The Blood Pressure is creeping north. Unfamiliar water.
 

I started riding in 2004 and have never stopped. I was 220 and at the lowest, 170. Now at 190, I still ride as much as I can. My BP since I really started paying attention has been 100/60. Over the last year, it has steadily risen to the borderline area.

My family has history. My mother is on medication but not my father. My cousin is 37 and has been on BP meds for 15 years. My wife is an RN and she said she figured it would have been here sooner. This past week, ive started having some "different" kinds of headaches. I was at the beach, the 2 of the 3 kids I have were sick with high temps, I was on edge in fear of the vacation being spoiled. The headaches came.

While I was at CVS in Cherry Grove, SC, waiting on meds for the kids, I hit the BP machine. I know, not really that accurate but it was free and kind of looking at me so.

My BP was 130/80 I was like, uh, thats not correct. I didnt do it again. Anyhow, today, same headache. Wife pulls out tools and checks it, its 120/88 :mad:

I am not taking meds for this. I fully believe that the reason for this is that I took the fam to disney in june and have ate everything under the sun with no remorse since then up to last week. 2 full months of the kill zone of food. Soda and take out.

Now that the final vacation is over, I have began to eat correctly and continue to ride. I will keep an eye on it. Has anyone had problems with HIGH BP and you ride AND eat right? That would suck balls. I hope it does not come my way....

Just Venting....

2 things to note (as I suffer from HBP):
1) BP machines are most always high.
2) The cuff size does matter....my BP is always high (even if i'm on BP meds) when they use the normal size cuff...when they use the larger cuff my BP is normal to below normal (when i'm on meds). I'm not a huge guy and fit comfortably in a normal sized cuff. Still the doc has told me that I should always tell the nurse to use the large cuff as it seems more likely to be accurate.

Finally 120/88 isn't bad...I don't even think they start to worry until it starts getting over 135/95

If I were you I'd keep the salt intake a little lower, unless it is needed for sweating and other losses (from riding etc). That means avoiding most processed foods. Eat more fruits and vegetables because they have less salt and more natural potassium and magnesium (not potassium chloride) which probably help this type of problem. In addition they are nutritious and have probable protective effects from diabetes as well. Good luck.

Sounds like something that happened to me... a couple of years ago I was working a stressful job (I'm 26 right now) and went from being very fit and lean to fairly out of shape and eating like crap. I had my blood pressure taken twice within a couple of weeks and it was 140/90 at the high. Needless to say the doc was not happy and I later quit the job and got back in reasonable shape. The bp is much better now, so I would thinking just watching your diet in the meantime and continuing to ride it will probably stay at a reasonable level.

That blood pressure is borderline on being high, but not bad. My blood pressure at my last physical was 130/100 and my doctor said that wasn't bad.

I had a job that had relentless stress involved, my blood pressure climbed to 190/130 at one point and I had gained 40 pounds. My doctor gave me two choices, find another job or die, since I was in severe danger of suffering a stroke.

yea, as of 8/01 I left that stressball of a job and its much better.

Thanks, Ill keep posted.

Yeah, some people have high blood pressure - its called "essential" hypertension.

still have the headache but the bp is 120/73 today.

True, but biking definitely does help.

Im very new to bikeing, and just quit smokeing, and my BP is comming down, but I'd recommend a trip to the doc, after all you mentioned that you have a couple of kids do it for them and yourself. If nothing major is wrong then the doc will let you know, and get you on the right track, but if theres something bad going on then you NEED to find out, and get it corrected.
Paul

Managing salt intake is a key. Still, you might have natural hypertension, as some people do. Best suggestion is to work with your doctor, do your own homework via internet or library, and keep a close watch on the issue.

I recommend you get one of the bp monitors for $20-$40 and monitor your own bp over time. You can test it against the doctors one on your next visit. Mine is pretty accurate.

What you will find is that your bp changes quite a bit during the day and the testing conditions. For example, if did not rest prior to your test, you will read high.

Especially if you have a family history, frequent monitoring is helpful.

+1 on the BP monitor.

I have kept an every-morning record for years. A couple of years ago I went for a checkup (I'm 62) and, on the basis of one measurement the doc started making noise about medication.

Let's see, I show up for a 10AM appointment, I sit in a waiting room with screaming kids and assorted sick people for the better part of an hour, and finally get to see the doc at almost 11AM. Add in a little doctor's-office paranoia and some concern about work not being done while I'm sitting there. Why do you suppose my BP is elevated???

I brought him back a printout of the last 2 years of BP readings, and he sent me on my way.

It's definitely interesting to see the daily fluctuations (stressed/not, pre- and post-exercise, AM/PM, rested/tired) and you'll establish a baseline to work from. Money well spent.

Ill get one right away.

Thanks!

Isn't HP Border 140/90 with desired number being 130/85. Your second number seems a bit high as based on American Heart Association. Some doctors actually believe lower number is more important. See link below.

http://www.americanheart.org/present...dentifier=2112

100/60 is low. (for most people - enough to get dizzy when you stand up to quickly)
120/88 seems pretty good. (a LOT of people - even athletes would be pleased with that)
A cardiologist I ride with says even more important than the numbers (I was bummed that I measured 115/75 and not 110/70 which I thought was "supposedly" ideal) is that the numbers are steady and consistent.

If the above wordy comments weren't clear, if your blood pressure measures a steady/consistent 120/88 (which is close to ideal anyway) you are in very good shape.

You mention you are 20lbs heavier than your low of 170. Hopefully you can keep the weight off over winter with your cycling and maybe even lose a few pounds. I am sure that would help your BP.