High Blood Pressure

[Anonymous]

Curious how many women here have high or borderline high blood pressure and whether you treat it with medication and how old you are.

[Anonymous]

I had a period of high blood pressure for a several months at the age of 30. I'm now 41 and my blood pressure has been fine ever since. I'm still don't know what caused it, but I came off the pill at that time, so perhaps it was that.

[Anonymous]

Hi. My BP became elevated last year during the 7th month of pregnancy and has stayed elevated. My OB sent me to a cardiologist (Dr. Oskoui) and now I take 5mg of Norvasc and it's all good. I'm 33.

[Anonymous]

My BP went up in pregnancy also and never went back to normal. I am also on medication.

[Anonymous]

This article will help reduce cholesterol AND blood pressure. I used it for my DH. Doc put him on meds at 38. He has now been medication free for almost two years and his cholesterol has improved significantly. He didn't go all out and stop eating all his comfort foods (he's simply not the type to do that), but he did make some changes just like the writer of the article. It can be done without meds.

http://www.menshealth.com/health/cholesterol-reduction-without-statins

[Anonymous]

When my BP regularly hit 120/80 I made changes--reduced sodium and caffeine intake and made sure to move my body daily, even if just for walking. It dropped to 100-110/75 regularly.

[Anonymous]

I've been on and off BP meds since I was about 34. I'm now 41. My(super-conservative) doctor is still trying to find the right medication for me. I think you need to look at genetics, mind-body health and overall well being. The DASH diet is great but hard to maintain long term. At least try to exercise, cut down on salt and caffine.

[Anonymous]

My husband has been overweight for a long time and mildly high on his BP. We've both been doing the Master Cleanse and within 2 weeks his bp was absolutely perfect....as well as losing 30 lbs in that short amount of time. The Master Cleanse has turned our lives around. Although my bp has never been high, I've lost about 20lbs so far and it's evened out my energy levels. I hope this helps in some way. No meds for us now...ever, hopefully.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this thread. I'm in my mid-30s, no children. I take a low dose of a beta blocker daily to keep my blood pressure just under 120/80. It reached as high as 160/90 before starting the medication. I feel noticeably better on the beta blocker.

I do 25-30 minutes cardio 5 times a week. I drink coffee every morning, take BCP, and have hypthroidism that is somewhat controlled with medication (I take the medication properly but it does not work as well for me as for others). I like wine and drink a few glasses a week. Wine is my only indulgence. Other than that, my diet is pretty good (mostly vegetarian). My weight is in the normal range for my height. My blood work is fine other than my thyroid levels being out of whack.

My doctor does not seem concerned about my blood pressure, but I am. I'd like to have a child, but I am concerned about doing so with my blood pressure and thyroid issues. Admittedly, I have not tried to do things like cut out caffeine and alcohol entirely to see if my BP would go down.

[Anonymous]

09.43--I was in a similar situation, though I don't have any problems with my thyroid. Giving up wine and coffee never helped, though I did cut out Diet Coke. Before I got pregnant, my PCP switched me to MethylDopa and my BP readings were so good i was taken off even that and my BP was never a cause for concern in either of my pregnancies. I had the occasional high reading, but nothing consistent, though at term, my numbers were inching up.