HBP and You
@nanette64 (20364)
Fairfield, Texas
November 14, 2017 9:31am CST
Back in the day, a normal blood pressure guideline was 120/80. As more people started to become overweight, they raised it to 130/85 as the new 'normal'. Now with over 100 million people is the US having high blood pressure, they have decided the new guideline should be back to the way it was. Ya think?!!
High blood pressure damages the blood vessels and can lead to organ damage; it is a silent killer. Eating right, reducing stress and physical activity can lower the blood pressure without having to take meds to do it. Who wants to pop another pill?
I don't take my blood pressure every day but it does vary depending on what I'm doing. If I'm working my butt off pulling goat weed in the pasture it will go up to 140/75 but if I'm doing nothing, it's usually 110/66. This morning it was 105/74. Oh and I've been a smoker for 45 years.
My sister on the other hand is a non-smoker, is overweight by 100 pounds and her BP is usually 145/90 and she has to take a BP med. So who knows. Do you know what your BP is?
New hypertension guidelines mean high blood pressure starts at a reading of 130/80, lower than previous guidelines.
11 people like this
11 responses
@Marilynda1225 (83103)
• United States
14 Nov 17
I have to take medication for my HBP and am working diligently to keep it down.
5 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Nov 17
It can be tough @Marilynda1225 , especially when today so many foods are loaded with cholesterol; which plays a role in HBP.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
14 Nov 17
@nanette64 I have the same, my pulse is always too accelerated, but this is a well known problem, I suffer of tachycardia.
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Nov 17
Yeah, my tester is one that just wraps around the wrist. Besides the BP, it also takes the pulse too. That is a great BP @LadyDuck . 
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Nov 17
@LadyDuck oooooh dang. And they say the pulse is more important to watch than the BP.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
16 Nov 17
I have normal BP ranging from 120/80 to 130/80. I read in the news that there is talk about changing the normal parameters of normal BP.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
17 Nov 17
@nanette64 Yes, you are right that changing the parameters of measuring normal BP will alter the demand for medicines.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
16 Nov 17
That's pretty good (your range) @dpk262006 . The scientists have one of two things on their minds; either they truly realize it should be lower OR, because of the number of people with HBP, they want more people taking pills which would make the pharmaceutical companies happy.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Nov 17
There ya go @just4him . Hopefully it will stay good forever.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Nov 17
My blood pressure is usually around 115 over 70.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
14 Nov 17
I do everything I can to keep my blood pressure down but I still have to take meds and it is still borderline. Everybody in my family has had high blood pressure. Genetics can play a part. Heart disease also runs in my family. The doctor said there are things I can change but my genes aren't one of them. I take my blood pressure a number of times throughout the day and it varies.
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Nov 17
Genes definitely play a role @Happy2BeMe . Thankfully both my Mom and Dad didn't have the 'bad' ones. Although Alzheimers is the main problem. I think I'd rather have to deal with a HBP than that one.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
22 Apr 18
@nanette64 I agree with you. My mom had Alzheimers and it is such a nasty disease.
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
14 Nov 17
My blood pressure was always a bit on the low side. I am always surprised now when it is a little higher at the doctor's office, and they seem surprised that my normal numbers alarm me. It's always within a range that pleases them, but I don't really take it myself on any regular basis.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
14 Nov 17
I take a very minimal blood pressure medicine to keep it down, mine is about 135 over 70 without the medication.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
21 Apr 18
I use to take my blood pressure everyday as years ago I was very heavy and my blood pressure was so high. As the years went on and I lost almost 100 pounds, my numbers were good. I still have my book where I recorded it every morning. I have been good for a few years now. The doctor is always happy with it when I go in ever 4 months.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
14 Nov 17
I don't think they should change it, either.
2 people like this
