Blood pressure & Nhs health check

From experience and looking back over my life at 81 years old I don’t think anything changes health wise what ever you do. During my working life after work each day 5 days a week I went to the gym for years. I was a windsurfer for years and learned to sail at retirement. I had to stop gym work which I was doing at that stage and classes at 74 years old because I injured my neck damaging the nerves through weight work. I have never been over weight eat a good diet am still active, gardening at least twice a week, go to a fitness class once a week (recovering from cancer).when the weather improves I will be joining my walking group .
The point I am making is I have a long list of medical conditions taking 7 medication a day and I have been active all my life. I even have Osteoporosis which I was shocked about when I found out especially after all the weight training I had done.
It seems to me what ever you do there is no guarantee your health will be good.

I think we all panic about blood pressure when there are some really good medications that work these days alongside lifestyle changes, if you can make them. So much can be done for the heart too.

I wish medical professionals would speak to people more logically about these tests, instead I often think they frighten you.

Over 20 years ago I attended a pre-op assessment at hospital where I worked - I was in my early - mid 60's and I thought pretty healthy. Nurse sent me to lie down in darkened room for 20 minutes and then re-too BP. Alarmingly high. She would not let me out until she had heard me make a phone call to see my GP later that day (this was over 20 yrs ago!!). Gp put me on a 'piril' bp tablets. I developed the most horrendous cough, and got sent to respiatory department of hospital. Loads of tests and it came down to that bp meds.

Professor there insisted to my GP to stop these and give something else, it took a good three months for the effects to pass through my system. But got started on different med.

Thought all was okay until some years later attendance for cataract op. saw bp very high. Okay, I was stressed, but even so. It took some years and several different types of meds to sought out two that work together to keep my BP within reason. No side effects from them at all.

High Blood pressure is called 'The Hidden Killer', as most people with it seem to have no knowledge of it until it hits. Do follow GP advice and take your tablets. It is good to check your own BP in your own home regularly. Do so at least a couple of hours after eating/drinking. Be relaxed - use an upper arm monitor and take three readings a few minutes apart. Keep a chart of these.

Please do NOT rely on some over-the-counter type thing. You are playing with your health and your life.

Look into a quality Aged Garlic - non smelling. It has a reputation for lowering BP without prescribed meds , many of which can have unpleasant side effects. Of course your GP will favour his prescribed meds, as he gets paid for every one. Weight loss is key also.

Just take prescribed meds for high blood pressure. They work.

I'm now on my third BP medication, Candesarten, hoping not to get any unpleasant side effects. I was on amlodipine for 8 years and always suffered from swollen ankles and legs. My doctor just kept telling me to wear compression socks and put my feet up but after I had cellulitis, a new doctor told me it was my meds causing it. Unfortunately I was then given Ramipril which gave me a terrible cough, causing me to retch and sometimes vomit. Another visit to the Gp resulted in a chest xray and a change to my present meds-so far so good-just have to have regular blood tests as it can apparently cause kidney problems-great!

I had an NHS check after shopping, and they told me it was high, and a trip to the surgery showed it not quite as bad, but using DHs home one after a rest and it was low, as it was in the hospital for a pre-procedure check today.

Food, exercise, anxiety all raise it temporarily. Although losing a few lbs does help.

Pippa22

My blood pressure is around 140 over 70 which my doctor thinks is too high and would like it under 130 but I’m not overweight, eat sensibly and exercise quite a lot each day. I try to walk 5 miles and do exercises at home with weights.
My Cholesterol is under 2 which GP is happy with !

Apparently the threshold by which high BP is medicalised has dropped some years ago so more and more people are being “sold” it by pharmaceutical companies. GPs get paid accordingly. My DH’s cholesterol is 4.5 but he’s always being persuaded to take statins by our surgery.

There does seem to be a genetic disposition to high BP. I understand that some people's veins and arteries become less elastic as they age, and this has an effect on the blood flow.
No diet or exercise can affect this.

I am on two blood pressure medications and have been for years. I am also on statins. I eat healthily and am vegetarian and have been more or less since childhood. I am not overweight. I stopped being vegetarian for a while as a young adult as people thought it odd. My blood pressure has been high since my first pregnancy aged 29. My mother had high blood pressure and was a terrible worrier as am I. I think - in fact I know - that that is why my blood pressure is high.

My blood pressure is around 140 over 70 which my doctor thinks is too high and would like it under 130 but I’m not overweight, eat sensibly and exercise quite a lot each day. I try to walk 5 miles and do exercises at home with weights.
My Cholesterol is under 2 which GP is happy with !

I was found to have high BP in 2022 and my pulse was often in excess of 100 bpm. BP had always been normal. I’ve taken 5g of Amlodopine daily since which has largely controlled my BP but it could still be high at times as could my pulse.

2 years ago I started taking magnesium daily. Now I find both my BP and pulse have fallen considerably. I can’t say for sure it’s as a result I suppose.

Apparently I have inherited high BP. I used to take three tablets a day but am down to one tablet a day and monitoring me to stop medication. Been on tablets for twenty five years or so. Hardly think about it. Especially having a Fitbit for checking pulse rate and ECG, not fanatically. I doubt you will keel over. I hope you can be reassured soon.

My father didn't take his blood pressure pills regularly but would double up the dose on the day of any check at the GP. That is why he left my Mum a young widow. Take the medication, lose the weight and then reduce the medication if your GP advises it.

MayBee70

I have a friend who had a b/p check at a chemist and before she knew it was in hospital being sorted out. Last time I heard from her she’d lost loads of weight and was no longer on all the medication. My advice would be to take whatever medication your doctor advises but have a good look at your diet and make a few adjustments. I’m saying this as someone that is currently refusing statins but if it was my b/p I’d have a different mindset. Good luck.

Go on British Supplements and look at the reviews for Plant Sterols.

If you're put on meds be aware of sideffects. Amlodipine made my ankles swell so was put on Ramipril, 4 months with a terrible dry cough, asking for ENT referral because I thought I have throat cancer I discover the cough is a known sideffect of Ramipril, although the THREE doctors I consulted didn't seem to know...

I'm stuffed! I have raised blood pressure (controlled with medication). I also have a stoma. I looked at the DASH diet. I have to have raised salt intake, shouldn't eat nuts nor too many beans or pulses, advised to go easy on certain fruits and vegetables, too. Oh well, if one thing doesn't get me something else will 😂

LOUISA1523

Silvershadow

I’m 70 and, currently, not taking any medication at all apart from inhalers. So, I suppose I’ve had a good run. I’ll take whatever I’m prescribed. Thanks for the responses it’s been helpful. I’ll let you know what happens.

If you are going abroad make you you declare it on your travel insurance

Right now, SS hasn't any bp medication/treatment to declare to her insurers, because she hasn't been prescribed any.

MayBee70

I have a friend who had a b/p check at a chemist and before she knew it was in hospital being sorted out. Last time I heard from her she’d lost loads of weight and was no longer on all the medication. My advice would be to take whatever medication your doctor advises but have a good look at your diet and make a few adjustments. I’m saying this as someone that is currently refusing statins but if it was my b/p I’d have a different mindset. Good luck.

Good advice

Ask if you can take your bp at home as sometimes it is high at the surgery or hospital due to whitecoat hypertension

Thanks for your help. I shall be doing just that.

Lose some weight and you’ll be surprised how much that top one will come down.

Good luck!

I’ve had my results today. Average is 155/81 over a full day. So it’s the higher one I need to get lowered. I shall be working on that. The lower one seems to be good.

I was diagnosed with high blood pressure twelve months ago. Some of the medication I had didn't suit me and I have changed it a couple of times.

I have been turned away from having a colonoscopy twice now because my bp was too high. My bottom number had to be below 90. It was 112. I get terrible white coat syndrome. My bp is always higher at the doctors or in any medical setting.

The last colonoscopy appointment was a month ago and my bp was too high. My medication was increased. I had been doing home readings (morning and evenings) and they were really good.

I had a 24 hour monitor last week and my reading were very high. I had had a very stressful week and a few things going on that day.

My medication has been increased again. I am really concerned that my home readings were fine but the 24 hour monitor was terrible. I have another colonoscopy in a couple of weeks and my bp needs to be good or they won't do it.

I appreciate that my home readings were taken in more or less perfect conditions - calm, feet on floor, arm at heart height etc.

I am in a cycle of stress now about my bp - which I am sure isn't helping. I get stressed even writing about it. I don't know how to resolve this.

I also had BP taken by the pharmacist when I called in to pick up a regular prescription. I felt fine but he said it was “a little high”. Over that weekend it spiked so badly that I ended up in A&E and was put on meds straight away - lowest dose. I take plenty of exercise, drink in moderation and don’t eat junk food. Bit of a shock really, but hey ho.