Q: At what blood pressure level might doctors consider lowering dosages of medications? I’ve been responding well with medication, diet, and exercise. My last reading 2 days ago was 112/72.
A: Many factors need to be considered before changing a blood pressure treatment plan. Examples include how long your blood pressure has been in control, how hard it was to get your pressure in control, your family history of heart attacks and strokes, and other medical problems. Your blood pressure is in good control now. It is hard to argue with success.
Further Reading:
Choosing blood pressure medications – MayoClinic.com
(8 votes, average: 3.38 out of 5)
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That is my question as well. I have been getting readings like: 113/74 in the a.m. and the p.m. for a few weeks now. My problem is getting those same readings in the Dr.’s office! Wel shall see this Monday, the 15th – oh, that’s the Ides!
I am really anxious to stop taking any medication.
I love the RESPeRATE – it is great for slowing down and smelling the roses!
You may be experiencing “white coat syndrome” where people’s blood pressure is higher when measured in the surgery. I monitor my own B.P. and report the results to my doctor because of the above. Note though that it is hard to prove the existence of this syndrome.
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.READINGS OF 125/75 AT HOME AND 200/100 AT THE DOCTORS OFFICE
I would suggest to you to ask for a 24-hour halter monitor. You still may get a bit stressed wearing cables and the unit on your belt, but a 24-hour recording is more representative than readings at home of at the clinic.
I had an Ultrasound of the heart done 10 years ago and it was perfect and I will ask for another one in November this year when exactly 10 years are up. I am very curious whether it has changed, but judging from my heart recovery rate after exercise (>24 bpm in the first minute) I don’t expect any nasty surprises.
I’ve heard that recovery in the first minute after exercise to 3/4 or full capacity may be the better indicator of heart health than BP measures.
Taking your blood pressure at home might not be a good Idea for some. It wasn’t for me . Your blood pressure goes up and down. If under a lot of stress it goes up. Have an argument or disagreement with somebody it could go up 30 points. So U check yr blood pressure and it is running high. U worry because it is high and this causes it to go higher.been there done that I reduced my medication to get rid of the side effects cause I would rather die than live with the side effects. Blood pressure was 134/76 with pause 60 last time at the doctors. When I got off the “worry about the numbers bandwagon”my blood pressure went down. Different strokes for different folks! no pun intended
I agree with Jerry Cooke’s comments about stress and worry pushing up BP.
Also, BP monitors may, or probably are not, be ‘accurate’, even if it is an ‘Omron’. Mine reads 14mm (systolic) higher than the spygmomanometer at the doctor’s. My chiropractor uses the same monitor and it was 24mm (systolic) higher than the spygmomanometer, which stressed me out even more. The diastolic reading on both home monitors were 5mm lower than the spygmomanometer.
If the difference is so large, i.e. like ‘ray’ above suggests, then there is something wrong somewhere. To ‘ray’ I would suggest to have BP measured at a few different surgeries and note ‘how’ it is measured.
My doctor, for instance, takes one reading only and it is not in a manner that is recommended by the British Hypertension society nor the Mayo Clinic. i.e. she takes the reading with me sitting bolt upright in a chair, arm straight down onto the desk, then she pumps very quickly and lets air our just as quickly. I don’t know how she can pick so quickly the sounds she hears and determine what the real BP is. Mine reading read high twice and she wants to put me on medication straight away. I will change doctors, just don’t know yet at this stage where I should go.
I have the same problem every time I go to the doctor’s office my BP is high. My last visit to my new doctor it was 147/94. She wanted me to double my BP med lisinopril from 20mg to 40mg. I started to monitor my BP at home and it’s a lot lower than when I go the doctor’s office. I didn’t double my dosage on BP medication. I exercise on a regular basis, 4 days a week 30 minutes to 1 hour. I watch my diet too! I too get on this bandwagon of worry that my BP is too high and I drive myself crazy worrying about it. When I stop worrying about it the BP goes down. 120/80 or lower. I am going to go back in to see doctor with my log of BP and show her what it is at home. I told her I have white coat syndrome but she would not listen. I am going to be shopping for another doctor
I am a pilot. I use Lisinopril/HCTZ in lower doses. The trick I use is to get to the doctors office early for my flight physical. I sit in my car and do a Resperate session. Most times the Doc tells me my BP is lower than his, which it probably is.