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Blood Pressure Phobia
This actually started many years ago but I compartmentalized it until this past summer. I passed out at a sub shop counter in June and the employees called EMS while I was out. I knew they were concerned about liability so I stuck around but didn't allow them to take me to ER, drove myself home. Nevertheless, I went to a cardiologist. He ran all kind of tests and the calcium score was very high but the heart cath was pretty good. The anxiety of all of that caused my blood pressure (BP) to be very high (160/100 +/-). I was told to monitor it twice a week but I couldn't get good readings due to anxiety of anticipated high number so I didn't take any for months. I finally convinced myself to do it and I got a high reading last night but got a close to normal this morning. Now I'm freaking out because Dr. Google says that those high/low readings are a sign of other problems. I talked to my primary care about my anxiety with BP readings and, in the end, she just suggested that I keep taking readings. This sounds overly dramatic but I'm not scared of dying, I'm just freaked out about BP readings! Sounds like I need a shrink! 🙂
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Hi @bradmm, it is totally understandable to fell anxiety that causes your blood pressure to raise higher than normal. I have had a similar experience where I was so nervous in the presence of a doctor while in the emergency department that my blood pressure was much higher than normal.
It is very odd that your blood pressure reading are fluctuating so much. Did you primary care physician suggest how long she should keep taking readings?
My primary care person suggested twice a day, my cardiologist said twice a week. I'm working very hard with increasing my aerobic exercise (I've been exercising 4-5 times a week for years) and I've been taking supplements to increase my nitric oxide. So, I'm going to take it once a week so that I can (1) allow time for my efforts to start improving things (assuming they will) and (2) allow time for to hopefully get my head on straight about the situation and lower anxiety. I believe that anxiety is the main thing that drives numbers higher.
When anxiety brings your blood pressure up what is the safest way t lower it? What medication can be used that will not hurt the kidneys?
Look into nitric oxide and Dr. Louis Ignarro. Also, beetroot and hibiscus tea. All things I'm exploring right now.
@peach414144 Hi Peach . Lioness here celery will bring it down and cut your sodium . About a cup of cut up celery or maybe 2-3 sticks.
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1 ReactionThx, lioness, cut sodium about 20 years ago and have been eating more celery. Today I seemed to "break out" of my phobia and I'm feeling a lot more positive. Not sure why but it feels good!
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2 ReactionsDeae Lionness: Ahhhh the wonderful taste of raw celery and the chrunchey feeling which I miss dearly. I need to boil or use the Black & Decker to mash the celery due to old age and no teeth. I have celery almost every day and a good thing that I do. Can you imagine what the blood pressure readings would be without it? Did not realize celery is good for the pressure and I thank you for this knowledge. Also you are right as I know the value of NO salt. After a while you get used to the taste (but still miss it). Peach
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2 Reactions@peach414144 I love celery also one thing that effects my blood pressure is green tea to much of it and my B.P. goes high ? Don't understand how green tea does this
Dear Lionness, Does your green tea have caffeine in it? The only tea I drink has no caffeine in it. I read somewhere that coffee with caffeine brings up the blood pressure temporaraly. And so you would think that this would apply to the tea as well. Take care Peach
@peach414144 Yes I think it does . That's probably why thanks never thought of caffeine