Raised Blood Pressure - Any experience?

TLDNMCL

Have been injured / sick for about ten months which has resulted in almost no riding; just as I am getting back to normal (and looking for a new bike to celebrate with), I went back to the Doc for a follow-up check up; BP is raised to 150/90

It appears to be unrelated to anything else that has been wrong with me, but it's the first time I have ever had an abnormal reading (49 yrs old). I have to go back for another check before they really go to town on me.

I was intending to start riding short and gentle routes again next week, now I'm not so sure if this is a good idea or not!

Any similar experiences please?

-spider-

Exercise is one of the best things you can doto combat HBP - but do check with your GP first.

spinndrift

I was diagnosed with high bp a few years ago and was put on medication which was fun as I couldn't stray far from a toilet.

A few weeks later I was diagnosed with stress.

Since then I've made a number of lifestyle changes and am now off everything and chilled out - cycling keeps me this way.

etapechamp

ex wife now said i want a divorce, i said great, lets do it , it,ll give me more time to ride my bike to keep my blood pressure down, as i won.t need to worry about you, she said you spend more time riding the bike than riding me, my reply of course was - i enjoy riding my bike , meanwhile have a look at these retro socks on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180608321877&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

tebbit

I had a pressure of 170/120 last year and am now down to 150/90 on the last test, cycling is good and so is exercise, however part of my problem is climate related in winter.

deptfordmarmoset

I've just checked what my BP is - 156/73. I have a kidney problem that means my systolic BP rate will go up well in excess of 250 without a cocktail of medication - calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and that's just the start of the list. The lower second figure, the diastolic, at 73 is much higher than it would have been if I'd been out on the bike today (fatigue...) and I would expect the systolic also to be slightly lower. Though you should get medical advice about this, exercise is one of the best ways of not only reducing BP but also reducing the need for the medication that a middle-aged person may end up having to take.

There can be a temptation to avoid heavy exercise when someone has high BP for fear of suddenly keeling over with a stroke. In fact, the reverse is true - regular exercise (i.e. not ''binge exercising'') will actually reduce the danger of that stroke/cardiac arrest happening.

The worst part of it for me is that exercising alone will never get my BP down so I have to rely on medication and that medication is debilitating, which in turn makes exercising harder to do - the drugs mean I'm permanently cycling in treacle. So I'd encourage you to avoid the medication wherever possible by getting out on the bike as regularly as you can.

Slapshot

Yeah, recently been diagnosed with very high blood pressure and being treated for it, combination of reasons, working too many hours, stress, lack of exercise, heavily overweight and genetics.....it would appear to be a family problem. Numbers were crazy 227/163 bt after three weeks on the meds I was back to 146/93 which the doc seemed very please about.

It's likely I'll be on Ramipril, an ACE inhibitor for the rest of my life, the dose will be dependant on how many of the rest of the problem factors I am able to sort out. Started cycling again and have started to change my dietary habits, hopefully I'll keep heading in the right direction.

daviesee

i went to a works fitnes test/gym promotion to show off how fit I was due to cycling, even if a touch heavy.
It did not go to plan. Even though I have no stress or worries my BP was 196/148.

A doctors appointment was recommended and I am now on Ramipril and the BP is 146/96. Still high but not a worry.

The only real downside is cutting down on salt intake (I like crisps) and travel insurance is a pain, not to mention expensive. If you can avoid procedures or prescriptions so much the better.

The upside is that the wife can't complain about me going out on the bike as I NEED the excercise.

beverick

-spider- wrote:

Exercise is one of the best things you can doto combat HBP - but do check with your GP first.

....and diet.

Low fat, low salt diet, 5 a day and a reasonable exercise regime.

Bob

carrock

firstly- if you are overweight- try to reduce weight

secondly- get a prescription for doxasozin- which widens your arteries and will reduce your BP

It also has the happy side effect, like Viagra, of increasing blood flow to your unmentionable areas.

Some would say it's worth taking for that effect alone....

deptfordmarmoset

carrock wrote:

firstly- if you are overweight- try to reduce weight

secondly- get a prescription for doxasozin- which widens your arteries and will reduce your BP

It also has the happy side effect, like Viagra, of increasing blood flow to your unmentionable areas.

Some would say it's worth taking for that effect alone....

I don't know doxasozin but I think it's one of the calcium channel antagonists. I was advised by a doctor friend that I should get off the beta blockers and onto them, and had to ask my own GP/nephrologist to consider the change. It works for me - like yer average bloke on a BSO riding in the gutter, I've never looked back.

Sadly, I haven't noticed the happy side effects.

TLDNMCL

Thanks to all;

Went back today (no medication so far) and things have settled down to a much better 140 / 80; still a little way to go, but the medics were much happier that the trend is now heading in the direction of "normal."

As alluded to in another thread, I've been given the nod to get back to riding, so a mild adjustment to diet and lifestyle coupled with a return to the saddle will hopefully go a long way to putting this blip to bed.

As ever, good advice and encouragement to be found on here

deptfordmarmoset

Glad you're back out on the road. 140/80 is nothing at all to worry about - I'll topline over 250 without medication - and I'm very often over that even with medication. It doesn't stop me cycling.

tebbit

Apparently the blood pressure readings can vary quite wildly, especially when they put the cuff around your arm, this is known to increase blood pressure due to stress, which is why they usually take a second reading.

Glad to hear its back to normal.

nevman

beverick wrote:

-spider- wrote:

Exercise is one of the best things you can doto combat HBP - but do check with your GP first.

....and diet.

Low fat, low salt diet, 5 a day and a reasonable exercise regime.

Bob

+10,000 for binning salt from the diet-worked for me when I was slightly high at the medical for last years Etape-within 3 months it was normal and never looked back;dont forget to leave it out when cooking especially.