high blood pressure
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Slim-Slag Sorry but smoking causes every bloody thing in the whole world. Don't even know that?
You are of course right in that you won't find a significant difference between 28 year old groups but there is a correlation in older groups.
You are of course right in that you won't find a significant difference between 28 year old groups but there is a correlation in older groups.
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I had my blood pressure checked by a nurse last week (routine unrelated thing) and she said it was high (don't know the numbers) but not too much to worry about. I have since purchased a home wrist monitor mainly out of curiosity and my blood pressure is registering on average 170/105!!!! I'm only 21, I have never smoked, only drink occassionally (like 1 unit every 2 weeks or something!), I'm not overweight... my diet isn't particularly bad and I go to the gym/swim 4 times a week for an hour. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get it down? Should I go and see my gp as clearly I'm not going to pass a class 1 with my bp like this 
Unless I leave it a couple of weeks and see how it goes....
Unless I leave it a couple of weeks and see how it goes....
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Simple thing is - are you using a big enough cuff?- it should cover at least 2/3rds of your arm (long axis, before anyone gets smart) - using too small a cuff can give erroneously (high) figures.
If the cuff is the right size, and you are consistently getting such results, get it checked by your friendly nurse a few more times. If still high, best to see your GP for futher evaluation.
Good luck!
If the cuff is the right size, and you are consistently getting such results, get it checked by your friendly nurse a few more times. If still high, best to see your GP for futher evaluation.
Good luck!
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I'm not sure if the cuff is big enough or not 
It's about 3 inches wide.. and my arm is about 8 inches from wrist to elbow...
Heh, I got it off ebay so maybe that's the problem! If it doesn't improve in the next couple of weeks I'll go get it checked properly. Thanks guys.
It's about 3 inches wide.. and my arm is about 8 inches from wrist to elbow...Heh, I got it off ebay so maybe that's the problem! If it doesn't improve in the next couple of weeks I'll go get it checked properly. Thanks guys.
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I'm really stupid 
Just read the instructions... I was putting it on so the display was on the outside of my arm (like a watch) but apparently you're meant to put it facing inwards.... not sure why, maybe it fits better or something. Anyway, my blood pressure is now 129/72 which I believe is ok?!! It was high last week though with the nurse so I'll keep monitoring and see....
Just read the instructions... I was putting it on so the display was on the outside of my arm (like a watch) but apparently you're meant to put it facing inwards.... not sure why, maybe it fits better or something. Anyway, my blood pressure is now 129/72 which I believe is ok?!! It was high last week though with the nurse so I'll keep monitoring and see....
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Originally Posted by Caramba
FB, I didn't spot it was wrist monitor 
- anyway, sounds like you've fixed the problem 
-tho like Primary Care I suspect, I always think devices like this are a bit dodgy...
- anyway, sounds like you've fixed the problem -tho like Primary Care I suspect, I always think devices like this are a bit dodgy...Join Date: Feb 2006
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but to dismiss the wrist units as "dodgy" is a bit like some of the other issues going the rounds here at the moment, it's dangerous to generalise about almost anything these days.
As for the dangers of the Medical and Health Forum, couldn't agree more.
Wonder how long it will be before someone suffers genuine harm as a result of poorly moderated advice.
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Several points were raised by the last couple of posts, not all to do with high blood pressure.
" As for the dangers of the Medical and Health Forum, couldn't agree more."
Well, potentially; I agree there are dangers. However, I think one can reasonably assume that the users of this forum are intelligent, highly interested and motivated in maintaining good health, and will have to work with a qualified physician/AME to keep flight medical status. Hence they will be unlikely to self-medicate or otherwise cause themselves harm. Mostly it's about shared experience tho commiseration and sympathy also appear. I noted metoprolol appearing a couple of posts back but assumed that was ironic, not serious, advice.
A wrist monitor might be useful if as Primary Care says, properly calibrated, used correctly, and, ideally, cross-checked with a "proper" measuring instrument - which for blood pressure is a mercury sphygomanometer or similar with the correct size of cuff. If these conditions are met then terrific, yes, but Female Wannabe's experience shows how easy it can be to get wildly inaccurate results, which - as in this case - could be highly alarming.
It isn't difficult to get your BP checked by someone (eg a practise nurse) who knows how to do it correctly, is using the proper kit, and understands the significance of the results. If you really want to go on checking it yourself, ask what the numbers were, so you can at least see if you are in the same ball-park. But ask yourself - do you know what is high, low or normal? Do you know what level of blood pressure "matters"? No? Then perhaps leave it to someone who does?
If there really is a problem surely any competent physician would verify the results for him/herself before making a decision about treatment or not - which is what your specialist is presumably doing, Irish Steve, not relying on your measurements.
May all your blood pressures remain low(ish).
C
" As for the dangers of the Medical and Health Forum, couldn't agree more."
Well, potentially; I agree there are dangers. However, I think one can reasonably assume that the users of this forum are intelligent, highly interested and motivated in maintaining good health, and will have to work with a qualified physician/AME to keep flight medical status. Hence they will be unlikely to self-medicate or otherwise cause themselves harm.
Mostly it's about shared experience tho commiseration and sympathy also appear. I noted metoprolol appearing a couple of posts back but assumed that was ironic, not serious, advice.A wrist monitor might be useful if as Primary Care says, properly calibrated, used correctly, and, ideally, cross-checked with a "proper" measuring instrument - which for blood pressure is a mercury sphygomanometer or similar with the correct size of cuff. If these conditions are met then terrific, yes, but Female Wannabe's experience shows how easy it can be to get wildly inaccurate results, which - as in this case - could be highly alarming.
It isn't difficult to get your BP checked by someone (eg a practise nurse) who knows how to do it correctly, is using the proper kit, and understands the significance of the results. If you really want to go on checking it yourself, ask what the numbers were, so you can at least see if you are in the same ball-park. But ask yourself - do you know what is high, low or normal? Do you know what level of blood pressure "matters"? No? Then perhaps leave it to someone who does?
If there really is a problem surely any competent physician would verify the results for him/herself before making a decision about treatment or not - which is what your specialist is presumably doing, Irish Steve, not relying on your measurements.
May all your blood pressures remain low(ish).
C
Upto The Buffers
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Whatever you do, don't go having a smoke right before you go for the medical, it can easily raise your BP by 10 points for 30 minutes or so.
I used to have quite a stressful job and at one point mine reached 180/120 at which point the doc said 'go home, and stay there!'. Since then I've got a better job, cut down on the alcohol & caffeine, and now swim about 300 lengths a week. I still smoke (for now). BP at last medical was 135/90. You don't have to go for a crazy health kick, just make a little effort on all fronts and it soon goes down.
I used to have quite a stressful job and at one point mine reached 180/120 at which point the doc said 'go home, and stay there!'. Since then I've got a better job, cut down on the alcohol & caffeine, and now swim about 300 lengths a week. I still smoke (for now). BP at last medical was 135/90. You don't have to go for a crazy health kick, just make a little effort on all fronts and it soon goes down.
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Originally Posted by got caught
Oh dear, another case of the Medical and Health Forum getting idea's above its station.
Somebodies gonna lose an eye.......
Somebodies gonna lose an eye.......
Why not try relaxation? It does not involve medication of any sort (prescribed or "Herbal") and can be very effective.
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I'd agree with Wombat.
Ive got high b/p (170/110 untreated, 130/84 on olmesartan).
You can end up running around looking for a miracle cure, taking a million different pills and herbs, but your best off getting along to the docs who will give you something that will work.
Also, Shunter is dead right - dont think 'i mustnt drink' or ' i must lose weight' - just cut back on most things that you know are bad for you.
That said, if your a big fat lump with ten bellies, might be an idea to try shifting some weight first...
Ive got high b/p (170/110 untreated, 130/84 on olmesartan).
You can end up running around looking for a miracle cure, taking a million different pills and herbs, but your best off getting along to the docs who will give you something that will work.
Also, Shunter is dead right - dont think 'i mustnt drink' or ' i must lose weight' - just cut back on most things that you know are bad for you.
That said, if your a big fat lump with ten bellies, might be an idea to try shifting some weight first...
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Also:
''A wrist monitor might be useful if as Primary Care says, properly calibrated, used correctly, and, ideally, cross-checked with a "proper" measuring instrument - which for blood pressure is a mercury sphygomanometer or similar with the correct size of cuff. If these conditions are met then terrific, yes, but Female Wannabe's experience shows how easy it can be to get wildly inaccurate results, which - as in this case - could be highly alarming.''
Bugger any kind of monitor that isnt the cuff type. Wrist ones can be manipulated very easily. If you tense your wrist, your bp comes out higher. It is also testing the bp at the bottom of an appendage - if you hold your hand in the air, it lowers your bp (less blood in the arm/hand due to gravity).
Dont waste your money on these home testing things, as you get neurotic, and test yourself every five seconds - trust me, i used to walk up the stairs, test it and see it was high, panic and lay down where i was! then wonder back down stairs, check it , cr@p my pants and lay on the living room floor for another 30 mins until it dropped.
Get down to see the nurse, takes 2 minutes, they give you a reading and then you know from a professional.
Also, the whole 'my b/p always rises when i see a doc' is a pointless argument. Thats a bit like saying ' when i get cut up driving, my b/p rises'. The key point is that your BP elevates in day to day situations, and therefore you probably go through the day with raised blood pressure.
And more to the goddamned point, what, really does it matter if you have a high bp? its better to know and get it treated, than to go your whole life and have a stroke at 50. Im saying this from experience as my dad was 50 when he died of an aortic anuerisym, caused by high blood pressure - he never went to the docs, and never got it tested, and therefore never received treatment.
''A wrist monitor might be useful if as Primary Care says, properly calibrated, used correctly, and, ideally, cross-checked with a "proper" measuring instrument - which for blood pressure is a mercury sphygomanometer or similar with the correct size of cuff. If these conditions are met then terrific, yes, but Female Wannabe's experience shows how easy it can be to get wildly inaccurate results, which - as in this case - could be highly alarming.''
Bugger any kind of monitor that isnt the cuff type. Wrist ones can be manipulated very easily. If you tense your wrist, your bp comes out higher. It is also testing the bp at the bottom of an appendage - if you hold your hand in the air, it lowers your bp (less blood in the arm/hand due to gravity).
Dont waste your money on these home testing things, as you get neurotic, and test yourself every five seconds - trust me, i used to walk up the stairs, test it and see it was high, panic and lay down where i was! then wonder back down stairs, check it , cr@p my pants and lay on the living room floor for another 30 mins until it dropped.
Get down to see the nurse, takes 2 minutes, they give you a reading and then you know from a professional.
Also, the whole 'my b/p always rises when i see a doc' is a pointless argument. Thats a bit like saying ' when i get cut up driving, my b/p rises'. The key point is that your BP elevates in day to day situations, and therefore you probably go through the day with raised blood pressure.
And more to the goddamned point, what, really does it matter if you have a high bp? its better to know and get it treated, than to go your whole life and have a stroke at 50. Im saying this from experience as my dad was 50 when he died of an aortic anuerisym, caused by high blood pressure - he never went to the docs, and never got it tested, and therefore never received treatment.
High BP good for aeros
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High blood pressure (hypertension) affects a sizeable proportion of the general population in many countries. For many people there are few symptoms and the problem can be insidious as a result. For most people BP readings are only taken as a secondary consequence of a visit to the GP or another medical practioner. Blood pressure varies as the bodies requirement changes throughout the day and one or two readings in isolation are often of little practical value. If a problem is suspected a number of readings are normally taken and where the problem persists an ambulatory measurement ( at home) over a period of 24 hours may be required.
Where hypertension is established, the guidance and treatment of your medical professional is essential. It has already been stated that common factors such as smoking, being overweight, salt intake, etc. may well have a significance, and rectification of some of these underlying common factors might correct or partially correct the problem. However just as any inordinartly high pressure in pipework will lead to medium or long term problems, be it water pipes or hydraulic pipes, so it will cause serious problems to the owner if their blood plumbing and pump is also subject to long term and sustained periods of high pressure.
When other treatment may be insufficient or inadequate by itself to sufficiently reduce sustained hypertension a medical practioner may prescribe medication to assist in the required reduction and stabilization. This medication takes a number of forms ( and sometimes combinations) and comes in many different dosages and it may require a period of trial and error to establish a comfortable and adequate correction.
For many people hypertension medication has no, or few noticeable side effects. As such the results often far outweigh the inconvenience or resistance to such medication.
From the flying point of view any medication that effectively changes the bodies circulatory mechanism is always going to be a concern, and the aviation medical authorites will want to be involved in the monitoring of the individuals treatment. In reality and for most people this simply means that the treatment is working, stable and with no adverse side effects. For pilots starting on medication, that will normally mean liason with the doctor to establish that the medication prescribed is within the allowable ( and there are many) drug groups. They will then want the pilot to stop flying for a few weeks while it is established the individual has no adverse reaction to the medication. Again if and when dosages of medication are altered there will normally be a short grounding period to establish stable tolerance. Beyond this it simply means monitoring. This will of course be done by the AME on the pilots normal renewal medicals. It is often helpful to provide a sensible list of home readings over a given period if this is possible. It is also a good idea to make a visit to your GP on an annual basis ( or whatever is deemed sensible) to ensure that the medication and doseage remain effective and that the blood chemistry ( simple blood test) is acceptable.
All of this might sound difficult or complicated, but it usually is very straightforward. The aviation medical authorites are very used to dealing with this situation. It normally has no licensing effect on the pilot other than the short grounding for the reasons already given. The health benefits should far outweigh the inconvenience. Hypertension is a dangerous and insidious condition left untreated and nobody should be discouraged from seeking out effective treatment. Not all conditions will require prescribed medication, but those that do will normally benefit. All treatment should always be under the guidance and direction of a properly qualified health professional and sensible but regular monitoring is essential.
On the subject of home monitoring there are various brands of equipment that are reasonably accurate when used properly. At the risk of advertising ( I am not !) my own AME believes Omron produce a range of effective and easily used arm cuff monitors. Home readings are often lower than those you will achieve in a doctors office simply because you are naturally more relaxed at home, and it is a case of taking readings at your own convenience. Many of these monitors come with memories and some with attached simple printers to make the recording of your own readings extremely easy. Cuff size can be an issue, but your medical practioner can best advise you on this point. Some of the wrist measuring devices and cheaper monitors can be of very limited use with regards to accurate monitoring.
In summary, sustained high blood pressure can be a killer so get it checked and where necessary get it treated. Where treatment is desirable and recommended do not worry unduly about the implications with regards to flying, it is something the authorities deal with regularly and they well versed in certifying pilots with this underlying condition. The inconveniences are usually minor and on balance the benefits are potentially huge.
Where hypertension is established, the guidance and treatment of your medical professional is essential. It has already been stated that common factors such as smoking, being overweight, salt intake, etc. may well have a significance, and rectification of some of these underlying common factors might correct or partially correct the problem. However just as any inordinartly high pressure in pipework will lead to medium or long term problems, be it water pipes or hydraulic pipes, so it will cause serious problems to the owner if their blood plumbing and pump is also subject to long term and sustained periods of high pressure.
When other treatment may be insufficient or inadequate by itself to sufficiently reduce sustained hypertension a medical practioner may prescribe medication to assist in the required reduction and stabilization. This medication takes a number of forms ( and sometimes combinations) and comes in many different dosages and it may require a period of trial and error to establish a comfortable and adequate correction.
For many people hypertension medication has no, or few noticeable side effects. As such the results often far outweigh the inconvenience or resistance to such medication.
From the flying point of view any medication that effectively changes the bodies circulatory mechanism is always going to be a concern, and the aviation medical authorites will want to be involved in the monitoring of the individuals treatment. In reality and for most people this simply means that the treatment is working, stable and with no adverse side effects. For pilots starting on medication, that will normally mean liason with the doctor to establish that the medication prescribed is within the allowable ( and there are many) drug groups. They will then want the pilot to stop flying for a few weeks while it is established the individual has no adverse reaction to the medication. Again if and when dosages of medication are altered there will normally be a short grounding period to establish stable tolerance. Beyond this it simply means monitoring. This will of course be done by the AME on the pilots normal renewal medicals. It is often helpful to provide a sensible list of home readings over a given period if this is possible. It is also a good idea to make a visit to your GP on an annual basis ( or whatever is deemed sensible) to ensure that the medication and doseage remain effective and that the blood chemistry ( simple blood test) is acceptable.
All of this might sound difficult or complicated, but it usually is very straightforward. The aviation medical authorites are very used to dealing with this situation. It normally has no licensing effect on the pilot other than the short grounding for the reasons already given. The health benefits should far outweigh the inconvenience. Hypertension is a dangerous and insidious condition left untreated and nobody should be discouraged from seeking out effective treatment. Not all conditions will require prescribed medication, but those that do will normally benefit. All treatment should always be under the guidance and direction of a properly qualified health professional and sensible but regular monitoring is essential.
On the subject of home monitoring there are various brands of equipment that are reasonably accurate when used properly. At the risk of advertising ( I am not !) my own AME believes Omron produce a range of effective and easily used arm cuff monitors. Home readings are often lower than those you will achieve in a doctors office simply because you are naturally more relaxed at home, and it is a case of taking readings at your own convenience. Many of these monitors come with memories and some with attached simple printers to make the recording of your own readings extremely easy. Cuff size can be an issue, but your medical practioner can best advise you on this point. Some of the wrist measuring devices and cheaper monitors can be of very limited use with regards to accurate monitoring.
In summary, sustained high blood pressure can be a killer so get it checked and where necessary get it treated. Where treatment is desirable and recommended do not worry unduly about the implications with regards to flying, it is something the authorities deal with regularly and they well versed in certifying pilots with this underlying condition. The inconveniences are usually minor and on balance the benefits are potentially huge.