high blood pressure question

[jrsygal37]

Hi. I was just wondering if anyone out there (nurse maybe?) could tell me how dangerous it is to have a blood pressure of 172/102 or 165/96 ? Also does anyone know anything about Avarpro 150 mg tabs? Or if anyone is currently taking blood pressure meds. Did you feel sick when you first started taking them or differently? Thanks. Elaine

[gja1000]

A blood pressure with the readings you describe is very dangerous. It can lead to stroke or heart attack. Also, a blood pressure that high for a prolonged period of time can cause the heart to work too hard causing it to dilate, leading to heart failure, a progressively terminal condition. You must get it under control. It can also lead to a type of deterioration of the brain, although that takes a high pressure of many years to result in brain changes.

I take meds for high blood pressure, but not Avapro. I don't know anything about it so I looked it up. It is a standard type of high blood pressure medication. Here is a list of the side effects. The following adverse events occurred at an incidence of 1% or greater in patients treated with Avapro, but were at least as frequent or more frequent in patients receiving placebo: abdominal pain, anxiety/nervousness, chest pain, dizziness, edema, headache, influenza, musculoskeletal pain, pharyngitis, nausea/vomiting, rash, rhinitis, sinus abnormality, tachycardia and urinary tract infection.

ALL medications have the potential to make you feel sick. You should take them with food, unless your doctor or pharmacist has told you to take them on an empty stomach. Taking meds with food often decreases that "sick" feeling. If, after a week, you are still feeling "sick or different", I would call your doctor. There are many different kinds of blood pressure meds you can take, and what works for one person, may not work for another. It is easy to change blood pressure meds and it can be done at any time.

Bottom line though - you do need to be on some sort of blood pressure medication. The consequences of untreated high blood pressure is much worse than the side effects of the medication.

[jrsygal37]

Thank you for the info. I had trouble with my back and made an appt. with a Chiropractor. I went yesterday and my blood pressure was 170/102. He thought it may be from pain and treated and took it again and it went down slightly but still high. He reccomend I call my doc. right away. I did and went today. It was still high and he checked my records and last time I was in it was high but at that time he said he thought it was from pain (I had gotten clipped by the dog during play and needed stitches). Anyway, he put me on Avapro (Gave me samples). I am going to take it but was afraid to start tomorow with the weekend just in case I get sick from it. I've never taken meds like this before. I thought it may lower my blood pressure too much. I wasn't sure if meds like this need adjustments until they get them right. I've put on some weight and I know I have to start to eat better. I haven't felt too good today. Had a headache, racing heart and feeling tired. Not sure if that's from the blood pressure or not. Thanks again. Elaine

[Tink]

jrsygal37, I've been on meds for hypertension much of my adult life. I'm on 2 different ones than you, and have tried others as well. I really haven't had any side affects from them other than they can deplete the potassium in your system if they're a diuretic type; which causes charlie horses.

The danger of high blood pressure is that it wears out the heart from having to pump harder and the blood vessels because it's that much more pressure exerted on them. The top number is the amount of pressure exerted when the heart is pumping... the bottom number is the amount of pressure in between beats when the heart is relaxed.
Pain will definitely make it higher... mine was 230/132 when I went to ER with the start of bells palsy a few years ago. I had a horrendous headache that drove it up.

As gja1000 said, it's long term high pressure that does the damage and often people don't know they have it until the damage is done, so you're lucky to have discovered it now.

Good luck! And start taking them asap... you're preventing major problems by getting it down as soon as you can.

[gja1000]

Side effects from blood pressure meds are usually very mild, if any at all. Most people don't notice any difference of any kind. Your blood pressure med does not have any diuretic in it, so you shouldn't get cramps or low potassium. It shouldn't lower your pressure too much - I woudn't worry about that. Your dosage is not the highest that can be taken so I would go ahead and start it today or tomorrow, I don't think you will find that you feel any differently at all. That said, all meds can cause side effects, so if you don't feel right after you take it, call your doc.

Also, I would recommend that you get an automatic blood pressure monitor. You can get them at most any drug store, CVS, Walgreens, etc. It is easy to just put it around your arm and push a button. They are very accurate, and that way you can keep track of your blood pressure at home. It will also help the doc to adjust your dosage. Some people have "white coat syndrome' meaning their pressure it higher when they are at the docs, even though they are not nervous. So, if you find it it consistently lower at home, then the doc can safely lower your med dosage.

[Janet]

I've been taking Diovan for years for high blood pressure. Runs in my family. I've never had any bad reactions to it at all.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Janet

I've been taking Diovan for years for high blood pressure. Runs in my family. I've never had any bad reactions to it at all.

Hey Janet! I take Diovan too!!! Same for me, no reactions, no problems at all.

My hubby took Lisinopril which is a med for high blood pressure (but he doesn't have high BP, he has to keep his BP low due to heart failure) and it took away his ability to smell, thus he couldn't taste his food. He was very sick at the time with another illness that was causing him to lose weight, so we had to change the Lisinopril to another med, because he was having a hard time with eating due to not being able to taste! It was very strange, but it is a side effect of Lisinopril.

[jrsygal37]

Originally Posted by Janet

I've been taking Diovan for years for high blood pressure. Runs in my family. I've never had any bad reactions to it at all.

Thanks Janet. Also got your note I'll send you an email later on tonight or tomorrow. Thanks. E. And, thanks to all with their replies. I have to go for blood work and some tests tomorow but right after I get it done I'll start taking the Avapro. Thanks again. E.

[jrsygal37]

Well I took my blood pressure pill this morning. So far so good with no side effects. I really had no choice. My pressure this moring was 174/110. It did come down some tonight. It's now 144/99. Come Sunday I'm going to start eating better and dropping the weight I gained. I know this is causing it. Elaine

[Tink]

I hope it works well for you with no side affects Elaine.

[gja1000]

I'm really glad you started the medication and that you didn't have any side effects, so far. I doubt you will, blood pressure meds are usually pretty easy on the system. You really needed it too, your morning pressure was way too high! I hope things continue to go smoothly and that your pressure comes down.

[jrsygal37]

Well, today is day 4 of taking the blood pressure meds. No side effects but my blood pressure has been going higher. I spent yesterday at the ER with a blood pressure of 169/120. They gave me Adavan (not sure if I spelled it right) to calm me but honestly I was very calm before they gave it to me. They got it down to something over95 but then it shot back up to something over 105. The nurse felt that the doctor should have kept me and kept asking him but he said I was fine to go home. Been pretty good today but now tonight I'm 162/113. I'm going go back to my doc tomorrow. I don't feel sick but do have a terrible migraine for the pat few days. Elaine

[Janet]

Elaine, be very careful. Is there anything that might be upsetting you or causing you stress? I mean, you said you felt calm, but has there been anything you've been thinking about...troubling you?

I hope you and your Dr. can get your blood pressure under control....blood pressure is nothing to mess with.

[DianaB]

Make sure that you stay in contact with your doctor until you get this straightened out. When I first started having high blood pressure problems I was also having anxiety problems and the two don't go together very well. I take two different meds for it plus meds for anxiety. I finally have it under control. It takes time to get the right dosage of meds so just hang in there until it gets figured out. Your doctor may switch meds on you a few times to find just the right one. Good luck.

[jrsygal37]

Hi Diana and I hi Janet. Janet, no I don't think I'm stressed over anything. The only thing I can think of is my Jersey. She was gone three weeks Thursday. It was very very hard for us to lose her and especially at such a young age. Not that if she was older it would have been any easier. Just having a tough time grasping and understanding how to say good bye to a 17 month old baby. Even now as I write this I'm getting upset. I don't know mabye my unconcious is still dwelling and thinking about it. I won't say I'm over it but I thought I was getting past it. I can't really tell a doctor that I'm taking the death of my dog so hard. I don't think many other then other animal lovers understand that. Anyway, I don't know this is the only thing I can think of that may be bothering me. Elaine