It is a common problem with a lot of older people. I have been on BP med since mid 50. It has never been a big issue as long as I took my med. I didn’t bother to measure my BP often. Last year, all of a sudden it started to spike up when I was on a trip. It went up to 160. My doctor did a whole blood work on me and everything is normal, no kidney or liver problem.
I started to take raw cacao powder in the morning. I also drink a lot of water, eat fairly healthy. My BP is usually 110-130, lower at night higher in the mo. But every few weeks it would spike up to 150. I do like Asian foods, which can be salty.
I would like to hear from some you who would have some ideas on how to keep BP under better control without necessarily increasing medication or what medications have worked well for you. I am just a bit frustrated with this whole thing. My mom also has BP issue.
I have noticed that greater exercise intensity and volume correlates to lower blood pressure.
I take two medications to control my BP based on my specific medical conditions. I definitely keep an eye on my salt intake and walk and do Pilates regularly. I also keep a log of my bp which I share with my physician. Keeping a log can help you identify triggers - stress, diet, etc. - so that can be very helpful.
I am using an app to monitor my BP.
I probably am not doing enough exercise. I only walk 20 city blocks 3-4 times a week.
Did your pharmacy switch to a different generics maker? My husband found out that when that happened, his BP medication became less effective. The formulation is clearly different even though the API is the same. My husband tried to find a different source with alternative formulation, but sadly, that maker became the sole source of that drug, and the brand name is no longer sold in the US. This is a common issue with generic drugs.
*Corrected the name of the maker - Solco.
This is about what mine is also (for the big number).
I am wondering if you should make an effort to figure out whether this is correlated with anything. Food and beverages and activities are things to think about. Chocolate, cacao power, and caffeine come to mind as possible causes. Salty foods is another possibility. Stress (perhaps watching national news) is another possible issue.
Jet lag also might be a possibility. Of course there are a lot of things that can change when traveling, with food, caffeine, and sleep habits all coming to mind.
I also wonder about work stress. My blood pressure went down some when I “mostly” retired (a bit of consulting did not seem to have any impact, although that has ended just very recently).
I agree about keeping a log.
This seems pretty good to me.
My med brand did change last year.
I started cacao powder because it’s supposed to help with BP.
What app do you use?
And his there a certain blood pressure cuff people have at home???
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you can try the same drug made by a different company. My husband did it and found a few leftover batches by different manufacturers at local pharmacies. Those worked for him but as soon as he switched back to the new maker, it was like not taking any drug at all.
I use Hello Heart app. It has a BP measurement connected to it. I like the OMRON better.
Breathing exercises really help with hypertension. I do yoga when I am feeling extra high blood pressurey and use those breathing techniques throughout the day when I am having issues. I have also had my meds adjusted. At times I have added in HCTZ (a diuretic) and at times I have taken it out (under my PCP’s supervision) if my BP was well controlled. I can usually keep it around 120/80 or 130/90. I have had it be lower than that but I feel like complete poop at 90/60.
Maybe you should consult with your PCP. A different type of medication might work better for you. Do you know if you are on an ACE-inhibitor or a Beta Blocker or one of the others? They work differently and a different type might work better for you. The American Heart Association has a list: Types of Blood Pressure Medications | American Heart Association
Google AI agrees with you. I am surprised.
I would be tempted to try to run an experiment to see if this actually helps in your case.
One food that actually works super well is beets, but really talk to your PCP and see if a different med would work better. If you have bio-siblings with high BP ask them what they take and do for it. What works for a sib will often work for you since your genetic makeup is so similar. I take the same BP and cholesterol meds as my older sister.
If you have an OMRON BP monitor, it have an app. I don’t know if all their models will connect, but the one I use, as well as my mothers, connects by bluetooth.
If you haven’t had an echocardiogram recently, I might ask about having one.
I had it done 5 years ago. I recently had ekg and it was normal.
A lot can change as we age. A more recent echo could offer insight as to the best medication options/combinations.
I’m actually doing better on a lower dose of medication. I kept telling my doctor I was over-medicated, not just with BP meds but others. I was on Jardiance for diabetes, but it also is supposed to help with heart issues. I stopped taking it because of the cost, so doc gave me an older medicine and that works a lot better. It doesn’t help heart/BP issues, but I feel better.
I’m also less dizzy, so feel I exercise more/better and I do try to drink more water.
at the end of 2024 I did an EKG and and EEG, and they wanted me to do a stress test (which isn’t just walking on a treadmill but involved injecting dye and other radiation things so I refused). I won’t be doing them again as they didn’t change anything. You might be a better patient than me and may want to see a cardiologist to see if they have any suggestions. Doc also wants me to take a beta blocker and I said no. See, I’m not a good patient.
I’d ask your doctor to try a medication switch.
There are lots of different options and maybe the one you are on isn’t working anymore.
Seems easy to try another and not many downsides.
Any diet changes take a long time to make a difference. A cardiologist told me that. You can try but it would be gradual.