Home High Blood Pressure - I''m too young!

[joflier]

So I was feeling really off last week, really jittery, and my heart was just beating really hard, so (I work at a clinic) I had one of the nurses take my bp, and it was 155/110. Yikes! I thought maybe it was just an isolated thing, but its been high every day since. Not quite that high, but still up there, way beyond my norm. Geez, I''m only 23, I''m a good weight, in good health, and I really don''t stress out or anything. What''s my deal?? Has anyone else had any problems with high bp at a young age?

 

[icekid]

It''s certainly possible to have high blood pressure at your age, especially if your family members also have it. Regardless, you should definitely see your doctor- get your thyroid checked. Hyperthyroid (and a couple other things) can cause those symptoms.

 

[joflier]

Date: 9/24/2008 5:36:17 PM
Author: icekid
It''s certainly possible to have high blood pressure at your age, especially if your family members also have it. Regardless, you should definitely see your doctor- get your thyroid checked. Hyperthyroid (and a couple other things) can cause those symptoms.

Only my mom has it, but she is very obese, and did not get it until she was nearing 50. A lot of hers is lifestyle related. But I''m charting for the next week or 2 and then plan on going in to get checked out. I did have my thryoid checked about a year ago (for other symptomology) and it was normal. Gosh darn it! I just hate having health stuff to deal with!

 

[Haven]

Have you checked your blood pressure before? I have no idea if it''s the same for high blood pressure, BUT, my blood pressure is always lower than the norm (it''s always around 90/60) but my doctors have said since it''s always that low there''s nothing to worry about.

High blood pressure could be different, I don''t know, but I wanted to share in case it was the same as with low bp.

 

[movie zombie]

and there is high blood pressure: only happens in the dr''s office. i can substantiate that each time i to a particular location for my yearly, my blood pressure is high.....but i go once every 60 days to the blood bank to give blood and when they take it it is normal.

movie zombie

 

[joflier]

Haven, my norm is around 90/60 and has been pretty consistent. I''ve only had it checked twice this year before last week, and it was normal both times.

MZ, I''ve heard of whitecoat high bp, but being that I pretty much live in the dr''s office, and the people taking my bp are personal friends, I don''t think that''s the case for me.

Tonight it was a bit lower though! Thank goodness!

 

[katebar]

Date: 9/24/2008 4:21:06 PM
Author:joflier
So I was feeling really off last week, really jittery, and my heart was just beating really hard, so (I work at a clinic) I had one of the nurses take my bp, and it was 155/110. Yikes! I thought maybe it was just an isolated thing, but its been high every day since. Not quite that high, but still up there, way beyond my norm. Geez, I''m only 23, I''m a good weight, in good health, and I really don''t stress out or anything. What''s my deal?? Has anyone else had any problems with high bp at a young age?

Sorry to hear about your scare joflier but its important to get this checked out. High blood pressure can cause chronci changes in the heart and vessels and it can also be a risk factor for strokes.
You need to see your doctor and have some investigations done. One might be to wear a halter monitor for 24 hours that measure your BP to see if it truely high.
If you are on birth control or a smoker it is very important to get advice as soon as possible.
I had high BP in my 20''s when I was on the pill so I had to change to an alternative contraceptive.
Good luck and let us know how you go

 

[partgypsy]

That does sound high. You need to check out whether it was an isolated reading or something consistent. Another good question is if you are on the pill. I was on the pill and over 11 years my bp slowly climbed from 110, 115/80 to 135, 140/85. When I went off birth control it went right back down. However I don''t know if the birth-control related bp can happen faster than that.

 

[joflier]

Not on any meds at all. No BC, no diet pills, I''ve stopped drinking any caffiene for the time being so I can see if that helps. Also, I don''t smoke. Well, I''m headed to work soon, so I''ll check it again tonight. Hopefully it keeps declining. Maybe I had some kind of bug that raised it for a couple days.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

That is pretty high. The diastolic (bottom number) is very high. I would get it checked at a doctors office for sure. You want to make sure it is being taken correctly. Meaning right sized cuff, you should be at rest (i.e. don''t check it after a workout). In our clinic, we always do the BP on a machine, if it is elevated, I get a cuff and do it myself manually before I start looking into it. Also, have you taken it on both arms or just one? you should make sure there is not a difference between the two arms.

There are 2 catigories that HTN are lumped into, primary and secondary. Primary HTN is the type we all know about. The person in their 40-50s who maybe did not take great care of themselves and now as all the problems that come with that, high colesterol, high blood pressure, and high risk for heart disease. Secondary is high blood pressure caused by anything elce. This can be anything from a hormone inbalance, to kidney issues. At your age and state of health you are describing, I would ask your doctor about doing some basic labs look for causes of secondary hypertention.

Good luck with all this, I hope it takes care of itself

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

A one time high reading does not high blood pressure make. There are clinical guidelines for hypertension. Have it rechecked. Other ideas related to taking one's BP:

1) wrong cuff size (too large for small arm, vise versa) will give you an improper/inaccurate reading
2) if taken manually, nurse made a mistake reading/listening
3) rest comfortably from 5-15 minutes before reading--if you rush into clinic and have blood pressure taken immediately, it can have an effect
5) arm out, level of heart--I usually put my hand on my GP's rib cage for balalnce--or when I take other's BP, I put their hand my mine
4) no smoking for 30 minutes prior to reading
5) no talking while reading is taking--talking increases exertion/heart rate hence BP increases

If BP reading is unusually high for the patient, I always take a rereading on the patients other arm after checking equipment. If i am ever in doubt about the use of electronic equipment I do BP manually. I trust what I can "hear".

cheers--Sharon

 

[museikchik]

Hi joflier, I was reading your post and actually had a similar situation. In my case I wasn''t in the best shape but had never had high blood pressure before. My brother had just passed away like a month before and just being in a "hospital" setting totally made me hyperventilate. When I went back I was coaching myself to calm down. The reading taken by the nurse was high. When the doctor came in she had me lie down and rechecked it. When she did that, she said it was normal. She told me that many times digital machines give bad readings. That might be an option the next time you get checked up. I know that it made me feel better.

 

[UCLABelle]

I have very high blood pressure too, and am monitored often at the hospital. It is one of many of my health problems...I am 23. I felt I was "too young" as well, but I am overweight (5''0, 120lbs) and have so many other health issues that may contribute to it as well.

 

[Abril]

Date: 9/24/2008 4:21:06 PM
Author:joflier
So I was feeling really off last week, really jittery, and my heart was just beating really hard, so (I work at a clinic) I had one of the nurses take my bp, and it was 155/110. Yikes! I thought maybe it was just an isolated thing, but its been high every day since. Not quite that high, but still up there, way beyond my norm. Geez, I''m only 23, I''m a good weight, in good health, and I really don''t stress out or anything. What''s my deal?? Has anyone else had any problems with high bp at a young age?

Your doctors might want to check for fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal arteries.