How's Your Blood Pressure?

I was 28 years old, nearing already over 200 lbs, and in denial that I had a weight problem.  Just 3 years earlier I was in the 140′s, and all of my doctor’s visits were normal. (Now, don’t let that fool you, folks.  I was NOT living healthily.  I was skinny fat, really.)   One day, it had been a while since my last routine check-up, and I decided to try a new doctor.  I knew that I had gained a “few pounds”, but I didn’t expect what happened at that visit.

The nurse took my blood pressure and it was 172/121.   I can’t even tell you how much the scales said I weighed at that point because I was in such shock that my blood pressure was so high.  I do have white-coat syndrome but there is no way that my blood pressure should have been that high.  Of course my doctor wouldn’t let me leave until I was not threatening to stroke out, but still, the lowest I managed to get it was 149/95.  (By the way, once you’re upset that your blood pressure is so high, it’s VERY hard to get it back down.)

I left the doctor’s office that day with a Rx for blood pressure medicine.  At 28 years old.   I thought things like:  This can’t be possible.  Yes, high blood pressure “runs in the family”, but come ON, I’m young!  I shouldn’t be on these types of medicines yet.

It wasn’t long after that visit that I got my wake up call (as if my high blood pressure shouldn’t have been wake up call enough) and decided to change my lifestyle.  I do credit that visit with getting the ball rolling because every day after that I have thought about my blood pressure.  For a long time, I checked it every day.  Now, I check it every other week or so.

The “healthy range” for blood pressure is 120/80.  The “healthy range” can vary depending on age.  There is an excellent chart here if you’re curious about what your “healthy range” may be.  Things such as smoking, being overweight, lack of exercise, diets high in fat, and excess amounts of sodium, alcohol, and caffeine can all negatively affect your blood pressure.

Of course, if you have high blood pressure or you suspect you may, the first thing you need to do is to consult with your doctor.  Also, checking it regularly is pretty important.  Usually there are no symptoms when you have high blood pressure, so checking it regularly is the only way to know if the things you’re trying to do to lower it are working.

For me, losing weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise was enough to lower my blood pressure back to a healthy range, and I’m happy to report that it runs around 117/72 now, and I’m not on medicine.  It still gets a bit high when I go to the doctor because of my white coat syndrome, but it is no where near the 172/121 it was that day I had my first visit with my doctor, and she says she’s just fine with it since she knows that I keep track of it myself.

So, now it’s your turn.  How is YOUR blood pressure?  Do you check it regularly?  You should you know.  Just saying.

Sources: highbloodpressureinfo.org

FamilyDoctor.org

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Tags: April, blood pressure, check your blood pressure regularly, doctors make me nervous, healthy range, living healthily, normal blood pressure, routine check ups, things that affect blood pressure

Category: MIND IT