Q: I am 73, trim, a vegan and exercise. My blood pressure is extremely variable – in one day going from 190/92 to 167/83 to 135/65. I am taking 5 different pills that don’t seem to help. I have been told that since my BP does stay high I have nothing to worry about. However, I have just read 3 studies by doctors that say variability can be more dangerous for stroke or heart attack than a consistent high BP. They suggest a stabilizing drug. What is your opinion about variable BP?
A: Current medical thinking is that variable high blood pressure puts you at risk for a heart attack and stroke. You might want to discuss getting into better control with your doctor. To read an article from the National Institutes of Health about variable blood pressure, click here.
(10 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Maybe all those medications are causing your blood pressure to vary so much!
MY B.P. FLUCUATES GOES FROM 160 TO 190. IT SEEMS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH MY LEGS WHICH TROB AND GET NUMB AND PULSATES. I HAVE TROUBLE WALKING AND HAVE TO HANG ON TO MY HUSBAND. THE LOWER NUMBER RANGES FROM 50 TO 60S.
Is he/she taking blood pressure at the same time every day? It can vary significantly during the day, typically high the first thing in the morning and low late evening/night. Is he/she having a glass or two of wine with dinner and then later taking BP? The “calming effect” of wine can significantly reduce BP.
I agree that you unstable BP might be caused by the pills. I was almost killed too many times. No doctors really knew the medication and they kept prescribing and I kept rushing to ER in all the hospitals around me. Though you don’t feel good taking it, to take them off is even more difficult and dangerous. I am down to the smallest amount of one medication. I take half of Avapro 75mg in the morning and half in the evening.
The more you read and more confusing it becomes. The fact is that perhaps nobody has constant bp at all times. There is always variation, with or without drugs.
You might want to check your aldesterone and Renin levels, and their ratio (A/R). It should be < 140. You can get an understanding of all aspects of these hormones by using Google.
At 73, I have had the occasion to have my BP taken at the doctors office (once or twice a year if I have to go) and it never fails that the nurse will take your BP immediately after you sit down.
After a few times of this, your record shows that you either have high BP or borderline. They will not hesitate to tell you that you need to start on some medication.
Is this a fair evaluation? I hardly think so. I recently had a doctor tell me that he is concerned about my BP around 140 to 150/80 when walking in off the street. My home (resting) BP is generally 117 to 123/73.
Again, recently another doctor said that he believes that a home measurement means more to him. Make sure that you take your “home machine” to your doctor and have a comparison with there equipment so they will at least believe you the next time your there. Take a record with you and have them include this with your records.
Bp varies all the time, your bp standing, recumbent, sitting, at rest, in the morning, after excercise and so on is not always the same. Med’s need to be evaluated to see which one works best for you so keep bp under control.
One source to stabilizing your b.p. is taking NONI. It is a fruit that you can liquefy with water. You can peel it or not. The result is amazing. I have been monitoring my b.p. on myself and in other people and when we drink noni the b.p. lowers if it is to high and if not it stabilizes during all day. I recommend this. But there is one thing. Because the body is addicted to pills you have to see how to diminish them until you can set the minum dose. Most cardiologists ignore this fruit, but you have much to win than to lose.
Can you find this fruit in a regular grocery store? Health food store? Farmer’s market?
What is NONI fruit and whare do I get it? Seems it would help me with my BP.
Dear Guillermo,
Thank you very much. I have high blood pressure and am currently taking one medication called Atenolol which is a beta blocker. I was taking a triple action water pill that was really affecting my urethra and making me lose all of my water ( I was getting dehydrated. I feel deep breathing on a regular basis is necessary as well as aerobics (if possible). I also find that Kombucha tea is a natural diuretic as well as lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. I will try the Noni now. I am very into the natural ways.
When you say NONI can lower one’s blood pressure, can this be done with the fruit supplement? I have seen NONI in capsule form and concentrated juice form. I haven’t seen sold as a whole fruit.
I was taking multiple drugs for BP and my BP still went up. Finally I asked my doctor for a diuretic and my BP dropped to 118/72 to 125/80 in the morning. It may rise as high as 140 during the day. I gradually stopped taking all the other pills. I also hile 10-20 miles a week in the hills near home. If I skip hiking for a few days the BP starts trending up but a vigorous hike brings it down overnight.
Suggest to see another doctor with a ‘brown paper bag’; put ALL medications, prescribed and over the counter, including any herbal stuff, with you and ask for a review of your treatment. I agree with Chris, may be it is the combination of all the medications that makes your BP actually worse. And while at the doc get cholesterol and fasting blood sugar level checked. Some vegan food can be very fatty.
really? vegan food can be fatty?! i’m in process of trying to make diet change to vegan. my b/p is unstable also.
I take blood pressure medication. Could I take Red Yeast? I also take Provacal for cholestrol.