At the first of this Spring, I had my annual checkup and the doctor noted my blood pressure was in the pre-hypertension range. When I had my blood work done a month ago, it was still in that range, so the doctor had me monitor, and record, my blood pressure every morning for two weeks.
The pressure varied from a high of 153/103 to a low of 119/80, with most in the 135/85 range. I know I'd lost 5 pounds of winter fat since the last visit, so I was concerned about my blood pressure being higher than it used to be.
When I gave my doctor the numbers, he said it was acceptable and I should continue with my lifestyle.
I quit monitoring my blood pressure, until yesterday morning. I had an urge and checked it; it was 112/62. Thinking it was a fluke, I checked it again; it was 117/77.
I checked it again this morning. The reading? 108/79. I checked it again: 103/71.
I thought about any difference and only found two. One was I'd returned to some light weight training and exercises. The other was losing another three pounds, which puts me within the weight I'm most comfortable. Still, for some reason, this bothers me. I've always had good blood pressure, wonder why it went up for the time period it did and try to find a cause.
The only thing different about the time it was high was it was the same time I was working where I was exposed to sulfur fumes, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Researching the effects of exposure hasn't led to any conclusion.
I'll keep an eye on it. Changes as such give me a little concern.
Glad you're not doctoring yourself. Careful observations of your blood pressure is a good thing (as long as it doesn't cause high blood pressure)... My mom swore she had something called "white smock syndrome" and pressure went up just going to see the doc. Don't know if that's a real thing.
ReplyDeleteThe nurse asked if I have "white coat syndrome". I had to look it up and realized having my blood pressure checked never bothered me in the past.
DeleteI keep having these thoughts something was blocking an artery, came loose and is wandering around; until it finds some brain cells to block.
I have lowgrade hypertension (well controlled on a lowsalt diet and with meds). I think anything that imposes physiological stress can raise one's blood pressure. I know mine is higher after an afternoon working outside in heat and humidity than it is if I spend the afternoon indoors.
ReplyDeleteI do have white coat syndrome. Even at its best controlled (based on at-home readings) it runs somewhere around 160/90 in the doc's office. My only explanation is that when I was younger, I had some very bad doctor experiences of various types, and the antiseptic smell of doctor's offices triggers bad memories. I try to work on that but I'm still not over it.
I've never had hypertension, so when it was in the borderline range, I was concerned.
DeleteMy blood pressure wanders madly, up down up down spiral sidestep, now tap, dammit, TAP!
ReplyDeleteSorry. Obviously watching too many musicals really does affect it. Hmm.
In other news, I've actually had borderline hypertension for years and I'm still around, so I'm guessing that's a postive semi-researchy result.
I wonder who sets borderlines. Doctors? Pharmaceutical companies? Attorneys? Politicians? I'm betting some are arbitrary numbers, but some aren't. That's the ones that make your head explode.
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