Q: Before I had my stroke my blood pressure was around 110/76. It is now around 138/76. Why did it change? Is there anything I can do to get it down?
A: Your stroke caused damage to your body. Your higher pressure is likely due to this damage. Your blood pressure is still less than 140/90. This is the recommended goal in people without diabetes. There is not yet a clinical guideline that gives a different treatment goal to prevent a recurrent stroke. It is not unusual for people with borderline high blood pressure to suffer from a stroke. Clearly more research needs to be done.
Is there anything I can do to get it down?
Yes. The change sounds likely to be driven by stress. The Resperate can help as can learnig and practicing Tai Chi. Your blood pressure is NOT that high, so a cut back on worry about it might help!
Look up and follow the DASH II diet with some extra vegatables and extra virgin olive oil and less or no refined grains. Eat no foods with high fructose corn syrup or hydogenated oils in them. And drink no soft drinks.
Get at least 5 to 15 minutes of exercise 5 to 7 days a week. Take it easy at first and increase slowly!
Try the supplement ubiquinol at about 100 mg a day. It does lower blood pressure and has other health benefits.
Include blueberries and beans and apples or no sugar apple sauce and possibly some oatmeal in your DASH diet. That will lower your LDL cholesterol and help protect you from another stroke. So will taking 300 mg to 600 mg a day of niacin and a sterol supplement. Natrol’s Cholesterol Balance sterol supplement. That dropped my LDL 30 points.
What does “damage to your body” mean? Where is the damage? What kind of damage can lead to a sudden change in resting blood pressure?
Comment by Admin: “It is not unusual for people with borderline high blood pressure to suffer from a stroke. Clearly more research needs to be done.”
The patient’s blood pressure prior to the stroke was 110/76. This is ‘normal’ blood pressure, not border line, isn’t it? How old is the patient?
Agree that the DASH diet and exercise will lower your BP. Your current BP is fine and in the safe zone. It’s not until it gets to 195 Systolic and/or 100 Diastolic that it gets to those critical levels according to my doctor. Up to about 160/90 is still ok. 160/90 to 195/100+ requires treatment. Everyone’s BP changes constantly. This is normal within the parameters above.
Only a very few strokes are due to hypertension. These are either hemorrhagic or from a genetic aneurysm. The vast majority are ischemic and due to high cholesterol. They have the same origin as heart attacks. Aim for a total cholesterol less than 150 and LDL under 80. A plant based diet will help significantly with lowering BP and cholesterol. Also watch oils, any oils including olive oil. They still have saturated fat. I had some success with RESPERATE but am yet to be convinced it it has any long terms benefits on blood pressure reduction.
Wayne, Where did you get the scale that days 160/90 is still OK.? O have been suspicious for a while that drugstore companies are forcing the charts to show lower numbers to sell drugs. (Remember that alká-Seltzer sold twice as many by getting people to take two with plop plop fizz fizz?) BP drugs Make you very tired, dizzy, weak, etc. I want to avoid them if possible. So where did your info come from? I will feel better if I know it is supported by a good source.
Stupid spell check.. Should be says not days and I not O.