Blood Pressure Help

[stracci2000]

For my job, I must have a yearly health screening for insurance.
Recently, I discovered that if my BP reading is over 135/80, then I will pay more for health insurance, which will be $200 more for the year!
Needless to say, this caused me anxiety. For the past few years, I had been sliding in just under the mark.
I am always nervous at the doctor's.
I have two different BP monitors, and my readings at home are usually in the 125/80 range.
So I figured I'm good, right?
Yesterday I had my screening appointment. However, this time, knowing that my reading had to be under 135/85, I became very anxious and naturally the readings were all high, 140s and 150s. I sat so still and tried so hard to relax. The harder I tried, the more anxious I felt. They will record the best of three readings, and mine got progressively higher! I explained to the nurse that I was worried about the numbers because of the cost, and she was nice enough to let me reschedule next week and try again.

Is there anything I can do to lower my reading for next week? I know some of you will say to relax, concentrate on breathing, imagine a peaceful scene, etc. Well, I tried all of that yesterday, and it didn't work.
I read that beet juice helps, or supplements like hawthorn tablets. $200 is a big deal to me. I am angry that the insurance company will hold this against me, and "white coat syndrome" might cost me $200.
Any help would be appreciated!!!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Geez so sorry you have to go through this, these insurance companies are really getting crazy with the premiums and looking for any reason to raise them.

That said I would try to keep sodium intake low over the next week, no alcohol and exercise daily if you aren't already. I can't speak for any supplements since I don't take them but maybe someone will have a recommendation so you can add that in. No chance that you can record your readings at home (pictures with date and time) and get a note from your doctor to explain away these higher readings?

Mind you these are just things I would try but I'm not a doctor and don't play one on tv!

 

[Bonfire]

I have the same problem! I have a BP monitor at home and my BP is ALWAYS higher at the Doctor’s office. Just knowing that your insurance rate is riding on the reading is enough to shoot it up!
Here are some things to try.

1. Don’t drink any coffee beforehand
2. I don’t know if you exercise, brisk walking is good for overall health and lowering BP too
3. Make sure you are getting enough Potassium in your diet
4. Watch your salt intake
5. Coenzyme Coq10 is helpfull in lowering BP. Good for your heart. It helps with my migraines too (bonus)
6. Have time to calm and breathe deeply before they take your BP

Good luck!

 

[stracci2000]

Thanks Stephanie and Bonfire.
I feel better just telling you guys about this. I feel like it's "mind over matter", and if only I could just calm myself down in that chair! I even arrived early to the appointment so I could relax in the waiting room.
I heard that certain yogis can slow their heart rate! I willed myself to do that...it didn't work
Do you think that potassium and Coq10 will help in one week? I am already low sodium and caffeine free.
I'll do whatever it takes.

 

[ksinger]

So let me get this right....one single reading at one single time per YEAR is used to make a diagnosis of high blood pressure and from there to having your rates go up? That's pretty messed up, and not even good medicine.

I have one doctor I see that every single time I go, my BP is a bit high. Other docs? Nope. But he sees me and wants to slap a label on me. Oh, and he sees me twice a year, at most. Fortunately(?) for me, I see enough doctors to be able to point to where I consistently don't have high readings, that I could argue that his readings are the one-offs. That man just stresses me out, seriously. Oddly, my best readings are always at the gyno and my cardiologist. Weird, right? I figure, if my cardiologist is not concerned by my readings there, then no other doc gets to label me.

Here's a little observation - the BP machines they have now? For me at least, they almost all seem to read a bit high. For one thing they tend to malfunction on me - they squeeeeeeze and then start letting out...annnnd then oops, SQUEEEEEEZE again. I've had it go as many as THREE times. I don't let this happen anymore. I get kind of testy about this because it hurts and I bruise stupidly easily. If I say stop, do it with a manual cuff, I'm almost always 5 - 10 points lower. So if they are using a machine cuff on you, you might want to ask for a manual reading.

Also, if the nurse makes you hold your arm up that can raise your reading. I've had them make me hang on to a bar on the machine to keep my arm at heart level. Um, no. Clenching your fist? No. I've also had them only wait like 2 minutes between readings. Or try to get a read about 5 minutes after I've hoofed it in from parking. Nurses are often the real wildcard in BP readings, IMO. (As an aside, I've recently learned about some of the tricks excellent nurses use to start IVs.) The variation in nurse skills for things like BP measurements and IVs, is just huge. And my patience with those variations, when they have consequence for me - either excess pain, or a label I shouldn't have, is wearing very thin.

Best of luck to you Stracci. I know how stressful BP measurements can be.

 

[Bonfire]

Also, blood pressure readings are lower in the morning and trend up in the afternoon and evening. So schedule in the A.M.
Your elbow should be at heart level. This is really important. An elbow below heart level can raise your pressure significantly. Also wear a short sleeve shirt. Rolling up your shirtsleeve acts like a tourniquet and throw off your reading. These are all things that doctors and nurses know but don’t always practice. You need to monitor them!!

 

[stracci2000]

So let me get this right....one single reading at one single time per YEAR is used to make a diagnosis of high blood pressure and from there to having your rates go up? That's pretty messed up, and not even good medicine.

I have one doctor I see that every single time I go, my BP is a bit high. Other docs? Nope. But he sees me and wants to slap a label on me. Oh, and he sees me twice a year, at most. Fortunately(?) for me, I see enough doctors to be able to point to where I consistently don't have high readings, that I could argue that his readings are the one-offs. That man just stresses me out, seriously. Oddly, my best readings are always at the gyno and my cardiologist. Weird, right? I figure, if my cardiologist is not concerned by my readings there, then no other doc gets to label me.

Here's a little observation - the BP machines they have now? For me at least, they almost all seem to read a bit high. For one thing they tend to malfunction on me - they squeeeeeeze and then start letting out...annnnd then oops, SQUEEEEEEZE again. I've had it go as many as THREE times. I don't let this happen anymore. I get kind of testy about this because it hurts and I bruise stupidly easily. If I say stop, do it with a manual cuff, I'm almost always 5 - 10 points lower. So if they are using a machine cuff on you, you might want to ask for a manual reading.

Also, if the nurse makes you hold your arm up that can raise your reading. I've had them make me hang on to a bar on the machine to keep my arm at heart level. Um, no. Clenching your fist? No. I've also had them only wait like 2 minutes between readings. Or try to get a read about 5 minutes after I've hoofed it in from parking. Nurses are often the real wildcard in BP readings, IMO. (As an aside, I've recently learned about some of the tricks excellent nurses use to start IVs.) The variation in nurse skills for things like BP measurements and IVs, is just huge. And my patience with those variations, when they have consequence for me - either excess pain, or a label I shouldn't have, is wearing very thin.

Best of luck to you Stracci. I know how stressful BP measurements can be.

Yes, one reading, once a year. If I don't qualify, it amounts to $208.00 more per year.
This burns me up, and was certainly a factor yesterday.
They also do blood work, which is usually OK.
The nurse switched out BP machines and cuffs, each time trying to get me a lower reading. How can this even be accurate?
They also count BMI, and waist measurement! For a woman, BMI of 27 or 35" waist is over their mark, and that will increase premiums, too.
So ridiculous.

 

[pearlsngems]

While exercise is good in general, exercising within a few hours of an appointment can raise your BP reading. I discovered this at my last appointment.

I also like to bring along some pleasant reading material of my own to read in the waiting room and exam room while I wait. (I don't care for the magazines that are typically available there.)

As to BMI, as they weigh me fully clothed in the hallway, I figure they are also taking the BMI of my clothes. So dress light and leave heavy jewelry at home.

 

[ksinger]

Yes, one reading, once a year. If I don't qualify, it amounts to $208.00 more per year.
They also do blood work, which is usually OK. This burns me up, and was certainly a factor yesterday.
The nurse switched out PB machines and cuffs, each time trying to get me a lower reading.
They also count BMI, and waist measurement! For a woman, BMI of 27 or 35" waist is over their mark, and that will increase premiums, too.
So ridiculous.

I'm just trying to make it to Medicare. I've got just slightly over one more very expensive year to go. After that, I'll be in a huuuuge pool of people, and hopefully things will change slowly enough in that world, that I'll be happily dead before I have to worry about that insurance.

 

[lyra]

That all sounds awful! I get my BP taken a lot. When it "matters", I do meditation breathing. It really helps. It calms me right down. I even close my eyes if I want to. It gives me a lower reading than I would get otherwise in front of a white coat, lol. We have BP machines at home. I know my BP is always good at home.

 

[Karl_K]

no caffeine within 4 hours.
no alcohol the night before.
1 banana a day
Hunger raises blood pressure as does starchy food.
Granola bar would be good for breakfast and do it in the AM but make sure it is low sodium.
Read the label bon't believe the low sodium on the package.
I have found that some marked low sodium have 5x more than others not marked.

 

[doberman]

Avoid sodium rich foods. No alcohol. Diuretics and beta blockers, but those are prescription only. Have some time prior to the reading to focus on your breathing and relax. Don't just walk in and get your BP immediately. Deep slow breaths, calm thoughts, eyes shut.

Larger cuff = lower reading. Some people are too large for a standard cuff and it gives an inflated reading.

I had a patient who hated having her BP checked. If sit with her, talk, hold her hand and do deep breathing. It def helped. That being said, if you have higher readings, a lifestyle change may be in order. And don't believe the whole white coat syndrome excuse. Studies show BP is BP, no matter where it was taken.

 

[Bonfire]

^ Anxiety can definitely cause a spike in blood pressure and heart rate.

 

[PattyCo]

And don't cross your ankles.

 

[OoohShiny]

They also count BMI, and waist measurement! For a woman, BMI of 27 or 35" waist is over their mark, and that will increase premiums, too.
So ridiculous.

That is stupid. How does that even take account of apple/pear/other body shapes??

As to BMI, as they weigh me fully clothed in the hallway, I figure they are also taking the BMI of my clothes. So dress light and leave heavy jewelry at home.

And have a really big poo before leaving the house LOL

 

[sonnyjane]

BMI is not an accurate measurement of health. Pro athletes can have BMI's that are high bc they have huge muscle mass. That's honestly something I would legally challenge if I ever had to!!!

 

[PintoBean]

For me my bottom number was high like 93-94. Somehow a side effect of lexapro was a slight drop and then adding cholesterol medicine really dropped it! Go figure!

 

[ksinger]

^ Anxiety can definitely cause a spike in blood pressure and heart rate.

Indeed. My husband would have high BP all the way through the school year - so high it needed treating. As soon as summer rolled around, the drugs stopped and the BP was always fine. The migraines decreased a bunch too. Go figure.

 

[Rfisher]

Does your at home monitor have a memory feature? Will they allow the readings to count?
I know diuretics commonly go hand in hand with other bp medicines, so it seems counter productive to drink a lot of water. But it helps me.
I thought I would have to forgo dental work because the office I use started taking bp before any procedure, and refusing service if they considered the reading too high. Thankfully they stopped this.
Best wishes

 

[Bonfire]

Indeed. My husband would have high BP all the way through the school year - so high it needed treating. As soon as summer rolled around, the drugs stopped and the BP was always fine. The migraines decreased a bunch too. Go figure.

Stress does horrible things to our bodies’

 

[stracci2000]

I have the same problem! I have a BP monitor at home and my BP is ALWAYS higher at the Doctor’s office. Just knowing that your insurance rate is riding on the reading is enough to shoot it up!
Here are some things to try.

1. Don’t drink any coffee beforehand
2. I don’t know if you exercise, brisk walking is good for overall health and lowering BP too
3. Make sure you are getting enough Potassium in your diet
4. Watch your salt intake
5. Coenzyme Coq10 is helpfull in lowering BP. Good for your heart. It helps with my migraines too (bonus)
6. Have time to calm and breathe deeply before they take your BP

Good luck!

I bought some Coq10 today. And bananas. I hope it helps! I've been monitoring my BP all day, and it is hovering in the 120s/80s.
Why can't I get these results during the appointment......????

 

[PattyCo]

I should have elaborated on my statement to not cross your ankles. My daughter went with me to a doctor appointment and my BP was a bit high. I mentioned that that was an unusual for my BP to be that high. My daughter simply told me to uncross my ankles. The nurse kindly re-checked my BP and it was normal. I know it's a small, thing but sometimes the small things make a big difference. I hope your next appointment goes well!

 

[Bonfire]

I bought some Coq10 today. And bananas. I hope it helps! I've been monitoring my BP all day, and it is hovering in the 120s/80s.
Why can't I get these results during the appointment......????

Your appointment next week doesn’t give much time for these things to make a difference. These are beneficial over time. In your shoes I would start with these small changes. The days leading up to your next appointment, don’t drink alcohol, cut way back on salt intake (start that now) no caffeine the day before or day of, take your Coq 10 supplements, eat a banana before you go (the potassium has calming properties) and the MOST important...try to control your anxiety and nerves. Take deep cleansing breaths and let go of tension. Relax you arms and make sure you continue nice breathing while your pressure is being taken. Don’t hold your breath or tense your body. Keep your elbow at heart level. Mind over matter! You can do this!

 

[stracci2000]

Your appointment next week doesn’t give much time for these things to make a difference. These are beneficial over time. In your shoes I would start with these small changes. The days leading up to your next appointment, don’t drink alcohol, cut way back on salt intake (start that now) no caffeine the day before or day of, take your Coq 10 supplements, eat a banana before you go (the potassium has calming properties) and the MOST important...try to control your anxiety and nerves. Take deep cleansing breaths and let go of tension. Relax you arms and make sure you continue nice breathing while your pressure is being taken. Don’t hold your breath or tense your body. Keep your elbow at heart level. Mind over matter! You can do this!

I could actually postpone the appointment for a month. Is that enough time for the supplements to make a difference? I just read that Coq10 takes a few months to work. I wish Id known about this sooner!

 

[Bonfire]

I could actually postpone the appointment for a month. Is that enough time for the supplements to make a difference? I just read that Coq10 takes a few months to work. I wish Id known about this sooner!

You are looking for a magic pill Outside of a Beta Blocker or other bp lowering med, Coq10 is just a piece of a bigger puzzle. Yes it has benefits for lowering bp over time and along with other lifestyle changes.
I’m assuming you have a timeline to get this test done. If you have the luxury of waiting a month or so. I take a small dose of a beta blocker (for palpitations) and my bp can still spike sometimes at the doctor’s office if I’m nervous or rushing around. I think it’s more relaxation techniques that will benefit you right now, in the short term.

 

[qubitasaurus]

Err yeah I would fire the insurance company and get a new one -- they are causing you anxiety which is raising your blood presure and bad for your health. Also they sound all round punative, so dealing with them must be a pain.

I also tend to get consistently high readings during health checks, and retesting usually makes them go up. Particularly if I am trying to force myself to relax. Best advice I have had is to do breathing exercises ans concentrate on the breath going in and xoming out -- rather than trying to deliberately think about *relaxing*. This usually drops the systolic number by 20-30 points for me. I test high every time I am anxious about the reading, or they have stations set up where they test many people in parrallel and they have a young untrained person taking the readings (who reads them outloud and comments on them to all the other people in the parallel tables, lol this happens a lot during yearly health monitoring exercises. Every time I go I consider opting out and paying to get a private clinic do it quietly and professionally. Only thing which puts me off is the extra travel time!).

 

[stracci2000]

Yes, clearly I can't relax when having this test taken. I will work on it.
Thanks for all your replies, everyone!

 

[Calliecake]

@stracci2000 Would you like me to be you for a day and go to your appointment?

 

[stracci2000]

@stracci2000 Would you like me to be you for a day and go to your appointment?

I would love it! It would only be five minutes of your time, and I would be eternally grateful.
I will let you pick something out of my jewelry box!

 

[Calliecake]

I wish I had some magic trick to get your blood pressure down Stracci.