Uncontrolled blood pressure

I don't know whether you're interested in alternative suggestions, Sallywally1 but I've found a teaspoon of cinnamon and half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper helps. As does avoiding carbs. Meditation, yoga, Reiki, breath work, all help. Good luck.

There's an Ayurvedic remedy called Moktavati that helps many people. You can get it on-line

I have had high blood pressure since my pregnancies. My mother had it too. I have been taking Lisinopril for years and recently started on Amlodopine after which my blood pressure has come down. I haven't had swollen ankles but my dentist told me that Amlodopine can cause gum problems. After I started taking it my gums were very sore for a while but have now returned to normal.

Kate1949 my mother-in-law has just celebrated her 100th birthday - she says her BP has been very high since first measured during pregnancy in 1953! It was recently measured again over a week abd it was over 200 systolic and diastolic was in the high 90s. She has started taking diuretics "for reasons of vanity" she says because her feet and legs have been swelling (she previously refused them) and its suddenly come down. Still about 180/80 but she's delighted - mainly about her legs! 😀

BP is the biggest of my own worries.
I usually don't want to know or talk about it.
Thank you for raising it gently here.

I was on amlopodine and it caused swelling ankles and feet and also made my breathlessness worse
I was on holiday at the time and had to go and buy new shoes to get home
Went to the dr who changed them

Not spaghetti. Your mother-in-law sounds quite a character!

I'm like you, even the mention of BP sends me into a panic. Your post re your MIL is reassuring. I'm constantly hearing 'You can have a stroke or a heart attack.'

Try drinking beetroot juice, I hate it but seems to bring my BP down a little. We have one called Beet it ,Tesco sell it and Holland and Barrett I think

I take beetroot pills. Two a day as well as Losartan. I'm considering going back on Turmeric capsules. Good for the heart and other things.

Notsphagetti - your m.I.l. is great ! I’ve been on Amlodipine for years . Initially, swollen feet but nothing now

Mine goes high if I'm stressed and my neck goes stiff, probably as I am tense.

I find if I lie flat and listen to meditation music on YouTube it helps.
If you practice relaxation regularly it may help.

I truly love my mother-in-law. I know most of her family are long-lived but she is amazing for 100 (not that I know any other people of 100).

Sometimes when I feel myself panicking about my BP I think of her.

I admit I have told my doctor I won't discuss my BP with them if I don't raise it myself. I feel I need some control. I know that's not sensible but the stress of repeatedly talking about it has to be at least as bad.
I was given a 24 hr monitor and didn't dare move my BP was so high. I took it off. It was dangerous to continue with it.

I will not be doing another.
I am panicking just writing this.

It's difficult if it fluctuates. Mine goes high but usually sits around 100/60 which is also problematic and no treatment.
I do sympathise with everyone. It's an awful worry if it's continually high.
I usually sit and do relaxed breathing for a few minutes before taking it.

I suffer from 'white coat syndrome' so, when threatened with BP measurement at the surgery, my BP shoots up. I recommend reading James Le Fanu's book "Too Many Pills". It's an eye opener. It's available on kindle.

I've had high blood pressure for about 25 years, it was very high, despite medication when I was working, it was a constant worry. I've always eaten a healthy vegetarian diet, and taken lots of exercise and managed my work stress. I don't have any stress now I'm retired!

During the first lockdown a routine blood test showed a pre-diabetic glucose reading, and I was referred to the NHS Preventing Diabetes Programme. This consisted, amongst other things of a low carb diet. Being vegetarian, my diet had always been high in carbs and I didn't think would work for me, but I've stuck to it for 3 years. My blood glucose normalised within a couple of weeks, my BMI dropped from 23.3 to the current 20.05, but also, over that time my average blood pressure dropped down to the 'slightly elevated' category, the lowest its been in years. Todays reading is 126/78. Since then I've done a lot of reading about the relationship between blood pressure, blood sugar and insulin resistance and I'm convinced that low carb is one way of lowering blood pressure.

I think we are twins NotSpaghetti! I don't think we're alone. I have a friend who is the same.

SallyWally
Did your Dr explain that when you’re anxious you produce adrenaline. Adrenaline is a fuel ( fight or flight) if that fuel isn’t used ( fight or flight) it causes havoc with your heart rate and blood pressure.

Re-assuring to read so many of us are on the same medication. I started on Amlopodine but couldn't manage the tiny tablets. Now on 20 mg Lercanidipine. BP is very, very gradually going down but am disappointed it is taking so long. The noisy heartbeats have reduced, however. The pharmacist at our GP practice monitors all the medications he recommends. Have just submitted my last set of BP measurements.
So lets all keep up the good work.

my huband is on amlodipine and bisoprolol, he was also started on ramapril, but had to stop them...I can't remember why....he now gets losartan instead and has been fine with them,some folk can't tolorate them and other folk can...

SpringsEternal cinnamon can be toxic to anyone with liver problems. You probably have been taking it for years and been fine.

But just want to warn people about what we think as a harmless spice but isn't . Please if anyone wants to try alternates to prescribed medication check with your pharmacy or GP surgery that it's safe to do so .

1 of my tablets means I can't have grapefruit in any form . A friend told me sage tablets where good to help with the menopause but I can't have them because of another tablet. I pinch of sage leaf in a stew is fine as I cook enough for 6 dinners but not in a concentrated tablet form .

I know how you feel, i have 14different things wrong with me- i may as take a sleeping bag to hospital, it seems like am always there for some reason or another- and when im not then 1 or other of my sons has an appt instead! High blood pressure is one one of my bugbears and wont go down.I can only take very few pills for it as i also take a high dose of warfarin each day!

Yes ive also discovered many things, like grapefruit, cranberry, etc and some herbs,all things we consider 'natural' and safe to consume, just are dangerous with warfarin.I can only take paracetamol for pain too which is pretty much useless when ive got osteoarthritis and other painful conditions.

Whiff

Sallywally do you take Amlodipine? I was taking it and Ramipril still take it. At the AF clinic the nurse took it off me and said she wished GPs wouldn't prescribe Amlodipine it as it causes swollen ankles and water retention which doesn't do your heart any good and causes high blood pressure.
Peed a lot and my ankles and lower legs when right down within 2 weeks. So much so I could finally wear ankle boots which I couldn't before. I have Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation plus born with a small hole in my heart between my heart and lungs . Didn't know that until 2020. 2021 MRI on my heart with dye showed where it was . It's safer to leave alone as long as I don't get chest pain. Do get breathless at times especially in very hot or cold weather but no pain. On Flecainide and Apixaban. I have to take my BP every morning before my breakfast so know my BP range which is normal for me. I do get heart palpitations and flutters but just relax and over in a couple of minutes plus miss heart beats but live an active life as much as my body allows born disabled with rare hereditary neurological condition only had that diagnosed in 2022. Only because my new neurologist had my whole genome genetically tested.

Have you have a complete blood test including fasting cholesterol test if not ask for one. If it shows heart failure it doesn't mean you are dieing just your heart isn't pumping as it should. Then you should be referred to a cardiologist. I have had 3 major and 2 minor operations all with a dicky heart and no one knew. Had to laugh when my cardiologist told me about the hole . I will be 66 end of the month..

Totally agree with the nurse. I was originally given various drugs all ending with' dopine' and my ankles were swollen with all of them, Now on Lisinopril, doxadosin and a wicked diuretic which is far too effective!

Also im wary of 'being given' extra or new pills by other drs or pharmasists or prescribing nurses without the go ahead by by my heart specialist now, as one consultant prescribed me bisoprolol and my main specialist (a professor) said he should not have done that in my case.

As a trained nurse I was taught 159/48 was not classed as too high in someone who is your age. Mine is definitely higher than that.
I am 83 now and my BP has not been checked for ay least 18 months. Do you monitor yours daily?.