Celebrating a win.
Over the last probably 6 months, my blood pressure has been up, I looked over my medical records and for as long my records go back my BP at the GPs has been 110/70 (clearly not suffering with white coat syndrome). I monitor it at home regularly since I’m on trt.
Anyway I’d thought initially it was work on stress (and that’s definitely a likely contributing factor, but that hasn’t particularly gone away so it’s definitely not the main factor), but also thought it might be related to higher end haematocrit, so started taking naringin, and to potentially counter high sodium I started taking potassium, fast forward a few weeks nothing changed.
Well I’d put up with this for too long and ignored some significant elephants in the room, because the elephants are some of my favourite vices
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Coffee + caffeine, I could easily drink 10+ cups a day as well as energy drinks and I’d even got a pre workout with 300mg of caffeine. I’ve always drank similar levels and not had any impact on BP before in case anyone is wondering.
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Nicotine - when caffeine no longer has an effect where do you turn? Nicotine obviously. (In my defence and I blame @Chris_Shugart for this 50 Hits of Nicotine)
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And finally my diet, not the best in the world, not quite vending machine chicken samosas but way too many frozen pizzas, and sugar, and junk carbs…ok maybe it was worse than vending machine samosas.
Long story short I immediately took action against all 3 elephants (part of me wanted to do one thing at a time and figure out what’s the biggest cause, but the reality is changing all of my habits is just going to make me a healthier individual).
Diet is now pristine, everything is single ingredient and made by me, apart from protein shakes.
Coffee/caffeine has been maximum of 2 per day (I love coffee and I’m not intending to stop altogether - just enjoy it properly) and I’ve been taking this as a proper maximum that’s the limit not the prescription. In lieu of this I’ve been drinking decaf green tea, and I drink a ton of that, which should be a good thing, I’m also more hydrated, and drinking some more water as well.
No more habitual use of nicotine either!
Results:
Previous, recent reading:
This morning:
If anyone is wondering about the pulse I’m currently suffering with a touch of man flu/mild cold so I’m assuming that’s pushing me slightly higher, plus the first reading was likely done lying down in bed, this one sat upright.