Hypertension caused by anxiety/stress

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Leon_Trotsky
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14 Nov 2019, 7:53 pm

Throughout my early and mid 20s my blood pressure was around 130/80 to 145/80. I was put on blood pressure medication at 27 because my blood pressure was going to 180/80 and 190/90, and similar high readings.

I am not fat, I am 178 cm (5'10") and weigh around 75 kg (165 lb or 11 st 11 lb), and have a lean/slim build. My doctor said that whilst my parents' history of getting hypertension in their 30s plus my inheriting heart disease from both sides of my family, most of my hypertension is caused by stress. When I was trying to get my blood pressure down, I did at least an hour of intensive aerobic exercise per day, plus cut down on sodium and fatty foods. My blood pressure was still high.

Does anyone have this problem or is in a similar situation? My doctor said that I probably will have to be on blood prsesure medicine for life, and that no matter how much I exercise and eat well that family history plus severe stress is going to drive my blood pressure up.



Noca
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24 Nov 2019, 11:59 pm

I have the opposite problem sorta, I have BP generally on the lower end though my heart rate is too high because of medication I need to take for another illness. I too have to be on BP medication, though only because there doesn't seem to be any medication that just lowers heart rate and not BP, so I take Bisoprolol that lowers both. I will have to be on meds for the rest of my life too. Blood pressure meds at least don't seem to have really any side effects, so maybe that's a plus? What's your BP at after being on BP meds, diet, exercises now? Maybe learn some sort of meditation to manage stress on top of what you are doing?



Leon_Trotsky
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25 Nov 2019, 2:43 am

I had to change blood pressure medicine because last year I had a depletion of my potassium levels as a side effect. I had muscle spasms, palpitations and problems breathing, so I had to go to A&E. But right now not really side effects.

My blood pressure now at rest can be around systolic ranging from 110-135 and diastolic 70-85, approximately. If I get angry or stressed, my blood pressure can soar way up to 190 systolic. Clearly no amount of exercise can really prevent that.