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36 years old and raised bp, don't know what to do.

Posted , 10 users are following.

moomin78
moomin78

I'm a 36 year old female, I'm 5'6 and weigh 13 stone. I'm worried because I've had raised bp for at least 5 years, I monitor it at home and it's usually between 140/90 - 156/105.

I hate going to the dr, and my bp is always worse there. Last time I went was 2 years ago and they wanted to fit a bp monitor to me for 24 hours to see what it's like at home but I refused. At the time I was really stressed because I had microscopic haematuria (blood in urine). My dr bullied me into having a cystoscopy for this, the results were negative. I haven't been back to the dr since then.

I know I need to lose weight but I'm wondering if this will be enough to lower my bp, or could I have an underlying kidney problem?

 

0 likes, 34 replies

34 Replies

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  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey moomin78

    Posted

    moomin, a consultant told me a few years ago that for every stone of weight loss, blood pressure could lower by 10%.  As for your experience with blood in your urine, that could simply have been a urine infection (I had similar just over a year ago).  Plus it was, you say, some 2 years ago.  I'm not a medic, but I would say that as you've had the cystoscopy with a negative result and no repeat of the urine infection in the last couple of years, then all sounds well.  

    As far as your high BP is concerned, you are only young and and putting your mind to losing the excess weight now will not only help your blood pressure, it will keep you off pills.  I have a friend who developed high BP at around your age and failed to find the willpower to lose weight but continued to gain it to the point where she is obese - now many years later she is on several BP pills and has a host of other health problems.  You could start by cutting out all salt from your diet and as much sugar as possible, and reducing all refined carbs as they turn to sugar in our bodies.  Meanwhile, you would be wise to take some medication to get that blood pressure down.  You can do it - good luck.

    • moomin78
      moomin78 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Thanks for your comment. I am going to lose the weight as the last thing I want is to keep putting weight on year after year. I worry that if I get put on medication for my bp now, then I'll be on it for life. My concern is that doctors are very quick to prescribe drugs and seem very resistant to any alternatives.
    • derek76
      derek76 moomin78

      Posted

      Drugs are the easy way out for them. There are so many faddy diets around....a new one every month.  Remember that Dr Atkins died of heart disease so his high fat diet did him no good. Obviously the only way is to eat the right things but less of them. Some practices have a visiting dietician who can give advice.

      Micheal Winner lost weight (wastefully) by coooking what he wanted but only eating half of it. Are you cooking for others as well as that may make it more difficult if you are cooking what they want. 

    • moomin78
      moomin78 derek76

      Posted

      I cook for myself and my partner but she is very supportive so that won't make things difficult.
  • jane243
    jane243 moomin78

    Posted

    I endorse what others say here. Get yourself to the GP and a 24 hr monitor.  Cut out salt, eat less and check out the LCHF diet. I've been a weight watcher for over 40 years and always lost weight then put it back again until I was told I had hypertension.  That shook me to the core and I vowed to alter my life style and lose weight. I ditched weight watchers and their high carb way of eating and went to diet doctor and the LCHF diet and lost 3 stone. BMI now <19. it worked for me. i do take meds for bp but just one ditsy dose of losartan. high blood pressure is a killer. it="" worked="" for="" me.="" i="" do="" take="" meds="" for="" bp="" but="" just="" one="" ditsy="" dose="" of="" losartan.="" high="" blood="" pressure="" is="" a="">
    • moomin78
      moomin78 jane243

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. I don't think LCHF diet is for me, I want to eat a healthy balanced diet. Different things work for different people, so I'm happy you've found what works for you.
    • jane243
      jane243 moomin78

      Posted

      I should have also said that I was told I had pre diabetes too so although not overweight according to the charts I still wanted to get it off my waist, that being dangerous visceral fat. I tried the 5.2 diet and subsequently the low carb way. I haven't cut them out totally but certainly eat a lot less of them. Pre 1970 when the cholesterol thing came in and fats were deemed to be the culprits for everything weight related, I joined Weight watchers. Kept returning every few years when the weight crept back again until the penny dropped - all  they wanted was for you to buy their products; they were a complete rip off.  That was when I found Diet Doctor. I lost 2> stone slowly over the best part of a year, and have never had more energy or felt better. I do walk daily too so that may have been the reason the weight went, it must have helped.
  • absa61081
    absa61081 moomin78

    Posted

    Don't take it for granted because it will damage your heart eventually. It is just unfortunate that there are no doctors aroung your area because I second opinion would be much better.
  • catlover_5
    catlover_5 moomin78

    Posted

    Hi at the mo my blood pressure has been quite high so had my medication changed i also need to lose weight about 2 stone i have just started the 5/2 fasting diet and lost 4lb in a week and i still enjoyed a chinese curry and a few pints over the weekend what i like about 5/2 is that no food is of limits and it makes you look at food differently
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