Vince struggles with high blood pressure and takes meds for it. Over the weekend, he ended up with a very red eye – it looks like a blood vessel may have burst so he went to the eye doctor this morning and his blood pressure was quite a bit higher than normal but not high enough to send him to his doctor. The eye doctor said the ruptured vessel in his eye could have been caused by the high blood pressure or by lifting a lot of heavy bags of dirt (keyhole garden!) or . . it could have just happened. The eye doctor suggested Vince get a blood pressure cuff and monitor his BP for 10 days and then consult his doctor if it’s staying high.
He bought one, came home and checked his BP and it’s on the high end of normal . . a good bit down from what it was at the doctor.
The last two times I’ve been to the dentist, my BP was high and I’ve tried to explain to them . . you ride for 2.5 hours in the car with Vince and then check your BP! 🙂
Really, my BP is never high. It’s always on the lower limits of normal. I’ve been checking it with the BP cuff Vince bought and checked it again at the drug store and mine is staying around 118/75. Not bad for a granny who needs to exercise more and needs to lose a few pounds.
I really want to stay off maintenance type meds as long as I can and I do eat pretty healthy (if you ignore that Hot Fudge Topping we just bought), we don’t eat out much so I feel like we’re avoiding a whole lot of sodium by eating home cooked meals, often from home grown food.
Dr. Peppers have sodium but I’m only drinking 1 most days .. some days I drink 2. We’ve been drinking the heck out of fizzy water made using the Sodastream. I’ve made a few homemade flavored syrups which do have sugar but no added sodium.
Once I read that beet juice can help lower blood pressure. I bought some at the health food store – already made up in a bottle, and rather expense, and was hoping Vince would drink that and see a reduction in his BP. He didn’t like it at all and I loved it. I drink at least one glass of that per day. Vince decided to try the Super Beet powder and he doesn’t like that either. He’s going to drink one or the other and based solely on the cost, I’m guessing he’ll learn to like the powdered drink mix.
Besides meds, losing weight and exercise, are there any other suggestions for lowering blood pressure?
Sibyl says
Judy
My husband had just had a blood vessel burst in his eye also, about two weeks ago. I went and read that it could be caused by blood pressure, straining, or just because, like your eye doctor said. We had taken David’s BP and it was normal for him, so that wasn’t the problem. Now about 10 days later his eye is back to normal. As far as lowering or maintaining lower BP what you mentioned is probably the best things. I am wondering if getting enough sleep would also help? Just a thought.
Hope everything is better soon.
Cathy says
I take the beet root pills. No taste. Swallow them whole. I don’t know that it has really helped my BP. It is still borderline but I think it is the stress of taking it! I was thinking of going off of them. I heard that can cause kidney stones. I am still taking them at half the dosage recommended.
Heyes Helen says
Are you still talking to the coach that you wrote about at the end of last year? There probably aren’t any easy answers. The other things to add to the list are to reduce caffeine and alcohol (the latter probably isn’t possible).
Faye Llombart says
I worked in a cardiologist office for 20 years and you seem to know what to do….exercise, lose weight, low sodium and if that doesn’t work, then meds. I don’t know of anything else.
Nancy says
I am hearing that limiting meats can help.
Carol says
I’ve always been told salt is a culprit. The older I’ve gotten the more I seem to want salt! Bland food is just not appealing to me. UGH! A friend takes cinnamon capsules for BP. Didn’t do anything for me.
Teri says
I’ve been reading that red hibiscus tea can help lower bp.
Dorothy Matheson says
Loosing weight may help Also meditation
Melody A. says
Lose weight and take fish oil capsules which help the blood vessels to be more pliable. As we age they become stiffer. Our metabolism falls as we age which is a big culprit in weight gain. Walking is the best exercise to increase it. Eat smaller amounts more often during the day also helps metabolism instead of big meals. Take care from Iowa hope things improve.
Dar in MO says
I’ve heard too that reducing sodium, less caffeine and exercise all help lower BP. I know that stress does elevate it in most people, but hopefully he is not stressed out at work. I take Fish oil and exercise 30 mins./day for lowering cholesterol, but don’t have any BP problems that I know of.
lacefaerie says
Your dentist takes BP readings? I’ve never heard of that. I live in Washington state. Maybe it’s a regional thing?
JudyL says
Yes, I’ve been to four different dentists here and they’ve all taken my BP. Maybe it’s because I’m past a certain age?? 🙁
Karen Sutton says
You mentioned that he’s on BP meds – he made need to change meds. Have him check his BP twice a day – once when he’s been up 30-60 minutes and again in the evening. After a week or so email the results to his doctor.
seahawksmom says
Lowering his stress levels LOL. Seriously though, my dentist has denied me service at times based on my BP readings …but I get very stressed out when going to the dentist. Now I take him about a weeks worth of readings before I go … it’s just the stress of being there that makes my BP soar. I know both Yoga and meditation have been recommended as ways to help relieve stress, and will also be beneficial if you have high BP, and it doesn’t really cost anything – give it a try !
Joyce says
I have heard that meditation can also help. No idea if it works or not, but it is free and it won’t hurt you.
Susan says
Maybe mix the beet juice with something? I make a smoothie in the morning: 8-12 oz coconut water, handful of kale, frozen banana, quarter to a half of a frozen roasted beet, fresh grated ginger. All I taste is banana. 🙂
PegD says
I have HBP. I find that mine comes down if I make sure and drink water throughout the day. I also take fish oil.
Connie Robison says
My acupuncturist told me to eat celery. Also the acupuncture helped a bit for me. Good luck