Eat more good fats. Olive oil, fishies, flax seed etc.

My mom, dad and brother all had high blood pressure throughout their lives. I was always borderline but kept it down by watching what I ate (salt is a trigger for me) and keeping the weight down. Unfortunately, my weight shot up and mine got to the point a few years ago where I had to start drugs. Thanks to the running and better eating, I've lost a lot of weight (45 lbs. since Jan. 2005) and most signs of my high blood pressure have disappeared.

You probably are just genetically predisposed to high blood pressure. The healthy eating and exercise will help keep it under control but keep up with the doctor in case it does not.

Potasium has a positive effect on blood pressure. Dark chocolate supposedly does too.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by donlibes:
Could be a lot of things: white-coat induced hypertension. . . <HR>

I normally have low blood pressure (100-110/50-60), but mine has shot up to 140/70 when dealing with a new doctor or being uncomfortable with the doctor. You might ask the nurse to check your blood pressure at the END of your next exam instead of the beginning to a) make sure you've been sitting for a while which is necessary to get an accurate reading and b) to let you calm down from the initial stress of going to the doctor.

I'm not an expert on this, but your numbers don't seem alarmingly high - just about like mine were when I started checking my BP. Still you probably don't want to have those same numbers when you get into your 50s and 60s.

I think a good diet can help some - but I think it's mainly about finding a good doctor and following his/her advice. I've been on a light dose of blood pressure medication (5 mg daily) for more than 20 years now - it brought my BP down (to around 120 / 75) with no adverse effects.

I wouldn't let one reading bother you, our pressures are affected by nervousness, caffeine, and other factors. If you just ate a meal digestion can raise it some. If you start getting regular readings that are creeping up then yea maybe get evaluated more.

my doctor only got concerned with my pressures because I have been going there now almost 13 years and my pressure has always been high and he has talked to me about it before. But i didn't want to go on medication, but he started to get insistent when my pressure was 200/100's range consistently.

I even did the away from home thing, and home monitering and it was still very high. So i decided to just go on medications and so as to by me time to get other areas of my life in order. My mom also suffered with severe hypertension all her life, and know what she died of? cancer at 73..

anyway just don't be over concerned unless there is a genetic component in your family and just moniter it. Some doctors can sometimes be over dramatic.

They sometimes can get you scared enough to cause a self fulfilling prophecy.

RR so remain calm. One thing you can do is when you are at a store that has those bp moniters and just use that each time you go so you can get a general idea of what your average bp is.

You can buy a good BP monitor at Wal Mart for around 50 bucks, as mentioned earlier they are very reliable. Take your readings throughout the day and record them, then you will have a more reliable set of data points. My BP is 110/65 but when I go to my doc it always shoots up to 140/90. He knows this and that I watch it very closely so no worries. I had your BP at your age and it got prgressively worse until I dumped 75lbs, keep an eye on it but don't freak out.

You are only 20 years old and your blood pressure is considered hypertensive with the newer standards out there (120/80 is now borderline, not normal as it once was). My advice is to really keep track of your blood pressure, the damage is usually done while your younger and you pay the price when your older. The heart can only take so much in terms of above normal pressures and it will lead to problems down the line.

There is nothing wrong with medication if that is what it takes to keep you healthy. I personally take blood pressure medication, and run/exercise to keep my dosages as low as possible. My readings have never been better.

I am a Registered Nurse who sees people every day with heart related problems. The main culprit of their problems usually stems from poorly controlled blood pressure over the course of their lifetime (many starting young like yourself)

Also, High Blood pressure is considered a top risk factor for things like heart attacks and strokes, and even the fittest people are at risk.

Your 20 years old, you may feel great, but now is the time to take care of it.

I don't mean to preach, but I see so many avoidable illnesses that stem from lack of treatment.