High blood pressure

It sounds as if they checked your blood pressure in hospital and found it was high so you're now on tablets, is that right? Everyone's blood pressure goes up and down throughout the day and if it was just based on your readings in hospital then it might just be to do with the fact that you were in hospital and through stress it was running high while you were there.  If, on the other hand, you had checks done with a 24 hour  monitor while you were at home and doing "normal" things then that's different.  My husband went to see the doctor about a swelling on his foot.  The doctor took out a scalpel and lanced the swelling then immediately said "Oh, while you are here I'll just do your blood pressure".  Of course, the reading was very high, what did he expect!!

If you're worried about side effects of the BP tablets you should wait and see if you actually get any of them as the information leaflet has lots of things that COULD happen but I wonder how many actually do.. Ramipril, which is what a lot of people start on, will probably cause a niggling cough.  Several people, including me, who were on it experienced the cough and, if it gets too troublesome they will change you on to something different.  I am now on amlodipine and have had no ill effects from these.

I have allergies to certain things, some antibiotics and definitely penicillin but I don't carry a pen as I just avoid the ones I know will cause problems.  Just give it a little time to see if the BP pills do any good, even check your own blood pressure with your own monitor, they are such a lot cheaper these days than they were but most of all don't worry because, you never know, you might not need to keep taking them if you calm down enough.  Try relaxation techniques as that is supposed to help a lot.  Last night my local WI had a talk on Hypnotherapy  which apparently works wonders, as does something called EFT or Emotional Freedom Techniques which is where you tap certain parts of your face and body and is supposed to cure just about everything - sounds funny but worth a try!

 

How high is your BP and was it just on one reading?

Normally a doctor would take several readings over a few weeks before prescribing.

 

The body reacts to stresses put on it, and one of the reactions is higher blood pressure. If your tooth still hasn't been fixed, I'm wondering if that is possibly causing your blood pressure to be raised. Also, are you in any pain? That also is a stress on the body that causes higher blood pressure. You said you never take painkillers, but are you taking any now with the broken tooth? If so, they possibly could be affecting BP. 

In addition to the relaxation techniques, or slow deep breathing a couple times a day, make sure you're getting enough sleep. That also affects BP. I know when I check my blood pressure while staying up waaaay too late, it's always  higher, but calms down after getting some shuteye. Seven hours a night is a good number to aim for.

Make sure you're getting enough potassium & magnesium also, while at the same time keeping your daily sodium to about 1500 mg a day.  You can get potassium & magnesium easily just with fruits & veggies....and celery is HUGE at relaxing the arteries. When I have an issue, I down a couple of cut-up stalks and usually see numbers start down pretty soon afterwards. 

Good luck! Hope you are able to get your tooth fixed soon and feel better!