided to check my BP and it was 95/55 with a PR of 132. I went back out later in the evening and removed all the nails and enjoyed a beer or seven. Came back in after that and checked again. My BP was 88/48 w/110 PR.

I'll be updating my doc on Monday.

#bloodpressurematters
 
Man, I have been going through the same thing the past few years. Lost 65 (low carb), came off BP meds, BP jumped through the roof, back on BP meds, I'm on a light dose now. I checked yesterday and it I was 109/65, don't recall what my PR was.

I've maintained my weight give or take 5-10 lbs. I'm 5'11" and my lowest was 162.5, I'm just shy of 175 these days. I'm no longer "low carb" but I do keep track and I do eat a little whole wheat bread and fruit but no sugar or empty carbs.
 
I ain't overweight by much (similar to @Sp00ks stats), but I went off my BP meds & it went up. Doc said some of us are just genetically "lucky" with the elevated BP.

But your numbers while on the meds are waaaay low! My target is <120 / <80. I'm happy when I'm 110/75.
 
It's a vicious circle. Once it shot up to 190/110. I was on 20mg of lisinopril. It eventually dropped below 100 systolic and all I wanted to do was lay on the couch, no energy. That is NOT me, I never stop. Doc reduced it to 10mg. Now at 10mg it's going down around 100 again.
 
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Found out 13 years ago that you can't always go by blood pressure as far as what your heart will do. I had a heart attack and the entire 4 hours I was in the ER before transporting to a big hospital, my BP was 110/70. Never varied more that 3-4 points on the top or bottom. Talking to my cardiologist, he said this was uncommon but not rare. I just had a blockage. Could have been born with it.
 
Found out 13 years ago that you can't always go by blood pressure as far as what your heart will do. I had a heart attack and the entire 4 hours I was in the ER before transporting to a big hospital, my BP was 110/70. Never varied more that 3-4 points on the top or bottom. Talking to my cardiologist, he said this was uncommon but not rare. I just had a blockage. Could have been born with it.

Yep. My BP is always good. Pulse also. Bisoprolol. They can't do a regular stress test (tread mill) because my pulse etc. won't go high enough. I have to do the nuclear testing. And yes you can still have blockages etc. even with good numbers. Last one showed some plaque build up, nothing to warrant intervention. I already have stents. I'm kinda scared of the one I'm about to schedule. I neglected my health screenings and all that while taking care of Mrs. I rarely drink, but I do smoke and have a love of most foods bad for you. I try to avoid them but am not always successful.
 
I hope giving blood helps a bit. I’m 55, have a 35” waist & my BP just measured 149/99.
I don’t have the tell tale tension headache I normally get.
Looks like I need to back on the meds and exercise.
 
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As with many things in life , it's what's in the genes that counts.
 

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Same thing happened to me this year. 90/60 with Pulse of 94, all the time. If I do physical work, I get really dizzy and my BP drops. In June it got so bad, I could stand up quickly without getting lightheaded or passing out.

I wasn't taking BP Rx's for Blood Pressure, but they help my kidneys stay nice an stable.

I quit taking in June, went in to the Doc's yesterday and I was BP 120/80 and Pulse of 74. The pulse comes down because at a LOW BP, the Heart works harder to get the blood moving.

Didn't see any effect in the Kidneys.. so I have a reprieve for a while. Feels great!
 
147-92 86pr just now. i'll check back in a bit, my nuts are binding.
 
Oh BP is the bane of my existence . 150/100 two dr visits in a row. Quit smoking March this year. Cut out salt. Lowered saturated fats and don’t drink at all and went to walking 1 to 3 miles a morning and getting off my a** more and take a simple water pill every morning and some times 110/72 like every morning and heart rate is up some but afternoons always resting HR of 58 and BP averages 130/85. Stress and anxiety affect my BP a LOT. If I worry about what it might read or test it too often or every time I go to the doctor it’s 155/100 or worse. If I relax and sit there a minute and take it 3 more times you can see the numbers falling and stuff. I’ve been writing them down for almost a year now. 3-4 reads every morning and 3-4 reads every day after work before supper. Work days always way higher than weekends.
 
Everyone's blood pressure fluctuates, on medication, off medication, diet, whatever.

White coat syndrome is a real thing, the best way to prevent being medicated for an artificially elevated blood pressure from white coat syndrome is to take cereal readings. But don't get a machine, get a cuff and a stethoscope and learn how to use it. Machines are awfully finicky, and for every good brand there are 10 awful ones.

The standards have changed as to what is now normal, as a result more people will be medicated. I'm not giving to conspiracies, but I am on this one.

My blood pressure is normal, I'm on just a whiff of HCTC/Lisinopril. Even off of it it doesn't budge terribly much, but I have horrible family history and genes, so.....
 
This^^^^^^ Is Real.
Yep. I hate going to the doc or a dentist cause I know dang well they're gonna find something that I've got to spend more money on or is going to hurt like hell to fix. I've got a good GP but I can go in there and the nurse takes my bp and it's out of sight. Doc comes in shoots the bull for a minute and after the exam takes it again and its almost back to normal. Laughs and calls me a wussy. I can feel it going up at the dentist and 15 minutes after I walk out its about down to normal. Same with my skin doc but she always finds something to burn off or cut out.
 
Mine has been doing crazy things as of the past two weeks. It has been randomly dropping. It has dropped so much that it is dangerous for me to drive. I got severely dizzy, tunnel vision, ringing ears, and the warm feeling on the back of my neck. So I am curious what you find out. My doctor cannot find any reason for mine to act up.
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Mine has been doing crazy things as of the past two weeks. It has been randomly dropping. It has dropped so much that it is dangerous for me to drive. I got severely dizzy, tunnel vision, ringing ears, and the warm feeling on the back of my neck. So I am curious what you find out. My doctor cannot find any reason for mine to act up.
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Pretty good synopsis.
 
WTH, man, you don't know that. Everyone is different.
We don't need to get into a big debate over this here. But he's right. New science/research is coming to light every day. Fat doesn't kill you. Sugar kills you. Not just table sugar, but foods that immediately turn into sugar in your blood. It messes with everything. Metabolic issues killed most of the people who supposedly died from COVID. There are thousands of doctors right now petitioning the medical community to rename Alzheimers "Type Three Diabetes". And intermittent fasting has been proven to "set right" everything from inflammation to blood pressure to countless other metric/metabolic/health issues. (Throw in a tight sleep schedule for even more benefits.)

So it is VERY likely that if OP went low carb and tried intermittent fasting (and threw in some 5HTTP/melatonin and got regular sleep) for a while his numbers would level off.

I am NOT a doctor. But I was diagnosed with high blood pressure two years ago at 48. The doc wanted me on blood pressure meds right then and there. I was honest with her. I told her I wasn't going to take them. I wanted a chance to take a swing at getting it under control for six weeks. If things hadn't improved by then I would take her stupid pills.

I just turned fifty a week or so ago. In those two years I have listened to dozens of nutrition audio books, countless hours of health/wellness/nutrition podcasts, and consulted several functional med docs. I'm 6'1" and have a 32" waist and weigh 175-180 pounds. My blood pressure stays perfect. Intermittent fasting combined with low-carb eating and regular sleep are among the few things many health/wellness/nutrition experts agree on. (There are exceptions, of course.) There's room around the edges for differences in genetics and whatnot. You can play with some lifestyle stuff (like wearing blue blocker glasses at night to improve sleep like I do). But those three things would "cure" so much of what makes us the fattest and sickest society on Earth..... and in the history of Earth.

The FDA is in bed with grain companies. If you believe that Fruit Loops are a "heart healthy food" like it says on the label, you're just a dipstick. However, avocados do NOT make the FDA's list of heart healthy foods, and they are simply one of the healthiest things you can consume.... period.

Yes, we are all different. And yet, we are all similar. Being "different" is not an excuse to eat like crap and not sleep. I hear it all the time. "Man, it don't matter what I eat. My cholesterol is gonna be high cuz my pappy's was high and his pappy's was high. So Ima eat whatever I want." BS. Not true. I could tell you when and what to eat (including a ridiculous amount of fats), and when and how to go to sleep, for six months and your numbers would make your doctor blush. He/she would think you got liposuction and had your blood flushed out and switched with that of an 18 year old marathon runner. :cool:
 
@two fingers , He made it sound as if all you need to do is eat well and get some sleep and exercise and all your problems seem to melt away.

All those can certainly contribute to longevity, and all of those are good, but there are some people who regardless of what they eat or how much exercise they get or how much sleep they get have to have medications, because it's just the way their genes made them. Black people are predisposed to uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled being requiring medication. This is true regardless of lifestyle choices. Lot of us crackers are that way too.

Saying "You don't need medication, all you need is...." (My quote) is tantamount the same just rub some balm on it or essential oils.
 
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