Are there any Doctors on BYC?

[FluffyColor]

If there is I need your help!My mom is being trained to be a personal trainer.She says she has to know how to take blood pressures so she bought a blood pressure machine.When I went to take my dad's,it was 123 systolic 74 diastolic!

Acccording to my mom's study book,he has prehypertention.

Does he?My dad's father-who passed away long before I was born-had high blood pressure.

My mom took her own and mine too.I was fine-103 systolic 53 diastolic-but because my mom has low blood pressure,my dad was yelling at her to go to the doctor.I think HE needs to go to the doctor.

What do you think?Am I just overreacting,or is there something really wrong with him?

 

[chesapeakechick]

I'm not a doctor, but can offer my point of view about your blood pressure questions. First of all, I wouldn't get too upset until an experienced professional re-checks your results. Also, if you go for an office visit, take your new blood pressure machine with you so you can compare the numbers your machine is giving versus the numbers the doctor is getting so you know it is giving you accurate results. BP can fluctuate throughout the day, and also depending on whether you are sitting. laying down, standing, etc.
As for your mom - Many folks have "low" blood pressure and have no issues from it. Just need to be careful when standing up from a sitting position so you don't get dizzy! Again, that's a question for her doctor.
It's good to monitor your blood pressure over a period of 2 weeks or so and then take those readings with you to your doctor. That gives a better idea of what is going on than just one reading, and gives a better indication of what is normal for you.
There are many actions your dad can take to help keep his bp down, and his doctor can discuss those with him. The important thing is to make sure it doesn't get to the "high" bp level!

 

[FluffyColor]

Well,should I give him something to help lower it a little bit?Not like medicine,but something soothing?

 

[speckledhen]

If your Dad's BP was 123/74, I don't see how that is hypertension. Mine normally runs 105-115/65-70, but my hubby's isn't as low as your dad's and they say his BP is considered controlled by his BP medication. They may have lowered or raised the standards lately, but that BP you mentioned seems fine.
BP is more a function of heredity, sometimes made worse by stress, than anything you can give him to eat. They say dark chocolate lowers BP, but it gives me headaches.

 

[Wifezilla]

DEEEPPPP BBRREEEAAAATTTHHHH

Dad may need to have a routine physical, but you can't panic over one reading. Take several over the course of a couple of weeks and see how it averages out.

Now, if it is consistent, there are some things he may need to change. If he eats a lot of sugars, flours, or other processed foods, eliminating those may bring that blood pressure down.

While salt often gets the blame for high blood pressure, salt isn't necessarily the problem. REFINED salt can be. Switching from regular salt to Celtic sea salt can also help. (The celtic sea salt will be gray, and should be sun dried and unrefined.)

While I am not a doctor, 2 years ago I was getting regular blood pressure readings of 149/95. Now mine is 101/62. I went on a carbohydrate restricted diet (less than 50g/day) and my blood pressure dropped. I also lost a LOT of weight.

Giving dad a pill or some chamomile tea MIGHT bring the pressure down a tiny bit, but it wont get to the cause of the problem....which I am guessing is a diet high in carbohydrates.

 

[Mahonri]

123/74 IS FINE.

If his diastolic were over 80 or 85 then we could be concerned. No worries.

I'm a doctor

but not a physician!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Normal blood pressure is 100/60-120/80, your dad's is not high. If the top # is over 130 and the bottom is over 80, then you have something to worry about.

 

[MandyH]

That is a perfectly fine BP, in fact that is a good BP. You also have to factor in what kind of BP monitor you use, what position was the person in when you took it, what the person was doing before you took the BP, etc. I can tell you that the little electronic BP cuffs are not worth a dime, they are never accurate and need to only be used to monitor any fluctuations in BP. The only reliable BP monitor is a BP cuff like the ones used in the doctor's office.

 

[redhen]

yup..he has a fine BP..

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Normal BP is 120/80. It varies from person to person though. I'm not a doctor, but personally i think you have nothing to worry about.

Next time he's at the doctors for something, tell him to ask what his blood pressure is. The doctor will know if its too high or too low.