Health Thread, Over 50, when did YOU last have your BP checked?

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is something which creeps up on you without you knowing and the likelihood increases with age. Six months ago I went for a check and found that I was bordering on high blood pressure. I've made lifestyle changes which have reduced it somewhat - but I must continue to monitor it and if I can't keep it at an acceptable level, I must take the medication to reduce it.
My second eldest brother died suddenly of a heart attack in January. No history - maybe because he hadn't been to the doctor's in five years and as far as we are aware NEVER had his BP checked. If he had, I've no doubt that he would still be with us. My eldest brother had a very high pressure job - he's been on the medication for years, because he discovered that he had this problem, during a routine medical check. He didn't go on the medication straight away, as he could reduce it himself, by making certain changes - but when the time came, he started taking the tablets.
So don't suffer a stroke or a heart attack, either of which one could be fatal, even if it's your first. Go for an MOT every six months. You don't even need to see the doctor. The practice nurse will take your BP and if necessary will take a blood sample, to determine your cholesterol level. It costs nothing, it could give you many years of extra life, or prevent you from suffering a debilitating stroke which can reduce the healthiest person to being wheelchair bound and worse.

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If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.
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I'll second that - please read this

I was prescribed a low dose medication for the problem about 3 years ago, and have had checks regularly since, and BP was ok.
But recently had a spell in hospital, and the blood pressure checks there revealed that my BP was low, and one night a doctor was called, and he withdrew the tablets immediately, and a careful watch was kept for the remainder of my stay, and I was told I was borderline to low, so must take no more tablets.
On my return home GP sent for me, had another check, and confirmed that it was still low, but he has been excellent, and is checking me about every 3 weeks, until he is quite sure of what action to take.

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I can check mine every day if I want to. I bought one of the LLoyds' Pharmacy ones on offer at £9.99, (might still be). Mine was diagnosed in 1986 when I was suffering lots of headaches. Started on beta blockers. Later I was found to have diabetes so was put on ACE inhibitors which made me cough, so now I take Candesartin (Amias), Amlodipine and a blood thinner called Clopigrel (Plavix).
Both my parents had high BP so it seems to be a genetic thing

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How many roads must a man drive down, before he'll admit that he's lost? (Apologies to Dylan)

Just to confirm the dangers of High Blood Pressure.

My mother-in-law died of a heart attack at the age of 53, she had a sister who died of the same thing at the age of 46, and two brothers who also died of heart attacks in their early 50's

When my son was quite small, he was not very well one day, so we sent for the Doctor. After the Dr examined him and gave a prescription, when going out of the door, he said to my wife have you had your BP checked recently. When she said no, he told her visit him in the surgery, which she did, and he found her BP was high, and put her on Medication. She has been on it ever since, and has now lived longer than any of her immediate family.
Some time ago, I was talking to the GP, and mentioned that I was grateful for his actions. He said he remembered coming to the house when he was a young doctor, when my mother-in-law died, so that prompted him to ask the question.
I will always be thankful to him for that.

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In July 1977 my Mother had a massive stroke at my house when we got to the hospital they repeatedly asked what she was taking for her blood pressure she was not taking anything for blood pressure lots for other problems, we were very annoyed the Doctors had never checked it, we let it go as she died 2 weeks later.
I had my blood pressure checked and it was found to be high and I was put on tablets, over the years the strength has been changed, I have it checked every six months and at the moment is under control.
I try to keep to a low fat diet and watch my salt intake.

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Barbara

Back in 1986, as a normal, healthy guy of 44, I hadn't seen a doctor in about 10 years. Why should I? I felt great. Then one day I experienced some strange double vision. I thought it was the result of one of my normal hangovers. Long story short, they had my wife drive me to the hospital emergency room, where they slaped me onto a gurney and stuck tubes in my arms and filled me full of medicines. I spent the next several days in Intensive Care, finally being sent to a room, where I languished for two weeks while they got my medicine regimine established. I had suffered a near stroke. They told me that if I had been on the street for another hour, I would've died from a massive stroke! I watched my diet from then on and quit smoking. Of course, being an alcoholic, I didn't stop drinking until 1999. But the meds and the diet have worked well so far, and the quitting drinking has certainly been good for the rest of my health, especially my mental health. Strangely enough, I asked the doctor (whom I see four times a year now) why, after quitting drinking, my blood pressure didn't drop even more. He told me that my BP was due more to genetics than to the booze. Now my BP runs at around 120 over 70. When they put me into the hospital, it was more like 250 over 130!! A walking time bomb!

By the way, if you're going to wait until you have a headache or some other symptom, forget about it. Hypertension almost never has any pain associated with it. I felt fine during the entire episode, with the exception of the double vision. They call Hypertension "The Silent Killer." You feel fine until you have a stroke and die.

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Lord Plye Wood
Duke of Earl

I have a BP monitor so I can take a pressure reading any time I want but I don't bother much. I got mine when I was ill a few years ago and the GP expected me to go trolling down to the surgery for frequent tests. I got him to agree to my faxing in my blood pressure results every week until he was happy I was back to what passes for normal.

My attitude is that we are all going to die of something and I can think of worse things to die of than a heart attack. At least it's over and done with quickly. I'd far rather that than a lingering, painful cancer or a descent into dementia and/or dribbling and double incontinence. I don't even see any merit in trying to live a particularly long life - what for? I don't go out of my way to endanger my life but I'm not bothered about dying and quick seems more inviting than lingering.

I've nothing against those who are tempted into heavy duty body maintenance as they get older. I can see the temptations but it isn't for me. The result is the same for all of us, quicker for some than others, but still the same result.

I can agree with some of that but having regular BP checks is perhaps akin to checking the oil and water in your vehicle. In many cases, it's simply an indicator that shows that all is not as well as it might be - and you can often reverse the trend by making lifestyle changes, as I have found to be effective, in my particular case.
In Lord Plye Wood's case, he was very lucky to be still around to tell the tale - and his lifestyle, as we all know, is both active and rewarding.
This isn't about slow and debilitating changes to the body, or diseases like Alzheimer's or motor neurone disease. It's simply about one body part - a pump - on which all other bodily functions depend. It can even be replaced, or repaired, if it's found to be defective. Heart surgery has come on in leaps and bounds, since Dr Christian Barnard conducted the first transplant on Louis Washkansky, forty years ago.

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If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.
Albert Einstein

My blood pressure is naturally low, i had kidney problems last year and they put me on a low dosage blood pressure tablet as it protects the kidneys but when my blood pressure went down to 99 over 49 they soon took me off it quick.
But himself has high blood pressure and his GP keeps an eye on him so you are right it is best to have it checked regularly.

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