High BP? WTF?

Off Topic
1

So I’m 26 and over Christmas was at my parents. My dad (62) was taking his BP, as he is on BP medication, and it was normal 120/76. I figured I hadn’t taken mine for as long as I can remember; actually, not sure if I ever have. I take it, and get 155/78. WTF!?

So I figure it was a fluke, take it again, and it’s the same. The next morning I take it again, and again it is about the same.

Let’s see:
Overweight: No, 195 @ 6’2" maybe 10% BF or so.
Exercise every day: Yes.
Smoke/Drink: Occasionally, maybe once a week for both.
Healthy Diet: Fuck ya, are you kidding me? I mean, I probably get way too much sodium, but I fucking bust my ass in the gym everyday.

So I went to the doctor and he agreed it is kinda high.

He said:
Cut down salt (duh).
Start doing cardio (lol, this is almost too funny. I thought fuck I’m in great shape for my age, then he says to do cardio… I mean, I get fucking winded as shit after a long set of heavy ass squats).
Don’t smoke (This won’t be a problem, as I’m the kind of person who only smokes when he drinks around his friends who smokes).
Come back in a month and we’ll reassess.

So, I’ve done a little research and read a few scholarly studies and come to find out that they just recently started worrying about isolated systolic hypertension. It used to be only the diastolic that concerned them. But, the funny thing is, they’ve only done studies on older people (60+) that indicated it was harmful. Usually, in young people, it is the diastolic that is elevated, and this is shown to have a strong correlation with coronary heart disease. They really haven’t done much research on young people with ISH. Then I came across this:

I am hoping this is the case with myself, but I wanted to ask if any of you tall, younger guys had high systolic BP (although, I am guessing most of you who are young and fit almost never take your BP)

Thanks!

2

Are you on any kind of gear?? did you measure your BP on a training day? how was your mood??

3

First thing. Was the B/P cuff the correct size? I assume you do not have arms the size of an 11 year old girl, which is what most Drs office and home B/P cuffs are.

4

[quote]DJHT wrote:
First thing. Was the B/P cuff the correct size? I assume you do not have arms the size of an 11 year old girl, which is what most Drs office and home B/P cuffs are. [/quote]

Hehe, good question, the doctor asked me the same thing. I think it was the right size, as he checked the one the nurse used and said it was probably alright. He said that the ones in pharmacy places are usually small.

5

[quote]tuchavito wrote:
Are you on any kind of gear?? did you measure your BP on a training day? how was your mood??[/quote]

Should have mentioned that as well: No, not on any gear. The first day I measured it I did it after training, but also did it the following morning and it was still high.

Fuck it would suck to have to go on BP meds at 26.

Also, I wonder if weight lifting is actually a bad thing. I always thought it was healthy, but maybe not with a high BP. I mean, I’m usually anywhere between the 5 - 8 rep range, which I hear makes it go even higher.

Oh, and mood was fine the first time, but every time since I’ve been a little nervous.

6

I’m not a doctor, but I would be willing to bet that it’s due to you smoking, and also your shitty diet.

P.S. I hate people that only smoke socially, seriously, that shit’s gay.

7

[quote]TheCoolestLuke wrote:
I’m not a doctor, but I would be willing to bet that it’s due to you smoking, and also your shitty diet.

P.S. I hate people that only smoke socially, seriously, that shit’s gay.

[/quote]

This gentleman is very likely correct.

OP, you sound like an angry, frustrated person as well. Look into yoga.

8

155/78 is not high blood pressure. The systolic reading can be variable based on activity, anxiety or possibly even mood. Unless you have tested with true high blood pressure at three different readings, you are jumping the gun and getting worried for little reason.

And cuff size does need to be checked. I need a leg cuff to take mine.

9

I’m not a doctor, but I’d be willing to bet it’s not due to your social smoking at all.

I’m 26 as well, 5’5", 170lbs, I don’t smoke, and I drink maybe once every two months. My diet isn’t perfect, but I’d say it’s probably better than the average person’s. I also have a very physically demanding job.

I’ve had my BP taken by a few sources over the last few weeks, and I’ve gotten values like 160/71, 155/84, 138/92.

I think some people are just predisposed to having higher blood pressures, and they have to put forth even more of an effort to maintain a BP that’s considered healthy.

10

[quote]buffalokilla wrote:

[quote]TheCoolestLuke wrote:
I’m not a doctor, but I would be willing to bet that it’s due to you smoking, and also your shitty diet.

P.S. I hate people that only smoke socially, seriously, that shit’s gay.

[/quote]

This gentleman is very likely correct.

OP, you sound like an angry, frustrated person as well. Look into yoga. [/quote]

LOL, thanks, but I just like to say “fuckin” a lot

Oh, and BTW my diet is pretty healthy, aside from the high sodium.

11

[quote]Ronsauce wrote:
I’m not a doctor, but I’d be willing to bet it’s not due to your social smoking at all.

I’m 26 as well, 5’5", 170lbs, I don’t smoke, and I drink maybe once every two months. My diet isn’t perfect, but I’d say it’s probably better than the average person’s. I also have a very physically demanding job.

I’ve had my BP taken by a few sources over the last few weeks, and I’ve gotten values like 160/71, 155/84, 138/92.

I think some people are just predisposed to having higher blood pressures, and they have to put forth even more of an effort to maintain a BP that’s considered healthy.[/quote]

I think you’re right.

12

i think the high sodium is probably the main problem but also i dont think 155 is that terrible. Im no dr but i really wouldnt be that worried about it unless it starts slipping into the 160’s/70’s on a regular basis. Try lowering the sodium and just check it every so often and see where you go with it. I wouldnt worry about it. My dr once told me that lifting weights somehow caused my BP to be somewhat high, true or not that could be a possibility as well.

13

Wait…so the post from the one guy who actually is a doctor is ignored?

LOL.

14

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Wait…so the post from the one guy who actually is a doctor is ignored?

LOL.[/quote]

Welcome to the internet.

15

[quote]markdp wrote:
LOL, thanks, but I just like to say “fuckin” a lot

Oh, and BTW my diet is pretty healthy, aside from the high sodium.
[/quote]

That part was mostly a joke; in all seriousness though, many people are quite stressed out and don’t realize it until they take a strong look at how they handle things. Just a general statement though, not specific to your question.

If you’re eating a lot of salt that could well elevate your BP transiently, but if you eat a lot all the time it’ll be constantly elevated. People respond to high sodium intake differently based on a number of factors, so you’ll get a lot of people saying “I eat salt by the fistfull but my BP is okay.” Theirs might be, but about 25% of the population will become hypertensive. The same is true if you eat a lot of sugars through food or nutritional supplements to a lesser degree.

Also, how big are your arms? X is huge; you actually need to switch to a larger cuff to get a good reading at about 16 or so inches. I’m only 5’10" and 205, but I read too high on normal cuffs. It’s amazing how many nurses and GPs are stupid with regards to this, by the way. If the doctor said “I think it was fine,” it likely wasn’t. Have them check twice. If they suggest meds before checking into that, punch them in the face. This can’t be emphasized enough for the lifting community.

-Dan

*edit, changed “doctors” to “GPs” (general practitioners)

16

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Wait…so the post from the one guy who actually is a doctor is ignored?

LOL.[/quote]

Wait, are dentists doctors? lol, jk, thanks for the input, and while it isn’t considered hypertension, it is damn close.