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Suggest Treatment For Elevated BP Readings
Question: My blood pressure seems to be climbing a little lately, Many years back I seemed to always be int eh range of 114-120 over 78-86, now in the last year I have been seeing much higher levels, 138/150 over 90/92 and in one case when i was in pain and irritated for my long wait it was 153/118. I have taken on a much more stressful job this year, and Both my sons were married this past summer. All of this has not given me much time to work out, I am an avid weight lifter, and very capable of lifting like many younger men with heavy weights and I am 53 years old. I have had three injuries this year, an elbow ligament tear, meniscus in my knee and I tore a small part of my biceps head, so my weight has also spiked gaining over 20+ pounds and it seems whatever I try I can not get rid of the weight. I was already a bit heavier then i should have been.,,, Is this serious or is it more managing stress, diet and wieight?
Brief Answer:
I would explian as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your recent medical history and would like to explain that your last year has been full of stressful events that could have adversely affected your blood pressure values.
Besides, those physical injuries have influenced by increasing psychological stress and limiting physical activity: both of them lead to increased BP values.
In this regard, gaining of additional pounds are an important influencing factor.
As you see, several factors have played their roles yielding the same result: elevated BP values.
Coming to this point, the first step to follow is to normalize as much as possible the daily life style: more physical activities (it is sufficient to have daily outside walking , cycling, swimming, etc.; for the moment weight lifting would not be advisable and would not offer any additional health beneficial); a balanced diet (controlled calories intake, avoiding spicy fatty foods) and a good sleeping profile.
Meanwhile, close monitoring of BP values for a couple of days up to a week (several times daily) and referring those exact values to your attending doctor would be necessary to decide for a possible treatment need (in case high BP values persist).
In this regard, some lab tests are recommended as follows:
- complete blood count,
- thyroid hormones levels,
- fasting blood glucose level,
- liver and renal function tests,
- blood electrolytes level,
- fasting blood lipids profile,
- resting ECG,
- cardiac ultrasound
I personally believe that after reducing your body weight to the previous values, and managing your daily life style, the high BP issue will not be an issue to consider any more (as you are an active physically trained individual).
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explian as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your recent medical history and would like to explain that your last year has been full of stressful events that could have adversely affected your blood pressure values.
Besides, those physical injuries have influenced by increasing psychological stress and limiting physical activity: both of them lead to increased BP values.
In this regard, gaining of additional pounds are an important influencing factor.
As you see, several factors have played their roles yielding the same result: elevated BP values.
Coming to this point, the first step to follow is to normalize as much as possible the daily life style: more physical activities (it is sufficient to have daily outside walking , cycling, swimming, etc.; for the moment weight lifting would not be advisable and would not offer any additional health beneficial); a balanced diet (controlled calories intake, avoiding spicy fatty foods) and a good sleeping profile.
Meanwhile, close monitoring of BP values for a couple of days up to a week (several times daily) and referring those exact values to your attending doctor would be necessary to decide for a possible treatment need (in case high BP values persist).
In this regard, some lab tests are recommended as follows:
- complete blood count,
- thyroid hormones levels,
- fasting blood glucose level,
- liver and renal function tests,
- blood electrolytes level,
- fasting blood lipids profile,
- resting ECG,
- cardiac ultrasound
I personally believe that after reducing your body weight to the previous values, and managing your daily life style, the high BP issue will not be an issue to consider any more (as you are an active physically trained individual).
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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