Anybody have health anxiety, particularly around blood pressure?

I have the same problem and this has worked for me:
When the doctor goes to check blood pressure, sit deep in your chair and sink down into your body. Be calm. Practically stop breathing. Worked for me up until it got muddled up with the increased blood pressure side effect of Venlafaxine, AND the increased depression side effect of blood pressure medication. Never mind my swollen legs.
So, now I take my blood pressure with one of those electric home cuffs, recorded daily (and have finally (a week ago) weaned myself off Venlafaxine, after tapering down to a crumb over 2 years,) and ALL I have to do is find a doctor who actually knows about drug interactions and side effects, and doesn't just look at my home BP chart and see my BP dropping down into the perfect range, and renew my script for the BP medication again, and again.
Maybe somebody else can follow through on drug side effects - please

Orthostatic hypertension can be related to over medication. You think it preferable to have an autoimmune autonomic complication? That's odd. Your medication can be reduced and the orthostatic hypertension will go away. Falling and stroke are vascular risks? Falling is due to lots of things including over medication, spine related disc issues that weaken muscles, BRAIN TUMOR, and many people go straight into their 90s without vascular issues. Home BP monitoring is not "essential" unless the cardiologist advises it. It is often contraindicated because of the anxiety around taking it. If a person who has "white coat syndrome" takes their own blood pressure, they need to take it at least three times in a row with small breaks in between and then average the number. Anxiety can raise blood pressure to enormous numbers. The only reason these numbers pose a real issue is if they are constant. Otherwise, it's wise to reduce overall anxiety and for some people that's just impossible. A "good rapport with a caring physician" is as common as winning the state lottery. Most doctors give each patient 15 minutes and barely remember their name, that's why they stare at the computer screen for hints regarding what's going on with this particular patient. Then there are doctors who have a very good "bedside manner" but that doesn't mean they're good doctors. None of this has anything to do with the poster's question.

My friend says I have health anxiety because I like to share about what I'm going through, which is a lot. She said it's boring to her, so I can't talk about it. Anyone else experience these issues?

I had something similar once. I took a break from the relationship, got talk therapy and worked on getting improved health. It took about a year and I felt much better. My friend and I are communicating again and I don’t discuss health issues. I do talk about my good health status, nutrition, exercise and fitness. I can understand how my health anxiety was overwhelming to my friend. It was draining me too. My talk therapy helped a lot.

@pierce9999

Has the walking helped?

Welcome to the group and I have low blood pressure and always so not sure
if I can relate to what you are going through. no not a doctor. I'm
just someone who cares and likes to help others when I can.Might day I have
been around the barn a few times and went to the school of hard knocks and
still here to talk to others that I can possibly make their days brighter
or steer them in the right direction. That being said, I still have anxiety
about it being too low some days. I know many things can cause concerns,
medication alone can stress one out just reading the effects. Personally, I
use two words. ButGod. I have many people who pray for me daily. in prayer
groups which are very powerful so im saying a prayer for you now for peace
of mind and guidance for your answers--------------- sent, have a blessed
day.

@melinda38556
HI, saw your question and thought I would tell you that I was able to get off blood pressure medicine 6 years ago by walking 3+ miles outside every day and eliminating caffeine. My blood pressure is often a little too high when I go to the doctor’s office, but most of the time they don’t allow you to sit and relax for 5 minutes before taking it. My previous doctor would recheck it after we talked and it was always much lower. I have enjoyed walking outside since my teens and it helps my degenerative disc/osteoarthritis, my mental health, blood pressure and my health in general. I am 71 and know that it will continue to help with balance as I age. When my last cardiologist asked how I was able to get off antihypertensives I told him it was the walking and getting off caffeine and he said he wished all of his patients would take that advice!

@eileenalana123

I am 77. Personally, I made the decision that as I aged and had more health issues I was not going to be like my grandmother who only seemed to have her health to talk about. I had noticed that her hyper focus on her health issues created distance between us. It didn't mean that I wasn't concerned. I think that she had forgotten that she was NOT her health issues.

Yes, I like your comment very much. It does feel like my medical issues right now are serious, and I've been in crisis recently due to 3 different falls, head trauma, 3 ER visits.
And I really see what you mean about your grandmother feeling like she was her health issues, strongly identifying medical issues as who she was. Very good point. I think I was close to that, although I've always liked to talk about many things. Health issues were predominant for me, taking up a lot of time to resolve them. But a friend told me I was complaing too much. Another friend said I talked too much about them. I was trying to update her. So that's hit home now. I do like to talk a lot, and that was the main area to talk about for me. I've learned though that people just aren't interested by medical info about me or in general. I had studied to be a nurse, and then Social Work and I am still very interested in the whys and how's of all our bodies/minds. I also like to share about what I've learned about my and others bodies/minds. Right now I've focused about learning about medical issues, relationships, and the politics surrounding these. Im sure I've focused too much on these, and this has caused some relationship problems. Even now.
I do like to discuss people issues, and Im working more on focusing on others main interests and mindfulness about this. A long description of this I know.
Im wondering if your grandmother was any like this?
I very much appreciate the feedback and sharing! A work in progress...

@eileenalana123
I love the work in progress and at a time in my life i remember being called a hypochondriac, looking back i realized that in part it was to get attention. being left out made me ill. today a new man of sorts 69 as of last month and planning on a lot more years to follow . i have to agree with you on being your health issue and that can take a person over . i have a history of injuries and this last one brought out many hidden problems my sub-conscious was hiding, and yes i am beating them back with counseling and family input and support but mainly i am taking care of them by facing them head on, this round was triggered by brain tumor and lung cancer, the tumor was cancer too. Have been treated and cancer free for i hope many more years. feel free to chat whenever you would like. i know of a few triggers that can help.