Uncontrolled blood pressure

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Been on Amlodipine 5mg for a few years. TBH, I rarely check my BP. I will do it now.

My husband has very irregular to high blood pressure and they keep changing his medication.
He has undergone so many tests it is crazy. The last specialist he saw told him there is nothing that should be causing his blood pressure to spike and as we were wrapping up the conversation, he threw out a very random question to my husband... Do you eat Licorice and my husband said yes I do. Interestingly, Licorice has a hormone in it that messes with blood pressure. So my husband stopped eating the Licorice and surprise... his BP dropped. Now that is not all, we started to dig around and look at why do they tell him to avoid grapefruit? Apparently grapefruit and other related fruits (citrus) increase blood, and this increases your BP, as well if you are on medications for high BP. Another piece of information we found, Potassium, if your potassium is high this affects your BP and the affects of your BP medication. Potassium is in citrus fruits, bananas and potatoes. Lower your potassium intake. Of course I am not a doctor or any kind of expert, but I do like to ask questions and do research.
Just some thoughts.

I have been taking lercanidipine for 20 years and the daily side effect is that within an hour or an hour and a half I will need to have a big wee.

my husbands BP has been all over the board for the last few years and recently has stuck at being high. After multiple tests and visits to specialists and finding zero cause, he was asked one day if he ate Licorice. yes Licorice. He said oh yes he does and has eaten it for years. Dr suggested he quit as it has hormones in it that can affect his BP. Surprise his BP has dropped down to where it is supposed to be. This was just recently so we shall see what happens moving forward.

Back in September, when I thought I was in the peak of health, I had a blood test and ECG. Heart OK but very high cholesterol that is now normal thanks to 20mg Atorvastatin. BP very high at surgery in September so I've been monitoring at home since. Depending on the time of day it can be below the level for medication (my GP says 135 is the cut off). When I've been with DD2 and the dogs it's always lower (pets are supposed to lower BP). It's usually lower after a walk of a mile or two or more in the morning or afternoon, followed by a cup of tea or coffee, a sit down of about half an hour and then I do the BP reading. It's usually high mid evening when I've been sitting around. Because it fluctuates I'm on the waiting list for a 24 hour monitor. My GP knows I'd like to avoid medication if possible. I'm 76, have a good diet, have never smoked, exercise a lot, meditate every day and weigh under 8st so health-wise I can't do much more myself to lower it. I might try isometric exercises, research shows they can lower BP.

I too much prefer the old kit SuperTrinny I take my BP at home for my annual review and dread it every year., the whirring and cuff tightening. Even now discussing it I get agitated, although I know it’s daft.

My brother-in-law had a stroke aged 60. My brother had a massive stroke and a heart attack a couple of years ago. Neither had ever had high BP - my brother had regular check ups. Whilst in hospital he asked a doctor what causes strokes. The doctor said they had no idea. They are both fine now thankfully.

As high blood pressure is so common as we age, I wonder if it is really such a problem? When someone suffers a stroke or heart attack, there is a combination of causes. It happens to younger people too.
I still think the greatest risk to our health is pollution.

I have to take me BP every morning usually the same time and before I have a mug of tea and my breakfast. I have been doing since 2017. I am on my second Braun machine and have a long cuff. I lost 7st so it was ideal when I was fat but now have saggy bingo wings. I always sit at the table and use my left arm and lie it on the table. So I know what my normal BP range is.

Like SuperTinny I do think the manual method of taking BP is more accurate. But as I have to do it everyday I have to use a machine. But when I go to have my review at the GPs I take my book with all my readings. My cardiologist and AF clinic nurses always find it useful.

I think the problem with the machine cuff is the stainless bar you thread the cuff threw to tighten it as it can be painful at times. Where the manual cuff is just wrapped around and tighten by hand .

I’m in the same position, it seems to depend on who takes the reading how bad they think it is. I try not to worry about it too much unless someone else is worried. I read somewhere that the lower figure is now of equal interest if it gets too high, but when I mentioned this at hospital the nurse looked totally puzzled and said I was fine!

I’m sorry this isn’t very helpful,
I know people whose BP has gone down if they take a short walk every day. Might that help?

I've been monitored for borderline high blood pressure for about 18 months now. I don't currently take any medication.

I struggle constantly with extreme pain using a digital BP monitor to the point where I dread having to do it. My heart rate increases dramatically, my breathing gets faster and I have even cried out loud in pain. I bought a larger cuff as I have rather fat arms but it didn't seem to make a difference. Also the machine seems to have trouble taking a reading and will re-inflate 2/3 times (sometimes not even achieving a reading), adding to the prolonged agony. I often end up ripping the cuff off. It always leaves my skin with red marks that can take a few days to dissipate.

I have spoken to my GP about it and he suggested taking the BP when I was relaxed: put the cuff on and sit reading etc for a few minutes before inflating. Leave for ten minutes or so and repeat until you get the best of three readings.
Even this didn't work and for some time now I've suspected that the level of anxiety I feel when attempting a BP reading is skewing any result I'm getting.

Fast forward earlier this week when I had an unexpected stay in hospital for 48 hours. Again I was not able to tolerate the digital BP cuff and even ripped it off in front of the nurse, refusing to have another attempt. She was very kind and suggested we try a manual BP.

Oh my, what a game changer. Using a manual cuff and sphygmomanometer my BP is consistently within a normal range and whats more does not cause me extreme pain.

I had to remind every nurse who came to do my BP it needed to be a manual one. Not everyone has this skill any more and although every clinical area should have at least one sphyg. the staff may not know where it is kept.

But everyone I spoke to said they all had their own reservations about a digital machine and did not find think they were very accurate, or perhaps over reporting.

Now I have to add here that I am a nurse, but I have not worked in a clinical area where a blood pressure is taken, especially by me, for a very long time. So I was unaware of the general consensus of opinion amongst nurses that they do not generally like the digital machines.

I spoke to my husband about this and he too confessed to thinking our digital machine was not reporting accurately enough. We will be buying a sphyg. and stethoscope set. I can easily do his and hopefully I can teach him how to put the cuff on me and then manage the rest myself.

So my next thing is to talk to my GP and insist that I come to the surgery to have my blood pressure checked manually..... and I suggest it could also be something you all ask for as well.

Greyjoy1953

Just been taken off lercandipine as my ankles were swelling, I felt like my body was getting full of water. Doctor has now changed it and I feel so much better. Swollen ankles and not peeing enough is a common side effect with this drug, why do they give it to us!!!!

I’ve been taking lercanidipine for at least nine years and had no problems, we all react differently to drugs.

Greyjoy1953

Just been taken off lercandipine as my ankles were swelling, I felt like my body was getting full of water. Doctor has now changed it and I feel so much better. Swollen ankles and not peeing enough is a common side effect with this drug, why do they give it to us!!!!

Greyjoy1953. I don’t think GPs actually read or care about side effects.

My husband is on 6 or 7 BP Meds now having tried scores of them. Like you, several caused big, swollen ankles, others caused itchy legs, one caused burning pains in his legs that felt like severe sunburn but looked normal - try explaining that to a GP.

He is not overweight and hates having swollen ankles because in the winter all his sock tops stick in (even loose top socks) and in summer they look awful when he wears sandals and shorts.

Go to your GP who will prescribe the appropriate medication.

Just been taken off lercandipine as my ankles were swelling, I felt like my body was getting full of water. Doctor has now changed it and I feel so much better. Swollen ankles and not peeing enough is a common side effect with this drug, why do they give it to us!!!!

Thanks, Undines - I'm all for Ayurvedic medicine.

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?.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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 .