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blood pressure high, not feeling well
62 year old male here, with various health issues. (high BP, cholesterol, stent in neck for carotid artery, very high calcium core, anxiety, and probably something else or two I'm forgetting.) I've been on blood pressure medication (Ramipril) for several years now. Two years ago, I wasn't feeling well, and finally went to urgent care where my BP was like 190/100. Thus began a several week journey to get by BP under control and to feel better. A new drug and an increase in the ramipril were thrown at the problem without much success. But then after a month or two, my BP returned to normal and I felt better, and eventually I was back to pretty much the same amount of ramipril and no other drug that I was at before.
All was well enough with the BP for the last two years -- until a couple of weeks ago. I hadn't been feeling quite a 100% for through the late fall and winter, but my BP was okay. Two weeks ago it started creeping up, and when it reached into the 170/100 range on Feb 14 I called the cardiologist office and they said to up the Ramipril to 20mg.
Any thoughts about what might be going on? What's most striking to me is the similarities -- at least so far -- to what happened two years ago, and at the same time of year. (No issues in 2024 though). What made my BP shoot up in 2023, then go down seemingly on it's own, and what might be causing to happen again?
I made a bunch of appointments for the coming weeks, cardiologist, endocrinologist, nephrologist, but was curious what I might find out here.
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My wife has the very same thing. We live in Canada, so we have to supplement with D3. I thought maybe it would help her with her cyclic hypertension, but it doesn't seem to help. So, I'll continue reading here in case I learn something.
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1 ReactionI am not a medical professional, and don't pretend to understand your condition, but usually docs look for the usual obvious causes - obesity, wrong diet, high cholesterol, lack of exercise, etc.
Your BP is clearly dangerously high - are you being seen at a center of excellence?
I'm not sure my blood pressure actually qualifies as "dangerously high" to medical professionals -- though it clearly warrants immediate attention, which is why my meds were increased. As I've often found, what one reads on the internet and what actual doctors tell you is often quite different.
Also, presumably the docs won't look for the obvious causes of high blood pressure in this particular case. The details of my situation would suggest something else going on.
I also have had times of my BP surging. I up meds for awhile, but due to the side effects, I taper off after BP is under control. Example, it's been fine for six months, then it surged. I always feel very unwell when this happens. I upped by meds for two weeks and got it back under control. Unfortunately upping the meds makes my BP go the other way and it gets to low. I have traced this last time to consuming fast food (which I don't normally do) which was high in sodium. I'm now going to monitor this much more closely to see if I can maintain my BP better. It is frustrating. I also am walking very consistently, not overweight, trying to up veggies and fruit, but still it surged.
Hi
How is your hydration?
Or perhaps you have an infection or an inflammation in the body.
Not AF?
Not Weight?
Not over weight?
Or something you have eaten - a seasonal food or drink.
Just guessing but every time I had antibiotics for something else I didnt know what I felt better. When finally I had my gall bladder out - surgeon reprted it had desintergrated!
Suddenly it solved everything. The episodes, the hypertension etc.
cheri JOY. 76. (NZ)
Did any doctor offer a theory why it surged?
So something wrong with your gallbladder was apparently causing the problems? Interesting.
There was no change or obvious culprit in my case. It's suddenly high now and I don't know why. Hopefully my doc appts next week will provide some answers, if any are known.
Hi
Yes.
And it could have been hypo or hyper as thyroid cancer discovered by coincidence years later. Already down lymph nodes. As the tumour was 17mm x 7mm in the thyroid - if it grows 1mm year - I can say that I had it growing for 16 years. 2019 minus 16 years is 2003.
I wasn't overly high blood pressure but 150-170 / 80-90 is considered high. But I was left until started on Metapolol in 2007 until 2009 I went low. I'm not sure what my heart rate was then. I had gained weight since 2008 after on a safari in the Tuscan Truck through South America from Santiago - the bottom island (Ushaia?) and back up the other side through San Paulo to Rio. ( Diet - White bread/buns, ham and cheese breakfast and lunch (not a usual diet for me).
My wrists and ankles swelled. No airconditioning.
cheri Joy. (tuckie)