High blood pressure (in athletes)

[Susan]

I wish you the best, OakLeaf.

DH started monitoring his BP at home and has significantly lower readings in this relaxed environment. He also limited his coffee intake. His readings are now normal most of the time and the doc didn't prescribe any medication so far.

[OakLeaf]

Thanks for your good wishes Susan.

I learned something else just now: arm position ENORMOUSLY influences BP readings.

http://www.nature.com/jhh/journal/v1...f/1001563a.pdf

My doctor's nurse has measured my BP in a supported horizontal position. I know I'm very white-coatish, always have been. But at stores, etc., and more recently at home, I've been measuring it in more of a dependent position. So did my acupuncture doctor who apparently should have known better. In all of those places I'd been getting readings that were still high enough that I made the appointment. Yesterday and this morning I took it in both positions and both times the diastolic was 20-25 mm lower.

Too late to cancel my appointment tomorrow, but I'll bring her a copy of this article, and it'll be a good opportunity to bring her my revised and much tightened Living Will.

[Crankin]

OK, maybe I am really dumb, but what exactly is the "dependent" position? Like when your arm is hanging down, not resting on anything?

Just asking.

[OakLeaf]

"Dependent" is hanging down below heart level, "unsupported" means it's not resting on something.

So with your arm on the armrest of a chair (e.g.) it could be supported but still dependent.

In one of those drugstore machines, for someone like me with short humeri, it's both dependent and unsupported (or I guess partially supported, since my forearm is on the rest but my elbow isn't).

[Deborajen]

Well, I just got added to the high BP group. I turned 50 just over a week ago and "celebrated" by being put on Lisinopril. I'm not quite as active as I was a year and a half ago - I used to run 8-10 miles per week, worked out (rowing machine or recumbent bike) once or twice a week and rode my bike a couple times a week. Now I walk or run my dog EVERY day (30-45 min. per day walking or 20-30 min. running; we only run once a week or twice a week max and it's run/walk for 2 miles), play golf once a week (walking the course with a push cart), work out occasionally - so I'm not quite as active, but I'm not sedentary. My mom and my brother have both had BP issues but have managed them with diet/exercise and just some short-term meds, so there really isn't a strong family history.

I'm surprised by this - it's frustrating! I've been trying to pick up running again but yesterday's dose, which was my first, made me dizzy and my BP was 114/64 after a round of golf. It had been in the 140's - 150's systolic with the diastolic number consistently in the 80's for the last three weeks. My doctor requested I take my BP at least three times per week, different times per day, for three weeks and give him the readings. I bought a cuff to measure at home to make this easier. I want to keep this under control, though, and I don't think taking a reading three times per week is enough information since I'm not sedentary. It seems like I should check after vigorous exercise, after work (which has been VERY stressful), first thing in the morning, etc. Does this sound sensible, or is it too much information?

[Pip]

I'm 39 and have had borderline high blood pressure for years. The irony is that I have an autoimmune disorder which in theory leads to low pressure. My endo theorised that one my meds might be bumping the blood pressure up a little too high, but I need it at this dose to ensure my renin levels are good, so what can you do? On the other hand, high blood pressure also seems to be genetic on my mother's side of the family. I'm lucky that my GP understands my levels of physical activity, and that she and her practice nurse monitor my health regularly. I also see my endocrinologist once or twice a year. With any luck I'll be able to stay off the blood pressure meds for a few more years yet!