Blood pressure

Kiwiqueen123

Just after some advice please. I'm not on BP pills but do take Atorvastatin. When I was collecting my prescription last week the pharmacist asked if I wanted a BP check. Told her I usually do it at home and its fine but we went ahead and it was quite high. She said to ignore her reading but take readings at home in a week's time and see where we are. I have to admit I've become rather obsessed and the readings are quite high ie highest 136/71. I think she told me not to worry unless it was 140/90. She said take 3 readings.

Would you take a reading every day and submit to GP or just check once a week? I know it can vary depending on what you've been doing etc.

I would take 2 readings first thing in the morning including your pulse rate too. Then another two readings around 6.00 in the evening ( with pulse again) do this for 4 days then submit to your doctor to look at. This is what I did and I’m now on tablets

Some people have "white coat" syndrome and their BP readings are high when in the GP surgery. Your reading would not be considered high
I was asked to take my BP for a week. It is suggested that the equipment needs to be recalibrated every few years. So I borrowed a monitor from the library . The monitor was equal to that used at home and the readings were the same. My BP readings at home were fine and about the same as yours. NO requirement for any medication

136/71 is in the Normal range. Nothing to worry about. To ease your concern you could either:

1.Take BP every day for a week, morning and afternoon/ evening. Submit those results to your GP who should work out an average. The result will identif if there is an issue but I suspect there isnt
2. Go back to the pharmacy and ask for a print out of your result. They are supposed to give you one. On that report will be details of the NHS thresholds for Low Normal High BP...this should put your mind at rest. X

That blood pressure is ok, please don't stress and make it climb

That nlood

Trucula

Wow I would be thrilled to get that reading. I got a bit obsessive about taking my blood pressure a while ago and as soon as the cuff started to inflate I could feel my chest tightening and know it isn't worth bothering because it will be so high. In fact I couldn't even bring myself to do it for over a year and even paid to go to a hypnotherapist. I now find that the readings are okay first thing, but are high in the late afternoon, so I only take it in the morning now.

I am exactly the same! As soon as I think about taking my blood pressure, I get anxious and up it goes, so annoying! I am thinking of going to a hypnotherapist so it's encouraging that it seems to have helped you.

Your blood pressure is NOT high. In fact, your blood pressure isn't too far off from what you would expect to find in a twenty to thirty year old, ie.120/70

As keepingquiet says this is just a money making scheme by the chemist. They pester my DH every time he goes in. Stick to your GPs advice. I’m on bp meds and would be thrilled with that reading.

136/71 is really not high! Even 140 is not high!
If you get it too low with pills, and if you were then ill, a consultand told my brother, you have no reserves.
I believe many over 60s are over medicated.
Are you on the statin for good reasons - there are a few, or just because you are over 60? Perhaps read UK heart consultant Aseem Malhotre about statins!

metoo! high readings! thanks for these numbers, it has eased my worries!

Justwidowed

My surgery supplies the blood pressure form for either four or seven days.Once they're written down,the two columns have to be totalled and then divided by eight or sixteen. The forms won't be looked at if the numbers haven't been averaged.Seems a bit harsh but we accept it.

Just widowed Why does it have to be eight or sixteen?
I'm not sure but I thought if you took 12 then you divided bÿ 12(?) I am taking readings at the moment. TIA

My DH had BP problems for many years. The surgery and the consultant used to take the reading once , wait 10 mins and then take it again sometimes in the same arm and sometimes in the other arm. Always the same procedure.

After a recent traumatic trip and a visit to A&E mine was around 200. My blood pressure was taken while I was traumatised, several times while I was there and wouldn't move. As soon as I got home it went down to 160. I would like to know if there are any side effects with medication and what sort of medications there are. I have heard about statins but don't really want to go down that road.

Wow I would be thrilled to get that reading. I got a bit obsessive about taking my blood pressure a while ago and as soon as the cuff started to inflate I could feel my chest tightening and know it isn't worth bothering because it will be so high. In fact I couldn't even bring myself to do it for over a year and even paid to go to a hypnotherapist. I now find that the readings are okay first thing, but are high in the late afternoon, so I only take it in the morning now.

The pharmacy claim money from the NHS for these random BP checks. If you ar eunder a GP for treatment I suggest you decline the test next time.

I fell for this but now have my BP checked by the nurse...next time I will just politely decline...

I need to sit quietly with cuff in already on my arm, reading a quiet novel, no interruptions from anyone, for 10-15 minutes before my BP is down to below 140 over 100. I take max dose of Rimapril daily.

Thanks everyone. DH has his diabetic check at the surgery today so I'll ask for a form. Also I want to add him to my NHS App but have to get permission from DH/surgery first so will do that too. There is always a problem with one of his blood tests at his check but that's for another day/thread!

I would be very happy with that reading.

Anything under 140 is fine.

The sheet the doctor gave me was 3 times a day for a week and taking it twice each time with a rest of several minutes between each reading. Also sit down quietly for several minutes before taking the first reading.

If most of the readings are below 140, then at the end of the week tear the sheet up and forget about checking you blood pressure for the next six months and then repeat.

Your blood pressure is going up and down all day. If you had walked briskly to the pharmacy and were worrying about something that will send your blood pressure right up.

What matters is your blood pressure taken when you are in a state of tranquillity.

My surgery supplies the blood pressure form for either four or seven days.Once they're written down,the two columns have to be totalled and then divided by eight or sixteen. The forms won't be looked at if the numbers haven't been averaged.Seems a bit harsh but we accept it.

I'm on Ramipril, was 5mg daily. My average reading from a week of readings was 145/79 so the GP has incteased the Ramipril to 7.5mg. The doctors at our surgery reckon everyone should have 120/80, which is unrealistic, surely? A person of 85 cannot expect to have the BP of a 20 year old.

I had my BP Monitor measured against the Surgery’s to make sure they were the same. Then as MD quite rightly says, twice daily for seven days and submit the readings to the Surgery.

BP can vary widely, anxiety and stress over the readings won’t help and 136/71 isn’t ’quite high’ really.

Me too ! I take Amlodipine 5mg daily. I am not obsessive about checking my BP….maybe once a month or when I remember

I have had exceptionally high BP for years., if I had a reading of 136/71, I would be pleased!

Me too!!

Thet reminded me to take my BP tablets. Thank you.

Primrose, that is great news that your husband is coming home. It has been a dreadful time for you all. 💐

I am another, whose BP hovers around the 190/10 mark. Heart medication and three different BP medications and it remains unstable.