General Chat

If I were you I would ask to see a different doctor and ask his/her views on what is ok for you. I think Lloyds still have the monitors but can't remember the price not too expensive, o.h. has one

Thanks for the advice everyone. I always have constant headaches, and my mum died suddenly of a heart attack aged 58. My 81 year old father, my sister and young neice all have their irregular heart beats monitored, but my G P just isn't concerned with any of this information. Says my high BP is just normal for you. Anne

The first time they checked OH's blood pressure Doc was quite concerned, OH had to reduce his work hours and rest. It's not really possible with his job (self-emp) so he has tried not to work w/e now. The tablets have controlled his BP but it took 3 different lots before it was under control. It hit him too after he turned 50, so maybe it's an age thing. He really should be slowing down now, getting too old to work long hours. The other day he came home and kept losing his balance. Wouldn't go Doc's though, so am keeping an eye on him. He can be very stubborn! Men!! Nanna-Moo ;-(

I'm being monitored for high blood pressure. Had to go to the surgery once a week for a month. On the 3rd week the nurse gave me a home monitor for 3 days - that was a laugh!! No-one showed me how to use and my blood pressure varied from extremely low to - I must be having a heart attack!! At the start I began eating porrage for breakfast (it breaks down cholesterol which can cause high blood pressure), then my daughter & her boyfriend were away for a week. When I went last week the nurse couldn't find a pulse!! She tried 3 times on my right arm, then used my left - it was mildly high (not surprising as my arm had been restricted 3 times)!! I have to go back in a month. I have decided it is daughter & boyfriend that are raising my BP. However i shall continue with the porrage, have less alcohol and try the garlic perles!!! All my life, before I turned 50, I had low blood pressure so it's a bit disconcerting having high blood pressure maggie

My MIL & OH both have high blood pressure. Don't ask me what their readings are but they have also been told that odourless garlic perles are great for keeping blood pressure down. My MIL takes them faithfully & her blood pressure has come down for the first time in years!! When I first took ill at the end of June last year mine was 180/120 - I was sent to hospital immediately with a suspected stroke (I was only just 38) - I had had no headaches or dizziness - but had been having severe muscle spasms down one side of my body. Ails x

My doc says mine at 146/76 is fine. I take tablets but to come off them, but as he says why come off them as you are feeling fine. I am 72 by the way

PS I got that wrong... .Doctor said that he likes to keep it at 140/80.....

A lot depends on your blood pressure as an individual, mine was always on the high side of normal, and OH's on the low side..... at my age 60, I was told the higher limit was 140/80, but it has been higher than this due to stress, so I am on medication which keeps it within the normal range, and I feel fine..... I think when you are younger the top number goes down, as someone said, 120....but as you age, the top number goes up.....so my Doctor told me..... tablets help keep it in check, and I sometimes wonder if I need them, but Doc says once on them you must keep on....?...... If you are under the Doctor's care they will keep a good check on you, and make sure everything is OK.....

My OH suffers with high blood pressure and will have to take tablets to control it for the rest of his life, so we have been told by the Doc........and before any of you wags can say anything............ YES IT IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE FACT HE IS MARRIED TO ME!!!! lol Nanna-Moo ;-)))))

Hi! Taken off the net: Within your body, the beats of your heart create a pulsating force that keeps blood moving through your circulatory system. Blood pressure is measurement of this force. With each beat, your heart contracts, sending a surge of pressure into the bloodstream. This surge period is called systolic (sis-TAHL-ik). It is the first number in a blood pressure reading. After the surge period, your heart rests briefly and expands in preparation for another beat. This expansion period is called diastolic (di-uh-STAHL-ik). It provides the second number in a blood pressure reading. Thus, a blood pressure reading of '120 over 80' means you have a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80. Doctors generally agree that systolic readings of 120 to 140 and diastolic readings of 70 to 90 are normal. Slightly higher readings---140 to 159 and 90 to 94---are considered mild high blood pressure (mild hypertension). Readings from 160 to 179 and 94 to 114 signal moderate hypertension. Anything above these limits is considered a serious problem. Although high blood pressure rarely causes any symptoms, it can do hidden damage to your arteries, eventually leading to stroke, heart attack, heart disease, or kidney disease. Low blood pressure, on the other hand, can cause dizziness or fainting, especially when you first stand up. Blood pressure varies with the time of day and the amount of stress you're experiencing. To determine your average or typical blood pressure, your doctor may therefore ask you to take readings at various times during the day. You can do this with a standard blood pressure kit or monitor, available at most drug and medical supply stores. Martin

I think normal blood pressure reading should be 90 over 70...i think it is the systolic reading that is the most important onexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx((((((:

The 'cut-off' for normal seems to be about 140 over 90. My GP wanted to see mine lower than 150 over 96, which it was after treatment with tablets. (I'm 59) You can get blood pressure monitors for quite a reasonable price from Boots. I got one and found that not only was my BP lower in the morning but also I had 'white coat' high blood pressure even when measuring it myself!!! (ie; get hyped up about the measuring). After taking three readings I now average the second two and they are much lower than the first!! There is a very helpful website - the Blood Pressure Association - which gives lots of advice and guidance. Anne

My husband has high blood pressure & has taken talblets for about 5 yrs now ( 45 yrs old). When 1st suspected our g p gave him a home monitor to test his blood pressure morning & night for 2 weeks. As his pressure was always good in the morn but high by eve he was put on medication. Should go back to gp . Regards Tracey

HI My blood pressure has been 156/102 and my nurse just said it is a bit high and they would just keep an eye on it. It is now around 146/96 and the nurse says thats ok. I am 43. It was only 120 /80 last week and they said they didn't want to see me again yet two days later it was back up. The nurse doesnt seem bothered she said it will go up and down and will see me in October just to keep me happy. Jane.

So called normal blood pressure is about 120/80

Hiya Ann...seems to me you have high blood presure love..i'm 48 and mines normal wich is usually 136/78 the bottom figure is inportant anything over 100 is classed as high blood presure yopu need to go back to your dr and tell him your concernes. Hope you get it sorted out.......Gwyn xxxxx

Does anyone understand the blood pressure readings? I've had mine done by the nurse at the surgery who was really concerned and sent me to see the doctor. The lower reading was102, but he just told me 'what do you expect at your age?' I'm 49. Is there a normal reading to go by? Anne