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Anxiety monitoring blood pressure at home
I had normal blood pressure until around my early to mid 50s. I am 59. I developed white coat syndrome because of my BP getting higher. I don’t smoke or drink and I am a very healthy weight /thin with a zero score two years ago on a coronary calcium scan but had a postpartum stroke in 2009 from which I recovered quickly. I started a low dose of amlodipine in January. After two months no change. Two weeks ago my awesome PCP increased it to 5mg. I checked my BP yesterday. Still high. This is all just background. My specific issue is over the last year especially I’ve now developed so much anxiety around monitoring my BP that I can’t tell if it’s accurate. I need to check afain next week and weekly. I have the omron arm cuff and the link to the app. I’ve tried : 4-7-8 breathing which I do daily anyway. Watching fun distracting videos like the food network. Watching those calming type videos. I’ve done my best to make sure the arm cuff placement is correct. I have limited times if day to check given my life parenting a living in a small space but I find late afternoon is best. I work out in the morning and have my coffee in the morning and havent consumed caffeinated beverages during the day for many years. Please any other tips to calm my anxiety and get a proper reading ? I am very good at calming myself down in other stressful situations. I have my tools. Just not working with this and I do need to know if the increased dose is working. Thank you so much.
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To me it sounds like you’re stressing yourself out and I fully understand that because I’m one of those people as well. Go for a nice walk in the neighborhood at a park or some other. It sounds like you have a very healthy lifestyle, but I’m wondering about Family history. I know in my family low blood pressure is the norm until we start getting the upper middle age and then the blood pressure could go out of whack. And I do know if that can really stress a person out.
I am sure you have had a good physical with your doctor. The only thing I do when I get stressed out sometimes I go to a movie, indulgent, popcorn, and something to drink. But right now, I don’t see any good movies.
Wish you the very best and figuring out what is going on
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1 ReactionSometimes other things happen that can affect BP like hypercortisolism which you likely won't even know that you have.
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1 ReactionI am not an expert, and cannot give expert opinions or advice. However, if you'd like to hear what other physicians say about blood pressure, please take a look:
This is a Canadian team:
My next visit in June I will have a consult with one of the Mayo BP experts.
How high is it?
After taking your reading, wait two minutes, then take it again. It will be lower.
If you're not doing so, keep a diary. The idea is to get over the feeling that any single reading is important. It's not. You want to see a range of values over many days and weeks. There will be ups and downs.
Watch your sodium. It's everywhere in the American diet.
@njx58 thanks. I do all of this for years. I appreciate you taking the time to provide input !