21 with high blood pressure

[DOB]

be carefull,high blood pressure is potent killer.Do everything you can to lower it

 

[effie]

As cheap L mentioned, white coat hypertension is pretty common - where the stress of seeing a doctor or the worry that your BP might be high again causes artificially elevated readings.. Could well be worth getting a home BP meter (perhaps asking your doctor to make sure it is calibrated correctly) and doing a few home measurements before committing yourself to tablets for life. Beware of crappy home meters though which give inaccurate readings!

I have to say, one little tablet with very few side effects compared to increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, kidney damage etc seems like an obvious choice really, although I understand not wanting to at such a young age. Your BP is not sky high by any means (here in the UK we aim for <150/80 unless you have other health problems, not sure what it's like elsewhere) but as BP tends to increase as you get older it's def better to get on top of it sooner rather than later

 

[yucatanboy2]

Hey, I bumping this thread. Everyone should get their BP checked regularly.

Let us know how your treatment goes. Do you have a BP meter at home? Check your BP regularly and compare with what they check in the clinic. Bring your meter in and check it with your doc and they can see how far off the readings are (they're usually off, especially the cheaper ones).

I too have hypertension (my dad has it too, as do his parents, although my grandma is 90, and has hypertension, but isn't being treated and is still going strong).

My hypertension is probably due to my sedentary lifestyle and bad diet. I'm 28 and definitely overweight (240lbs w/clothes, 6'1"). I am working on trying to loose weight and eat better. I'm checking back in with my doctor several times over the next few months, and it I haven't improved I'm going on the meds.

I've been reading a lot of literature, and you should also have your thyroid checked. TSH and more specific tests. Sometimes hypothyroidism leads to high blood pressure/cholesterol. Several metareviews seem to show a connection. My tests for my thyroid suggested hypothyroidism may be possible in my case too. Definitely check it out. Also check your lipid and cholesterol levels.

One thing that amazed me was how much salt is in things. You only need like half a gram to a gram per day. Some things, like a six inch subway sub for example, have a gram of salt in them!

 

[addictivepersona]

One thing that amazed me was how much salt is in things. You only need like half a gram to a gram per day. Some things, like a six inch subway sub for example, have a gram of salt in them!

Salt in food items, or even table salt, will only raise the blood pressure of individuals if they're "salt sensitive." This occurs in less than 5% of the population (I want to say 1% but I can't recall--Learned about it the other day in clinical).

Also, not all Subway sandwiches a gram of salt in them. I highly doubt the "Veggie Delight" has a gram of salt, though I equally highly doubt anyone reading this thread eats those (though I don't anymore--Until Subway gets quality ingredients [and removes the HFCS] in their breads, I'm done with them).

 

[yucatanboy2]

^Interesting point about the salt. Do you have references for that salt hypersensitivity data? I'd be curious to see them. Sometimes it feels like doctors are just saying the same stuff over and over and not paying attention to the research behind it (he gave me the same old american heart association pamphlets that all clinics have). I am definitely trying to learn as much as possible about to go back to my doctor with a more informed position.

And, of course i was overestimating a bit about the sandwhichs, always do your own research and check values yourself (I wouldn't trust random strangers on the internet for your own health ). Indeed the veggie delite has 300 milligrams of sodium, and the others have 800-900 or so for a six inch.

Anyways, people, if you have info relevant to hypertension, especially info on diet, treatment, drugs, etc, keep on posting! I am definitely interested more in real results (anecdotal from the primary source, not something you heard from a friend of a friend) or actual research that is reported in a decent journal. Maybe we can have a megathread on this topic?

I am starting piracetam again, because it made me feel more with it and helped with my focus at work. I checked research journals, and there is little info about its affect on BP. There is one article about it decreasing stress-related hypertension, but its in russian, so I didn't read it (so, no info on the dose amount/frequency). Still, I think it should be ok, as it was well tolerated by me the many previous times I've used it.

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

My neighbour was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 16. She was a competitive gymnast at the time. It was genetic.
She is 38 now and has never had a complication from being on BP meds.

 

[hobhead]

linsinopril's side effect profile indicates that it is very well tolerated. it's cheap and effective i have found.
i too suffer from a genetic condition that makes for high blood pressure regardless of diet, exercise and so forth. it didn't crop up until late in life.
maternal grandmother was afflicted as well and father went to an early grave because of heart probs.

 

[yucatanboy2]

^ good to know, thanks! Yeah, I talked to my dad and boss, both of who take a low dose combo of an ace inhibitor and a beta blocker. They say they are well tolerated, and work well together in low doses. I'll try to find out which ones.

 

[addictivepersona]

^Interesting point about the salt. Do you have references for that salt hypersensitivity data? I'd be curious to see them.

Nope, no reference, aside from my American Dietetics Association certified/registered professor (who is also a RD [Registered Dietitian]).

Maybe we can have a megathread on this topic?

This thread seems to be working well for the purpose. :)

I talked to my dad and boss, both of who take a low dose combo of an ace inhibitor and a beta blocker. They say they are well tolerated, and work well together in low doses. I'll try to find out which ones.

You really gotta go with what works for you. Just because something works for your dad and your boss doesn't mean the same thing will work well for you.

 

[zombiesarepeaceful]

I've had high blood pressure and tachycardia all my life, since childhood. I'm 20 now. The odd thing is, when a machine takes my blood pressure, it says its high. But when a nurse takes my bp with the stethoscope and cuff it's normal. This stumps me. Had multiple ECGs, ultrasounds of my heart....nothing major showed up....my heart also skips a beat every now and then...and although it freaked me out having heart issues so young, the docs said I'm fine and they see no cause for any of it. I've been on lisinopril and several beta blockers. Beta blockers worked best. I actually asked to be put on meds while I'm young so it doesn't get out of hand now and bite me in the ass when I'm older.

 

[DexysMidnightRuner]

So really how bad is hypertension if you are in your early 20s? I'm a 20 year old female, with a long family history of heart problems, ex amphetamine, coke/crack, and heroin abuser mostly, ex IV user, with high blood pressure and a high heart rate. I took clonidine for a while, but I had to stop due to relocation and money. Should I be expecting to drop dead any day now?

 

[addictivepersona]

^ That's a question for your doctor as there are varying degrees of hypertension and just because someone had hypertension and died of a lung embolism doesn't mean you will--You might die of a heart attack. In all seriousness, that's a question for your doctor as we here can only speculate.

 

[DexysMidnightRuner]

haha alright i was being very specific. how dangerous can hypertension be, in a summary. i know there are factors and different types and such, but as a general disease how bad can it be?

 

[Chade]

Hi wiggles,
Sad to know that you got high blood pressure in young age. As it is genetically so you have to follow doctor's advice.
Do start any exercise, sport or any physical activity to stay active and be regular.
Through physical activity you can beat high blood pressure.

 

[SideOrderOfOpiates]

I'm 22, female, wear a size 2/3, workout at least a little bit daily, eat a relatively healthy diet, and I still have hypertension. I have been on Inderal for over two years. Apparently, my hypertension is thought to be caused by anxiety. I can literally feel my blood pressure go up when I am really anxious. I also believe drug use is a major factor in my hypertension at such an early age. Sorry to hear you are going through this as well; I know what a blow to the ego it is to have such a condition when you are supposed to be healthy due to your age.

 

[Attack Fader]

Glad I found this thread. I'm 20 6ft and 170 pounds I eat healthy and work out every day. I take my pressure at home and is on average 140's. I used to donate plasma and my blood pressure was always fine then i started to heavily abuse spice so im wondering if that is the cause. My father and my grand fathers on both sides have high blood pressure so I have been told its a genetic thing. The doctor just prescribed me with lisinopril and at first I didn't want to take them but it seems it would be better if i did. I would rather find a natural way to do it but nothing works.

 

[TheTwighlight]

I've been working on diet as well as taking lisinopril/metaprolol. Quit smoking both cigs and weed. The bp issues didn't get much better. I have since found out that there are strange sounds coming from my kidneys. So now I'm getting an MRI of my renal system done.

Everyone, take care of yourselves! The silent killer will eventually turn into the horribly painful killer.

 

[yucatanboy2]

^Did you get your thyroid checked as well? I keep reading more about a connection between thyroid misfunction and bp/chloesterol/other cardiac issues. I am going on thyroid hormone now because my TSH has been high the last three times i had it checked. I am hoping it will positively affect my other biomarkers so I am not on a different drug for each of my different high or low tests!

 

[atara]

My diet is pretty good for being a college student. On a typical day I usually eat something fast and easy for breakfast, a bagel or power bar. At Lunch I usually have turkey sandwich or something similar. Dinner is usually salad and pasta. I also love vegetables and fruit.

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(82)90657-2/abstract

As a rule, whole foods, that is, not bread, pasta, bagels etc... whole foods contain more potassium than processed food. The reason is just that potassium is very soluble and tends to get washed out of food during processing more easily than other nutrients. Even white potatoes contain plenty, but potato products typically contain none.

The rule is: eat food, not food products. The thing about potassium is that it's distributed relatively evenly across the human diet, since every living thing needs it, so there aren't many things that contain particularly huge amounts; furthermore potassium supplements tend to be problematic due to the toxicity of K+ in solution. So unless you like blackstrap molasses, try switching the bread for breadfruit.

See also the role of vitamin D in hypertension, which includes some interesting studies:

Krause et al. randomly assigned 18 patients with mild hypertension to receive UV-B or UV-A exposure, 3 times weekly for 6 weeks [28]. In this study, he found that there was a 162% rise in plasma 25(OH)D in the UV-B group along with a drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 6 mm Hg. No change in the blood pressure was observed with UV-A exposure (UV-A does not produce vitamin D). In another randomized, placebo-controlled study in 145 elderly women showed that 800 IU of vitamin D3 plus 1200 mg of calcium significantly reduced blood pressure by 9.3% after 8 weeks, whereas treatment with 1200 mg of calcium alone reduced blood pressure by only 4.0% () [29].

Vitamin D and calcium supplementation lowered blood pressure. I suppose we could call that promising.

Of course as long as we're on the subject of fish the n-3 "omega-3" fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid make an appearance.

The cardioprotective effects of omega3 fatty acids relate to improvements in blood pressure...

So we're at calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and n-3 fatty acids... your diet as described contains rather little of any of these, so you may benefit from changing it.

 

[System]

Eat a diet that's naturally low in carbohydrates, especially avoiding fructose (a serving of fruit a day is fine, berries are optimum because of the're less sugar dense.) Avoid processed foods, especially wheat and corn products. Eat salads, use oliver oil (not Soybean oil dressings). Eat fatty meats(no lean chicken breasts). As long as you don't binge on carbohydrates you will use the dietary fat from meat and your own body fat as fuel. Too much protein and not enough fat will cause issues because of the kidneys ability to only turn about 100grams of protein into sugars for fuel per day. A Low carb diet is effective at lower peoples blood pressure. I don't even have high blood pressure and a year later my BP is down at least 5 points. If nothing else works well without taking drugs then you should give it a shot. The standard line these days about low-fat diets is a joke, humans are super-carivores by nature; levels of nitrogen 15 in remains of ancestors is very good evidence of this. http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/low-carb-diets/are-we-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-part-iii/.

A good lecture by Robert H. Lustig, MD about the biochemical effects of sugar on the human body. Very interesting. Sugar: The bitter truth