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What Do My Blood Pressure Readings Indicate?
Question: My blood pressure a week ago was 138 over 87. 5 days later, it was 135 over 88, now it is 145 over 101. After the reading last week, I started on the DASH diet and so far it has not been effective. It has only been one week. My doctor told me to come back XXXXXXX 6. Is that ok?
Brief Answer:
yes it is
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
you seem to have borderline arterial hypertension. A single reading does not mean anything because the blood pressure is variable and may get higher or lower depending on a lot of factors. For examples if you're in pain or angry, your blood pressure is expected to get much higher than normal.
So unless you have serious conditions like an aneurysm there is no need for an immediate intervention. You'd better check your blood pressure for a week or so to see how it goes. If your average blood pressure is within the normal range then there would be nothing to worry about. If it's higher then depending on how high it would be, some kind of treatment (either some lifestyle changes or drug treatment) would be required.
Giving diet and exercise a few weeks sounds reasonable for this level of blood pressure, so I agree with your doctor.
Kind Regards!
yes it is
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
you seem to have borderline arterial hypertension. A single reading does not mean anything because the blood pressure is variable and may get higher or lower depending on a lot of factors. For examples if you're in pain or angry, your blood pressure is expected to get much higher than normal.
So unless you have serious conditions like an aneurysm there is no need for an immediate intervention. You'd better check your blood pressure for a week or so to see how it goes. If your average blood pressure is within the normal range then there would be nothing to worry about. If it's higher then depending on how high it would be, some kind of treatment (either some lifestyle changes or drug treatment) would be required.
Giving diet and exercise a few weeks sounds reasonable for this level of blood pressure, so I agree with your doctor.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your quick response. One more question. I had read that anything over 140 was considered too high. So it is not unusual for a man my age to have blood pressure at these levels for some time? (at least the last week). I have been going through a stressful time, and am a type A personality. I am fully engaged in exercise and the DASH diet. I was hoping it would go down in a week. Thank you
Brief Answer:
a stressful situation raises the blood pressure levels
Detailed Answer:
As you've correctly pointed out a stressful situation raises the blood pressure levels. Higher than 140 mmHg is not considered normal nut it can be tolerated for some time in selected patients. When a patient has no history of heart disease or diabetes and no serious target organ damage, immediate bombardment with antihypertensive medication might cause more problems. I believe that you should continue to try with diet and exercise and check your blood pressure regularly and stay in contact with your doctor. If diet and exercise won't suffice and your average blood pressure levels won't stay within the target then drug treatment might become necessary.
A week is not enough times get your blood pressure back to normal. Besides that lifestyle changes are a lifelong process.
Kind regards!
a stressful situation raises the blood pressure levels
Detailed Answer:
As you've correctly pointed out a stressful situation raises the blood pressure levels. Higher than 140 mmHg is not considered normal nut it can be tolerated for some time in selected patients. When a patient has no history of heart disease or diabetes and no serious target organ damage, immediate bombardment with antihypertensive medication might cause more problems. I believe that you should continue to try with diet and exercise and check your blood pressure regularly and stay in contact with your doctor. If diet and exercise won't suffice and your average blood pressure levels won't stay within the target then drug treatment might become necessary.
A week is not enough times get your blood pressure back to normal. Besides that lifestyle changes are a lifelong process.
Kind regards!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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