Gransnet forums

Health

Blood pressure fluctuations - advice please?

(52 Posts)
Desdemona Tue 06-Aug-24 18:06:34

I went to the doctor today as I have had a headcold/catarrh and a runny nose for over a month - they have given me a steroid spray.

She said as I was there it would be a good idea to get my blood pressure checked, which was 155...I have stupidly forgotten the lower figure. She wants me to go back and be rigged up to a unit that I wear for 24 hours to check how my blood pressure is in more detail.

Thing is, I borrowed my neighbours Omron RS1 wrist monitor a while back and my blood pressure was ok - did it again today when I got home and it was 127/76. Could blood pressure fluctuate that much in an hour or are the home monitors unreliable? Do any of you use a home monitor?

Thanks x

Mollygo Tue 06-Aug-24 18:17:54

Yes blood pressure can fluctuate even in a short time. Mine went from 200+ to 164 between work, the doctor’s and home.
Nowadays it’s usually 130/60, but if I’d taken it after a frustrating call from the pharmacy this morning, I bet it would be higher!
No harm in getting yours monitored if they’re offering.

Visgir1 Tue 06-Aug-24 18:54:18

Yes.. Also "White coat Syndrome" can put it up.

Always do x3 with a 5 min gap between them and mean then, that will be more true.

kittylester Tue 06-Aug-24 19:08:02

I do mine at home and send it in. I get dreadful white coat syndrome.

cornergran Tue 06-Aug-24 19:17:29

Same here. White coat syndrome is a real issue for many people. If the surgery staff express interest I send a list taken over a week. They work out an average. So far so good.

GrannyIvy Tue 06-Aug-24 19:18:29

Mine is always high in the GP surgery. Buy yourself a home blood pressure monitor and do a week of taking your BP same time morning and evening for a week and you will get a true representation.

Marg75 Tue 06-Aug-24 19:19:53

We both take our blood pressure at home. My husband gets quite agitated when having to go to the surgery. His goes up considerably when taken by the time he gets there. I would say that the home readings are quite accurate.

Marg75 Tue 06-Aug-24 19:21:19

Not quite accurate but accurate!

BigBertha1 Tue 06-Aug-24 19:51:05

DH has White Coat syndrome-- years of living with a nurse has never reduced his anxiety. Closet hypochondriac really I have to talk him down of the ceiling before tests. Now he has something real to worry about i.e. hospital admission I expect we will have some problems before that.

Georgesgran Tue 06-Aug-24 20:18:31

White coat syndrome here too, even though I feel quite relaxed in the Surgery.
I took my home blood pressure monitor into the Surgery and the readings were spot on with theirs.
I’ve had the 24 hour one, which was a disaster - had to be repeated several times, then given up as a bad job.

I think it’s important to get somewhere comfortable at home and ensure the correct position for the arm. I was to take 3 readings 3 times a day for 7 days and enter the figures on the sheet supplied by the Nurse.

fancythat Tue 06-Aug-24 20:35:20

Could blood pressure fluctuate that much in an hour

My friend's BP went up when she stood up, and went back down when she sat down.

Far far less than the one hour time span!

Marydoll Tue 06-Aug-24 20:48:19

My BP goes up and down like a yoyo. It is never the same two days ina row.

When I was in Coronary Care last year, I had come back from having a chest x-ray in the middle of the night. I said I was feeling faint. When my BP was taken he top reading was 122, which is very low for me. Five minutes later it was back up to 195! That caused quite a stir.

Urmstongran Tue 06-Aug-24 20:54:47

Mine was high 3 weeks ago at 150/90. I’m on BP tablets. My lovely GP just said “it could be due to stress” (my cholesterol has shot up too to 7.8). I said “well sadly it’s not going to go down any time soon is it?”. She agreed and said “we will just repeat it in 6 months’ time”.

Marydoll Tue 06-Aug-24 20:58:12

If mine was 150/90, I would be delighted.

Despite, three lots of BP pills and four heart medications, it still remains high! I have given up worrying about it.

Urmstongran Tue 06-Aug-24 20:59:47

Probably for the best MD.
You’re still here to tell the tale. 😊

Cabbie21 Tue 06-Aug-24 21:00:11

My BP was too high at an annual health check, even when repeated a few minutes later. I duly took it at home twice a day for the next seven days and it was fine. So yes, it can vary.

Marydoll Tue 06-Aug-24 21:31:05

Urmstongran

Probably for the best MD.
You’re still here to tell the tale. 😊

Only the good die young!

Strangely, I have clear arteries, no leaky valves and low cholesterol.
The micro vessels in my heart are damaged, that is the cause.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 06-Aug-24 22:09:08

A couple of years back my DH had to wear the monitor for 5 days and I had to record the readings on a website. The readings varied feom very high to very low. And then they were averaged out. So his average score seemed normal. But it was not normal. Sometimes very high and sometimes very
low. It didn't raise a red flag...what on earth was the point of that exercise!!

Primrose53 Wed 07-Aug-24 09:31:49

Marydoll

If mine was 150/90, I would be delighted.

Despite, three lots of BP pills and four heart medications, it still remains high! I have given up worrying about it.

So would my husband. He is now on 8 different medications
For high blood pressure. He has asked to come off some but they say no.

Esmay Wed 07-Aug-24 11:43:37

I recommend yoga and meditating for a high BP .
It helps a lot .

Marydoll Wed 07-Aug-24 11:48:20

Primrose53

Marydoll

If mine was 150/90, I would be delighted.

Despite, three lots of BP pills and four heart medications, it still remains high! I have given up worrying about it.

So would my husband. He is now on 8 different medications
For high blood pressure. He has asked to come off some but they say no.

It is a pain, but counter productive to stress about it
Even my clinicians have accepted they are flogging a dead horse! 😉

Marydoll Wed 07-Aug-24 11:54:20

Esmay

I recommend yoga and meditating for a high BP .
It helps a lot .

I am sure it does, along with a healthy diet and exercise, but my damaged micro vessels are the reason for my high BP, probably related to my R.A.

Short of a new heart, there is nothing to be done! 💔

Uschi Wed 07-Aug-24 12:49:15

Be glad that you have a GP who appears to be doing a good job. 24 hour monitoring is the best way of recording your BP and indicating any cause for concern. Wear the monitor and take advice from your doctor. I speak as someone who has been controlling my BP with medication for about 20 years.

PamQS Wed 07-Aug-24 12:59:42

Yes, BP can change that much. It’s well known that some people’s blood pressure goes up when a doctor takes it - it’s called ‘white coat syndrome’! My GP advised me to get a monitor and if it’s high at the surgery, they ask me to take it at home for a few days and give them the readings, to get round it.

I’ve been on meds to lower it for years now, it seems to be under control with these. Going for a calmer lifestyle can be a help, but a home monitor might be a good idea as well.

GrannyBa Wed 07-Aug-24 13:30:48

Any recommendations for reasonably priced at home monitors?