Q: I suspect you’re not going to answer this, but I’ll try once again.
It’s such a simple question and I’ve never seen it properly addressed: How DOES a hypertensive patient determine their B/P status? Assuming a good monitor and multiple readings throughout the day, the range of readings may well vary from the 120/80 region or below to 128/85 or above, depending on time of day and medication period. So what would a reasonable target range be? Yes, I know the answer has to be “it depends on the patient” but are there at least guidelines? As I say, I’ve asked this of you many times so I don’t really expect an answer. But here’s an easy question for you: “Why not?”
A: Blood pressure varies throughout the day. It is not constant. However your blood pressure should stay within the normal range. Your blood pressure should be below 140/90 whenever you take a measurement. If you are getting a blood pressure reading consistently above 139/89, you need to talk to your doctor about changing your treatment. The change could be as simple as changing when you take your medication.
(20 votes, average: 4.05 out of 5)
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Thank you Doc! And due apologies for my slightly snarky tone — I do appreciate your answer. Can I now impose further and expand the question? If we assume that B/P is measured at the same (times) daily for comparision, and that none of these readings exceeds 140/90, would there be any cause for concern if the fluctuations went between (say) a daily low readings of 110/67 and daily highs of 130/85? In other words, given the fact that BP will be variable throughout the day, is the best target normal readings that stay within a fairly narrow range (say 10%) or would a 20% variability cause concern if the high figures remain south of 140/90?
I guess what I’m really asking is for your thoughts on reasonable daily targets for hypertensives under Resperate and/or meds.
Many thanks!
I’m not a doctor, but I take my blood pressure first thing when arise and just before bed. Usually pressing around 130-35/70-80 in morning to low of 110/50-60 in PM. Sometimes take in between after treadmill and swim in morning. Usually right around 125-30/50-60. The variances never bother me unless see it getting to high or to low.
Hi David! Most people with hypertension should be so lucky.
All the best!!
Yes, David you are lucky. I can take 3 reading 5 minutes apart and get readings from 161/105 all the way down to 134/87.
Thank you for this message,my question also finally got an answer. If below 140/90 is okey, why is my doctor insist that i should continue taking my metoprolol when my Blood Pressure ranges higest120/85 lowest 100/69 for five months now without taking metropolol. Is it right that i am not taking medicines considering that range of my BP now?
Here we have perfect examples of what I call “blood pressure hypochondriacs”:the more you worry about your blood pressure the more it will go up…and vice-verse. One of the best treatments for HBP (if it is indeed true HBP, which is fortunately not that common)is…not to worry about it!!. The only reason they say 73 million Americans suffer from this condition is because that figure represents a big, very big business for the pharmaceuticals who manufacture the whole spectrum of anti-hypertensive drugs, and the abiding doctors who faithfully prescribe them at the slightest deviation of the magic, quasi-dogmatic numbers 120/80.Ain’t that wonderful?. If the present trend continues, they will soon establish the new “healthy upper limit” at 110/70, frightening close to the blood pressure exhibited by a corpse!!.My grandmother lived to 102 and she never ever took any blood pressure pill (or any other, for the case) that I can remember.
I forgot to mention that I also had a close relative who on the contrary, was on high blood pressure prescriptions (and pills for the anxiety) since she was 32, and regretfully (and curiously) she suffered a massive heart attack at 60 and lived the last 10 years of her life with all kinds of limitations due to her damaged heart. What happened with those blood pressure pills?, didn’t they work at all?, or, did they contribute, instead, to what happened to her?. I believe so, and one explanation is that people who rely exclusively on these drugs, sometimes tend to incur in risky behavior, like eating too much, doing no exercise at all (hbp drugs tend to cause mood depression) and even drinking alcohol, all of which really causes damage to the circulatory system.
Other thing that happens with beta blockers, for example, is that they tend to weaken the heart muscle in time, and once you start taking them you won’t be able to withdraw unless you do it under close medical supervision. The reason for this is that they work by blocking some receptors(beta adrenergic receptors)at the myocites (heart muscle cells)that are normally activated by stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, making the heart less responsive to those hormones, reducing heart beat frequency, cardiac output, and cardiac demand for oxygen (which is good for angina pectoris sufferers). All of this, in turn lowers the blood pressure….but at a cost. Some distinguished medical authors affirm that the present epidemic of heart failure cases is due to the excessive use of beta blockers. One thing is almost certain: if you are on beta blockers, forget about strenuous physical exercise and all of its benefits, your heart muscle will simply be unresponsive to the demands posed by it.
Life by the ##’s!!
You are staying under 140/90 so I wouldn’t about the percent of variation. As a previous post noted, many hypertensives should be as lucky.
There is a history of HBP in my family.
Is a general rise in the first number (systolic) more significant than the second (diastolic) number.
The diastolic number remains at 67 to 70 and my pulse is around 50 but the systolic is now more often above 140 than below. It had always been below 128 until the past couple of years.
The difference between systolic pressure and diastolic pressure is known as “pulse pressure”, and it should normally be around 40 to 50 (ex: in the case of 120/80 it would be 40). Higher values could commonly be an indication of stiffening arteries which makes the heart to beat more forcefully to overcome the added resistance. The systolic reading goes up, but the diastolic remains normal or even lower. Provided that there is no other underlying problem (like kidney failure, obesity, complicated diabetes, etc), this is a quite normal occurrence as we age, so I wouldn’t worry that much for this fact. For me the best approach is still the old one: keep weight on check, do regular exercise (like walking 30 minutes 4 days a week) if there is no heart conditions (an even if there is, with the appropriate precautions), follow a healthy diet (eat fish, like salmon frequently, limit red meats to a minimum, add lots of fruits and vegetables, and don’t forget nuts, like almonds, because of their high magnesium content, even add a small glass of red wine, not the whole bottle, for God’s sake!), love life and enjoy every precious moment you are granted, be grateful for that and forget everything else…. including your blood pressure!.
Hello Doc,
I am a 42 yea old African male. I was diagonised with HBP 3 year ago and since then I have been taking medication. First I started with antenerol then Losartan Potassium & Hydrochloride tablets. Looking at the dangers associated with Beta Blockers I want to gradually withdraw or use other medicines. Kindly advise how I can go about this process. I recently ordered a Resparate machine which I am sure will arrive soon.
Regards,
Derby
I just wanted to add a thought to what nilremo has to say about the evil, knee-jerk drug of choice by many cardiologists, the beta blocker. I hated being on that one most of all, and it is one of the worst for damaging your heart health. In Britain, beta blockers have now been removed from the first-tier hypertension medications for exactly the negative health reasons we have mentioned!
All the best!!
I forgot to add something extremely important:DON’T SMOKE!
I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and they put me on beta blockers, for me was the medicine from hell, I felt awful as soon as I started taking them, but I thought I will get used to the side effects, and I had them all. Well that didn’t work, now I am taking lozartan and is better, what I say is if you don’t feel better immediately is that that is not the right medicine for you, if it works should make you feel better not worst.