Prehypertension

[Kittie]

For the past year or so, many of my blood pressure readings have been borderline prehypertension. I'm a 22 year old female, 5'8", 169 lbs, with a BMI of 25 or so... so I'm definitely overweight. However, I have been this weight for many years, since I was 16-17 years old, and my BP was always normal until about a year ago.

The other day, I got a reading of 121/80. Sometimes it'll be normal, but most of the time, it's higher than normal. I'm kind of worried, I don't want the problem to worsen, but I don't know exactly why it went up. Is it just because I'm overweight? Could it be something in my diet maybe? I know you guys can't get medical advice here, but I thought I'd ask for input. I feel I'm too young to be concerned about this.

[2big4mysize]

what did your doc say?

did you know if you are 25 pounds over weight you got 5,000 extra miles of blood vessels fro the heart to pump blood through? takes more pressure to move more disitance so just losing weigh can help lowwer blood pressure. Then their is the natural diuretic effect of Atkins which BTW is now the number one recommended trewat ment by the medical association for high blood pressure to help lower blood pressure too.

[kkat55]

Originally Posted by 2big4mysize

what did your doc say?

did you know if you are 25 pounds over weight you got 5,000 extra miles of blood vessels fro the heart to pump blood through? takes more pressure to move more disitance so just losing weigh can help lowwer blood pressure. Then their is the natural diuretic effect of Atkins which BTW is now the number one recommended trewat ment by the medical association for high blood pressure to help lower blood pressure too.

Wow! 2Big, you are just a wealth of useful information.

Kittie, I've been going through something similar. My BP has always been low to normal. Recently I went to the dr and it was borderline high. I was so shocked, but now reading what 2big has to say I know why it is happening -- my weight. Eeek! All those miles of extra blood vessels!

Adding this to my list of another reason to lose the weight...

[Kittie]

2big4mysize: My doctor said, it's not high enough to really raise a real concern over, but it's higher than it should be. She didn't really say anything about what the cause could be, I guess it hasn't been assessed.

But I'm sure it's the weight, like what both of you did say. My weight has been yo-yo-ing for a few years too, I lost 10 pounds, gained it back, then lost 20 pounds and gained it back. I didn't know that about the extra blood vessels though, that's scary! I'm definitely motivated to get in shape now.

[2big4mysize]

yep to to have longer vessels to reach through and around the fat deposits to nurish every cell in the body cause no blood supply no live.

[Altec]

Sometimes, people can get nervous taking their BP, worrying what the results might be will temporarily raise blood pressure. If you are a nervous person, readings can flactuate. One reading will be normal, and the next day higher, and next week lower again. So, it's best to relax while taking BP.

If you can't help being anxious, to relax, try to inhale deeply and exhale deeply. Do this 10 times to relax yourself. My doctor told me to do this, as he knows I'm a nervous person. Results are usually normal.

It's very important to handle stress in life by avoiding being anxious. I'm trying to work at it by exercising everyday, trying not to talk about work while at home and just enjoying life. I'm planning to try Inositol, Herbal teas like Passion flower, Camomile, and Valerian and St. John's Wort, to relieve anxiety as directed by DANDR.