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Blood Pressure
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Well, according to my oh so lovely GP I have high blood pressure.
Interestingly, it is always higher the second time they measure it, and the stupidly high reading she got was when she was running nearly an hour late, the lowest reading they've taken was when I was running slightly late and walked (briskly) straight in and saw the nurse who measured it pretty much straight after I sat down.
Now, it's been suggested that I might not actually have high blood pressure and it could just be that my body is responding to my fear of doctors etc, especially as my 'resting' pulse rate on their premises is about 12 higher than my resting heart rate at home. I have a home monitor, and I'm wondering how often you should measure, the only thing the packet says is at the same time of day so the readings are comparable. I'd ask the GP, but she didn't seem to like the idea of me measuring it at home, or getting it measured anywhere else. Obviously next time I'm there I'll mention it but not expecting a useful response.
Last time it was measured by the doctor was 149/108, the readings I've just done now are more like 124/74.
Interestingly, it is always higher the second time they measure it, and the stupidly high reading she got was when she was running nearly an hour late, the lowest reading they've taken was when I was running slightly late and walked (briskly) straight in and saw the nurse who measured it pretty much straight after I sat down.
Now, it's been suggested that I might not actually have high blood pressure and it could just be that my body is responding to my fear of doctors etc, especially as my 'resting' pulse rate on their premises is about 12 higher than my resting heart rate at home. I have a home monitor, and I'm wondering how often you should measure, the only thing the packet says is at the same time of day so the readings are comparable. I'd ask the GP, but she didn't seem to like the idea of me measuring it at home, or getting it measured anywhere else. Obviously next time I'm there I'll mention it but not expecting a useful response.
Last time it was measured by the doctor was 149/108, the readings I've just done now are more like 124/74.
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Comments
I'm wondering whether each day, twice a day, once a week, what kind of monitoring and over what time period would give a reasonable impression?
After that maybe once a week.
I don't see the harm in measuring it once a day maybe for a week or two, then once every 2 days if they're consistent? Blood pressure monitors can be inaccurate, but given that it's the same machine/same time, at least you've got some consistency.
She also didn't seem willing to entertain the idea that the height maybe even slightly white coat linked. She'd decided it was high becuase I was overweight and did no exercise (when I do) and that was pretty much it. When she mentioned there was one reading that was much lower than the rest and I pointed out that it was the one they did pretty much as I walked thruogh the door she just said it was probably wrong.
You can kind of see why some home readings seemed like they might be a good idea to me.
If you want to keep an eye on your bp yourself then it's not going to hurt, just don't become obsessed with it and become fanatical about taking it!
Write down the results you get so you can show your Dr when you go back.
Thanks for the help all.
my pulse rate in hospitals is always above 90 resting, before i do ju jitsu its 72...
Have you considered changing GPs? I know they all have to tell you stuff you don't want to hear, but I think it's pretty important to find one you trust, maybe even like! Makes it all a lot easier.
You have my complete sympathy, my GP is exactly the same. I have high cholesterol and she won't believe that I'm vegetarian and eat a lot of soy, let alone that I exercise!
I've been dreading seeing her since the bulimic cycles started again, I'm worried it'll make things worse.
Saw one of the nurses this afternoon as the asthma nurse, who hardly recognised me from when she did my dressings when I was ill because I'd lost a lot of weight, so definitely heading the right direction and she was impressed. Blood pressure she did (because my notes apparently say to check it every time) was high end of normal. Woot.