High Blood Pressure

[TurtleCrusher]

Apparently I got it real good. Over the past two months I've been having nearly consistent HBP at around 140/95 to 165/115. I was just prescribed hydrochlorothiazide for this.

Has anyone else been diagnosed for it at such a young age? I'm 21, 6'3 and 204lbs. I worked very hard this past month and a half to drop 17 pounds the right way (cardio exercise, basketball) and improved my diet a little bit.

Also, has anyone taken this medication? Anything I should be aware of?

One of the rare but extremely serious side affects is anaphylaxis, which I had a few months ago. I have an allergy to aspirin/ibuprofen. Is this common?

 

[Fox5]

I had some pretty high blood pressure. Just went on a strict diet for a few months (mostly just salads and such) and it came down to normal. I guess I have to keep up the diet or it'll go up again.

 

[Zebo]

I had HBP never changed diet just started running 4-5 miles a day. Bodies are not meant to be sedentary only last 50 years we been going against millions of years of evolution.. Check with doctor first.

 

[aircooled]

I have HBP, not at such a young age, I was in my 30's. I can pull a 150/110 easy even on meds. I take TOPROL-XL (metoprolol succinate) a beta blocker.

I recently found I have sleep apnea and my blood pressure is WAY worse on bad sleep nights.

 

[tcsenter]

You should be prescribed an ACE inhibitor as initial first-line treatment for your age. If required, a thiazide-class diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide could be used for greater benefit as an add-on, but generally isn't preferred or recommended as first-line treatment by itself. Only if you experience side-effects or have other contraindications for ACE inhibitor should thiazide-class diuretic be used as the first-line treatment by itself.

Also, you should be fully evaluated for some underlying contributor to this, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Losing weight and exercising are not going to be enough if you have severe sleep apnea (or some other underlying contributor).

 

[Matthiasa]

Its probably a bad idea to take that before going to sleep unless you like waking up in the middle of the night a lot...

Oh and something being rare by definition means its not common...

Also do as tcsenter said, since at your age its most likely caused by problems with other things.

 

[totalnoob]

Try "No-Salt" on your food. It doesn't taste identical but it gets the job done. The main ingredient is potassium which counteracts sodium you ingest from other foods. This + drinking a bunch of water should give you an immediate improvement in BP.

 

[Connoisseur]

Apparently I got it real good. Over the past two months I've been having nearly consistent HBP at around 140/95 to 165/115. I was just prescribed hydrochlorothiazide for this.

Has anyone else been diagnosed for it at such a young age? I'm 21, 6'3 and 204lbs. I worked very hard this past month and a half to drop 17 pounds the right way (cardio exercise, basketball) and improved my diet a little bit.

Also, has anyone taken this medication? Anything I should be aware of?

One of the rare but extremely serious side affects is anaphylaxis, which I had a few months ago. I have an allergy to aspirin/ibuprofen. Is this common?

Yup got it bad here. If i'm lucky it's prolly 140/90 on average. I've had spikes where it's gone up to 190-100. Went to the ER once cause I couldn't believe the reading on the wrist mounted BP monitor. The triage nurse took my BP and she just stared at me like I was a unicorn. Eventually goes down but it's weird. Funny part is the only blood number that's off for me is my triglycerides. All my other cholesterol readings are average.

 

[Zebo]

You should be prescribed an ACE inhibitor as initial first-line treatment for your age. If required, a thiazide-class diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide could be used for greater benefit as an add-on, but generally isn't preferred or recommended as first-line treatment by itself. Only if you experience side-effects or have other contraindications for ACE inhibitor should thiazide-class diuretic be used as the first-line treatment by itself.

Also, you should be fully evaluated for some underlying contributor to this, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Losing weight and exercising are not going to be enough if you have severe sleep apnea (or some other underlying contributor).

Listen to TC he knows this medical stuff good.

 

[SandEagle]

nifedical


i have low bp. like 90-100 over 65-85 usually

 

[BoomerD]

First, the numbers you posted aren't that high...Yes, they aren't healthy, but you're not likely to blow a gasket or anything.
It IS high for someone your age. Is there any hypertension in the family history?

For years, my BP ran in the "borderline high" range, but was always "just good enough" to pass my DMV physical. (I commuted 100 miles each way into the SF Bay area daily...and worked as a crane operator in maritime construction...relatively high stress job...that's enough to raise ANYONE'S BP!) After I had my knee surgery, I was sitting at home, not working, not commuting, I quit smoking...and my blood pressure went through the roof. I tried modifying my diet, cut down on salt, got what exercise I could with my physical limitations...and it kept going up and up and up.
When I finally accepted that I couldn't control it on my own, and that I was going to need to start taking the dammed pills, on a bad day, it'd be ~200/100.

Now, with my daily 50mg atenolol, most days it's under 130/80...which are numbers "I can live with."

 

[h8red]

HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) is a mild diuretic and one that is usually prescribed first because its usually easy on the system. It lowers blood pressure by getting rid of "excess" fluid. Typically there are minimal side effects with it other than possibly urinating more frequently. HCTZ can be a photosensitizer and make you more sensitive to sun tanning/burning...you shouldn't have to worry too much right now in Portland, OR but during the summer I would recommend wearing some sort of sun protection (hat, shirt, sunscreen - you get the picture). I wouldn't be concerned about allergic reactions unless you are allergic to sulfa medications. There is a small chance that if you have a sulfa allergy you may have an allergic reaction to this med. It would usually start with a whole body rash and/or itching and then progress from there if you continue to take something to which you are allergic. Being allergic to ibuprofen/aspirin will be no indicator for an allergic reaction to HCTZ.

You are doing a good job at losing weight. If you can lower your salt intact, stop smoking if you do, stop drinking alcohol if you do. Good luck

 

[FoBoT]

don't forget we have a Health & Fitness forum for serious Health & Fitness topics
http://forums.anandtech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=52

 

[nageov3t]

I was warned that my blood pressure was approaching the high end when I was 26.

losing 220 pounds and cutting a lot of sodium out of my diet has resolved the issue.

 

[rudder]

Prescriptions to lower your blood pressure should be a last resort. Keep your body fat % down, eat a healthier diet, excercise. Your blood pressure is high but not outrageously high.

Mine was pegged at around 145/110 - to the 150's. It is back to normal after I started eating healthier. Only took a couple of months to really see the difference.

See if the doctor can recommend a good 90-day monitored health plan.

 

[her209]

Damn, and I thought I was bad at 140/100.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Well my normal blood pressure is high 130s, low 80s. it runs in my family. lots and lots of exercise and food choices is what you need. i'm 21.

 

[DrPizza]

Wow, you made me feel a lot better! Mine was sky high a year or so ago. Doctor immediately put me on medication for it. And, after I started taking the medication, I immediately noticed a difference. 99% of it was stress induced. After I submitted my grad thesis, I felt as if a huge burden was lifted off my shoulders. Not long afterward, I quit using my blood pressure medicine & just monitored my pressure regularly. There was one major stressor after that, related to my thesis that caused my pressure to immediately spike again for a couple of weeks, but once that was resolved, I no longer had the urge to choke just about every person I talked to.

 

[Dominato3r]

Stay away from the salt and eat almonds!

 

[chin311]

I too have moderatly high blood pressure, runs in the fam as well.

id say around 130s/80s

nothing crazy, but need to eat better & exercise

 

[F1N3ST]

I was warned that my blood pressure was approaching the high end when I was 26.

losing 220 pounds and cutting a lot of sodium out of my diet has resolved the issue.

You lost me, literally.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Dude, to be on BP meds at you age is pretty unusual, did they check you for an adrenal tumor?

 

[TurtleCrusher]

I took a boatload of pee and blood tests before going on it. I'll start it on thursday.

 

[child of wonder]

BP was 160/110 when I was 21. Drank tons of caffeine and smoked a pack a day.

Now I'm 30, drink one can of pop a day at most (many days no caffeine), have lost over 50 lbs., quit smoking, and am exercising a little more. I'm kind of stressed because of my job right now, but it's typically 130-135/75-80 now.

I'd like to lose another 20 lbs. and change jobs. I'd like to see the BP down to 125/75 normally.

 

[moshquerade]

I have HBP, not at such a young age, I was in my 30's. I can pull a 150/110 easy even on meds. I take TOPROL-XL (metoprolol succinate) a beta blocker.

I recently found I have sleep apnea and my blood pressure is WAY worse on bad sleep nights.

Yep

http://www.jhsph.edu/publichealthnews/press_releases/PR_2000/apnea_hypertension.html

Ever thought of taking care of your sleep apnea? Breathing machine at night or even trying a sleep apnea mouth guard (mandibular advancement device)?