Yes. I take it you mean 'diltiazem?' Then yes. I can't urge you to discontinue a prescription because I don't know you, and because I am not trained medically. I just have controlled atrial fibrillation. But those numbers indicate to me that you are almost hypertensive and nowhere near being hypotensive. If your systolic is below about 90 and your systolic is south of about 60 then, yes, you should let your cardiologist know ASAP. Right now, your diastolic is a bit on the high side, so keep on with the diltiazem.
Incidentally, I don't know if you know this, but when you take your own BP, take it rested, calm, and take it three times. Take the lowest number of the three. If that number is borderline, either high or low, let your cardiologist know.
@frankz
You need to asked these type questions of your medical doctors treating you. None of us on MCC have your medical history nor examined you.
You are taking specific medications for specific conditions and it is your doctors who should guide you. You mentioned on BP measurement which has not bearing on your ongoing BP measurements over time that would indicate and issue. And like one poster posted how and when you take your BP can have big influence on your reading.
Yes. I take it you mean 'diltiazem?' Then yes. I can't urge you to discontinue a prescription because I don't know you, and because I am not trained medically. I just have controlled atrial fibrillation. But those numbers indicate to me that you are almost hypertensive and nowhere near being hypotensive. If your systolic is below about 90 and your systolic is south of about 60 then, yes, you should let your cardiologist know ASAP. Right now, your diastolic is a bit on the high side, so keep on with the diltiazem.
Incidentally, I don't know if you know this, but when you take your own BP, take it rested, calm, and take it three times. Take the lowest number of the three. If that number is borderline, either high or low, let your cardiologist know.
@bolso1 Good question. For most of us, as we relax and our mind wanders to other things while doing a repeated task such as three measurements over about five minutes of one's own blood pressure, our nervous system calms, our Vagus nerve kicks in, and each successive reading 'should' (might not) fall naturally to a low. That low is what your baseline is, or thereabouts. A first reading is likely to be rushed, will be the first after recent stresses of a kind (even if just trying to remember where your blood pressure cuff is stored), and will in all probability be th highest of the three, so above a computed average if you were to take that figure. On the other hand, the lowest of the three is more likely to be closer to your real base BP, the kind you'd have seated while driving on a long trip, or seated on a bus on a route you take daily, or when watching TV in your own home. It's at the doctor's office, walking briskly, dealing with a tough problem or a contrary personality you know in a colleague that are the typical transient instances that spike BP. Obviously, spiked BPs throughout a typical day should not be taken as the veridical measure of one's BP that needs treatment.
This is why I coach people to take both their heart rate and BP first thing before sitting up in bed when they awaken. Moving slowly, and ideally using a smart watch capable of those measurements, take one or more of each, trying hard to keep calm and to not anticipate or to begin thinking of the day's chores or problems....which can cause arousal of the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn will raise the BP. It is those first-thing measurements that tell you of your overall heart health. If the measurements show elevated results over, yes, THAT average, one taken month after month, it indicates that there may be something at play that you should deal with, whether too much heart activity the previous day (a hard hike or run), too little sleep, poor quality sleep, a virus, etc.
@gloaming
Our baseline blood pressure is not the lowest that we get in a set of measurements. Scientific evidence available online - of which I am attaching a couple of documents - clearly indicates the necessity to average readings. Using the results of more than one reading allows the estimation of the variability in the blood pressure measurement which is very important. Variability depends on many factors some may be related to the instrument and others may be associated with the individual. You need to know that.
I take my blood pressure every week under the same conditions: after getting out of bed, before breakfast, sitting comfortably with hands and arms resting on the table, feet on the floor. I always put the cuff directly on my left arm. I take three measurements, and average their systolic and diastolic values, as well as the heart beat. Since the measurement conditions don't vary during the readings, I don't have to worry about the factors that you mentioned. The average of those three values corresponds to the blood pressure under a standard relaxed setting.
I record the readings in a spreadsheet, so I can tell you that your statement that the third reading of a series is the lowest was verified only 36% of the time for the systolic and 33% of the time for the diastolic in a set of 83 measurements that I took since December 3, 2023. Besides, the lowest systolic doesn't always coincide with the lowest diastolic: so what do you do when that happens? Do you pick the lowest systolic and diastolic values from different measurements?
Your system is not appropriate to provide guidance to you or your provider about your real heart condition. It's actually dangerous because it's totally biased to low blood pressure values.
Generally people on medication for high blood pressure should take their normal dosages at the prescribed times, even if their blood pressure taken just prior to taking the next dose shows as within the normal range. This would be unless they're instructed differently by their prescribing provider. When you think about it, if you have been been prescribed medication to treat hypertension, taking that medication regularly is likely to be the very reason your observed blood pressure just before the next dose is normal! Taking the medication regularly as instructed is meant to achieve a steady blood level of the drug over time, for optimum control of your blood pressure.
@gloaming
Our baseline blood pressure is not the lowest that we get in a set of measurements. Scientific evidence available online - of which I am attaching a couple of documents - clearly indicates the necessity to average readings. Using the results of more than one reading allows the estimation of the variability in the blood pressure measurement which is very important. Variability depends on many factors some may be related to the instrument and others may be associated with the individual. You need to know that.
I take my blood pressure every week under the same conditions: after getting out of bed, before breakfast, sitting comfortably with hands and arms resting on the table, feet on the floor. I always put the cuff directly on my left arm. I take three measurements, and average their systolic and diastolic values, as well as the heart beat. Since the measurement conditions don't vary during the readings, I don't have to worry about the factors that you mentioned. The average of those three values corresponds to the blood pressure under a standard relaxed setting.
I record the readings in a spreadsheet, so I can tell you that your statement that the third reading of a series is the lowest was verified only 36% of the time for the systolic and 33% of the time for the diastolic in a set of 83 measurements that I took since December 3, 2023. Besides, the lowest systolic doesn't always coincide with the lowest diastolic: so what do you do when that happens? Do you pick the lowest systolic and diastolic values from different measurements?
Your system is not appropriate to provide guidance to you or your provider about your real heart condition. It's actually dangerous because it's totally biased to low blood pressure values.
@bolso1 As is usually the case, there is only 'consensus' in the medical field about BP, whose guidelines change frequently, including just this spring. Consensus comes from a governing body or medical 'college', but the term indicates that there has been some disagreement, presumably by trained physicians.
The section "A Call to Arms" that you mentioned also includes a recommendation to average the readings (please see attachment), and not to pick up the one you like the most.
@unmanageable I'm wondering what you mean by unmanageable? What kind of numbers are you getting? You can always get a second opinion too.
I unfortunately have "labile hypertension" so my readings can spike high & low, thanks to a cancer drug that caused it. But the 3 meds I'm on do a pretty good job of keeping it controlled and me out of the ER. A really good doctor is worth a lot. The best one for me has not been a cardiologist, but a Nephrologist. Hope you find help.
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Yes. I take it you mean 'diltiazem?' Then yes. I can't urge you to discontinue a prescription because I don't know you, and because I am not trained medically. I just have controlled atrial fibrillation. But those numbers indicate to me that you are almost hypertensive and nowhere near being hypotensive. If your systolic is below about 90 and your systolic is south of about 60 then, yes, you should let your cardiologist know ASAP. Right now, your diastolic is a bit on the high side, so keep on with the diltiazem.
Incidentally, I don't know if you know this, but when you take your own BP, take it rested, calm, and take it three times. Take the lowest number of the three. If that number is borderline, either high or low, let your cardiologist know.
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Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@frankz
You need to asked these type questions of your medical doctors treating you. None of us on MCC have your medical history nor examined you.
You are taking specific medications for specific conditions and it is your doctors who should guide you. You mentioned on BP measurement which has not bearing on your ongoing BP measurements over time that would indicate and issue. And like one poster posted how and when you take your BP can have big influence on your reading.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@gloaming
Could you please explain why you take the lowest blood pressure reading of three measurements?
Why not the average?
Thank you.
@bolso1 Good question. For most of us, as we relax and our mind wanders to other things while doing a repeated task such as three measurements over about five minutes of one's own blood pressure, our nervous system calms, our Vagus nerve kicks in, and each successive reading 'should' (might not) fall naturally to a low. That low is what your baseline is, or thereabouts. A first reading is likely to be rushed, will be the first after recent stresses of a kind (even if just trying to remember where your blood pressure cuff is stored), and will in all probability be th highest of the three, so above a computed average if you were to take that figure. On the other hand, the lowest of the three is more likely to be closer to your real base BP, the kind you'd have seated while driving on a long trip, or seated on a bus on a route you take daily, or when watching TV in your own home. It's at the doctor's office, walking briskly, dealing with a tough problem or a contrary personality you know in a colleague that are the typical transient instances that spike BP. Obviously, spiked BPs throughout a typical day should not be taken as the veridical measure of one's BP that needs treatment.
This is why I coach people to take both their heart rate and BP first thing before sitting up in bed when they awaken. Moving slowly, and ideally using a smart watch capable of those measurements, take one or more of each, trying hard to keep calm and to not anticipate or to begin thinking of the day's chores or problems....which can cause arousal of the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn will raise the BP. It is those first-thing measurements that tell you of your overall heart health. If the measurements show elevated results over, yes, THAT average, one taken month after month, it indicates that there may be something at play that you should deal with, whether too much heart activity the previous day (a hard hike or run), too little sleep, poor quality sleep, a virus, etc.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@gloaming
Our baseline blood pressure is not the lowest that we get in a set of measurements. Scientific evidence available online - of which I am attaching a couple of documents - clearly indicates the necessity to average readings. Using the results of more than one reading allows the estimation of the variability in the blood pressure measurement which is very important. Variability depends on many factors some may be related to the instrument and others may be associated with the individual. You need to know that.
I take my blood pressure every week under the same conditions: after getting out of bed, before breakfast, sitting comfortably with hands and arms resting on the table, feet on the floor. I always put the cuff directly on my left arm. I take three measurements, and average their systolic and diastolic values, as well as the heart beat. Since the measurement conditions don't vary during the readings, I don't have to worry about the factors that you mentioned. The average of those three values corresponds to the blood pressure under a standard relaxed setting.
I record the readings in a spreadsheet, so I can tell you that your statement that the third reading of a series is the lowest was verified only 36% of the time for the systolic and 33% of the time for the diastolic in a set of 83 measurements that I took since December 3, 2023. Besides, the lowest systolic doesn't always coincide with the lowest diastolic: so what do you do when that happens? Do you pick the lowest systolic and diastolic values from different measurements?
Your system is not appropriate to provide guidance to you or your provider about your real heart condition. It's actually dangerous because it's totally biased to low blood pressure values.
PIIS0002934322008907 (PIIS0002934322008907.pdf)
Lumo+ BP measurements (Lumo-BP-measurements.pdf)
Im on medication
10mg enalapril and 10mg amlodipine.My bp is uncontrolled yet the doctor still thinks its fine for me to only take that
Generally people on medication for high blood pressure should take their normal dosages at the prescribed times, even if their blood pressure taken just prior to taking the next dose shows as within the normal range. This would be unless they're instructed differently by their prescribing provider. When you think about it, if you have been been prescribed medication to treat hypertension, taking that medication regularly is likely to be the very reason your observed blood pressure just before the next dose is normal! Taking the medication regularly as instructed is meant to achieve a steady blood level of the drug over time, for optimum control of your blood pressure.
@bolso1 As is usually the case, there is only 'consensus' in the medical field about BP, whose guidelines change frequently, including just this spring. Consensus comes from a governing body or medical 'college', but the term indicates that there has been some disagreement, presumably by trained physicians.
See: https://www.verywellhealth.com/when-is-the-best-time-of-day-to-check-my-blood-pressure-1764102
https://www.omron-healthcare.co.uk/health-and-lifestyle/when-is-the-best-time-to-measure-blood-pressure
In this citation, please see the section 'A Call to Arms' partway down the page that loads. It clearly says a morning reading is important to establish a baseline, which is what I stated in my post above:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/tracking-blood-pressure-at-home
The section "A Call to Arms" that you mentioned also includes a recommendation to average the readings (please see attachment), and not to pick up the one you like the most.
@unmanageable I'm wondering what you mean by unmanageable? What kind of numbers are you getting? You can always get a second opinion too.
I unfortunately have "labile hypertension" so my readings can spike high & low, thanks to a cancer drug that caused it. But the 3 meds I'm on do a pretty good job of keeping it controlled and me out of the ER. A really good doctor is worth a lot. The best one for me has not been a cardiologist, but a Nephrologist. Hope you find help.