Sculptor7

Went to the doctor recently and found that despite my healthy lifestyle I am "pre-hypertensive". Apparently new guidelines have been out where blood pressure under 140/90 can still be something to worry about unless it is below 120/80. Mine seems to be around 127/78 at age 78 (79 in January).

Makes me wonder what else I might be "pre" in my life. Pre-death? pre-famous? pre-genius?

Does anyone else wonder about the millions of people who now might be candidates for drugs (although at least one site says that the "pre" designation does not mean medication but a change of lifestyle.)

lenA

if change of lifestyle fails...conveniently, there will be drugs waiting in the wings for the pre-conscientious

goldfinch

With drugs mine is higher than yours. Be thankful and don't worry.

aRoudy1

I'm a bit younger (69) and my BP is consistently ~115/75 when I take it myself at home, but hits 140/85 when I go to the doctor. My home BP machine is checked for accuracy quite often, as my wife needs to monitor her BP for her medical condition. This leads me to believe the higher readings at the doctor's office are a result of anxiety and/or the doctor wanting to write a prescription; either way, I'm going to rely on my readings and decline any medications for my 'pre' condition.

CommuteCommando

Yes. Never a problem. Lipids are a whole 'nother thing. Exercise and drugs are keeping that under control.

Rowan

It doesn't take much. I went through a series of heart-related tests recently. My clinic BP was up around the 130/90 mark. During three consecutive goes, the highest was up around the 140/98 mark.

There was an indication of too much salt in my diet. A month or so later, and I have replaced sodium chloride with "lite salt" with the main constituent potassium chloride, and I am keeping an eye on the salt content of the stuff I eat.

My exercise level has also increased substantially with a new job.

My most recent home BP (30 seconds ago) was 116/78. I am happy with that.

NOS88

Mine is 118/76. So, I'm feeling OK about it.

NVanHiker

127 sounds excellent, especially as BP rises with age.

Mr. Thompson

Bluish Dogbane tea will lower your blood pressure. No BP meds required.

Bikey Mikey

Mine is usually around 115/60. I usually have a RHR of about the mid 50s to very low 60s. When I was dealing with a bout of sciatica, I was getting BP in the 140s over 70 or 75. The docs assured me that higher numbers were because I was in pain. I do take a BP med--but it's a very low dose mild one. The reason I take it is not for my BP, but to protect my kidneys--I'm diabetic. Doc said that if I weren't diabetic, he wouldn't have me on any BP meds.

qcpmsame 

Had to take lisinopril for many years, when the CRF hit me and I was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2012 I stopped all salt, I use a strict American Kidney Association diet/nutrition plan now. My BP stays around 115/65, doctor stopped the lisinopril last month and it stayed at that rate. I am very happy with the blood pressure numbers, monitored and logged daily so my doctor can see any trends, quickly.

Bill

ModeratedUser150120149

Nothing to worry about. As a matter of coincidence we were discussing how BP guidelines have changed. Consensus among all the knowledgeable I know is that the changes actually benefit the drug and medical industries more than anyone else if they are followed slavishly and out of context.

We are not digital machines. Our health is the sum of all the sometimes finely nuanced activities in the machine we call our body. BP is only one indicator.

Also, all drugs have multiple effects, some good and some bad and some so so. Taking a drug to lower blood pressure in an otherwise healthy person may very well have significantly adverse effects that either put the person on balance worse off, or net no change in health but a net decrease in financial assets that could have been spent on better food or more biking.

It is your machine and your decision.

unterhausen

this is known as "white coat" syndrome. I have it too, although my theory is that it's because they go a little nuts with the pressure at my doctor's office.

DnvrFox

Sculptor7 - I think you have very little to worry about, given the rest of your life style. You have more danger potential from a fall off of a bike, and, for you, that is also very low.

MacNasty

Called the white coat syndrome. Common for blood pressure to read higher at docs office.

rydabent

I turned 75 today, and my blood pressure runs right around 122/67 with no drugs. I credit cycling for that.

John E

Spot on. The medical and pharma industries have built an entire business model out of scaring people and overdiagnosing and overtreating various conditions.

Sixty Fiver

Still a curmudgeon in training but I was telling my wife that if I hit eighty I am going to take up chain smoking Export A regulars and eating salt right out of the box... and heroin.

Just had my annual check up and BP (as always) was 110/70... resting pulse was 55.

Dave Cutter

I just had my annual check up Tuesday and BP was up to 130/80.... doctor wasn't concerned. Over the years from time-to-time a reading will be a little high or low... for whatever reason. Could be I drove to the doctors office in an ice/snow storm or that I haven't worked out in over two weeks.

The annual check ups are a great idea. BP alone is a silent killer that is almost completely avoidable. For the 50+ guys... the prostrate and colon tests.... can add a lot of years to lives of otherwise healthy men.

Zinger

Mine is like 104/62 or so and that's pretty much consistent.
I guess that's supposed to be good I'm told.

And fwiw I just turned 63.

CommuteCommando

Read NI labels and keep track of every mg that goes into you and you will see what a major challenge it is for everyone to keep this under the recommended 2g/day.

wphamilton

Yes, not real happy about it because it fluctuates, a lot. Normally when I check, it's in the "normal" range. But I've seen the systolic quite high, in the 140's if a doctor takes it (but only a doctor, not with a nurse), and resting heart rate sometimes very low, like in the 40's. I'll get light headed moving quickly from a relaxed rest, which is new and I attribute it to blood pressure somehow, but I'm not sure what to do about it. I have reduced salt, just in case, but taken no other actions.

Carbonfiberboy 

Since we don't eat much of anything that has a label on it, we have the opposite trouble - trying to get 3/4 teaspoon of salt/day each. We have to watch it closely or we'll get behind. 106/70. It's helpful to know how to meditate at the Dr's office. I have a hypertensive friend who takes it at home and emails the result to the Dr.

Cougrrcj

I'm a walking stroke waiting to happen. A full ten years ago, when I was only 45, I got VERY PO'd at work. Boss yelling, etc. I left work because I said he was stressing me and seeing stars. I was on three BP meds, btw. Boss insisted that I bring in medical documentation. Fine. F him.

I went to the local doc-in-a-box medical center down the street and told them I wanted my BP checked. A full 15 minutes later they took a series of readings that made them call an ambulance to take me to the local ER because they had never encountered a BP that high. 25 minutes after clocking out of work I was averaging 240/145. Needless to say I got a medical excuse for the next three days off work.

Nowadays by resting BP is around 112/74 and a pulse rate of under 55. Still on meds, but I retired from USPS. I suppose I could wean myself off the medications if I could lose some weight... which I had wanted to do - more riding last year - but other medical issues prevented that. Hopefully this next year... < crossing fingers >

CommuteCommando

Admirable. I wish it were easy for me, but my wife thinks fresh vegies are poison. We are of the generation that grew up on processed crap. We were fed BS about Crisco being a healthier alternative to lard, Magirine over butter. "Live better-Get all you need from a can or box". This is what my wife likes and prefers, and believe me, I get it. I came from the same place. Two heart attacks got me eating better, outside the home, and loosing 90 lb so far. Getting her on board isn't happening. She was just diagnosed pre-diabetic, and still refuses to "get it". We eat separatly most nights.