ROID

What is the normal range for blood pressure for a male / 26yrs ?
Mine has consistently been around 140/90 for the past 2 months.I've gotten different opinions, some say it's not that bad , others say it's borderline high for my age.
Prior to that it has always been 120-125/85-90.

" A cookie without sugar is just a cracker" ~ ancient voodoo proverb

"A man with infinite patience is never left waiting."~ROID's past incarnation

P-funk

I'd say 140/90 is high.

120/80 is supposed to be "normal".

Yan would know more about what is normal and what is not though.

patrick

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Yanick

140/90 is hypertensive especially at 26 y/o.

The new guidelines actually have dropped hypertension to 135/85, i believe the AHA sets them up.

Where, how and when was it taken? And are you, or have you been recently, juicing?

"The greatest obstacle to knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge." -Barry Marshall, Nobel Laureate

Big Smoothy

True, that is only one readin (even though he's had high BP readings in the past.

Maybe you had a high sodium meal prior to the test? Traffic stress? White-coat syndrome.

Could be some variable - or, perhaps not.

If you're concerned, I'd get a home-monitor and take regular readings and record them over a period of time.

My last reading was 150/100.

Terrible. Especially the lower number. I have to do regular readings at home.

Military men are dumb, stupid animals, to be used as pawns for foreign policy
– Henry Kissinger (January-February 2003 edition of Eagle Newsletter)

Yanick

I have a hypothesis about a transient increase in BP post training if measuring on a limb which was involved in that training session. I don't have the means to carry out my semi-scientific/most anecdotal experiment yet (IOW i'm not satisfied that i would be able to control most of the variables), but i am working out the kinks in my head and when i get the opportunity i will be running this. If i have the means (which i plan to have in the coming months), this may turn into a N=2+ type of deal. I may even be able to set it up in terms of sedentary vs. trained individuals etc.

As well i have not found any literature as of yet that really sheds light on what i am trying to figure out, i haven't been looking too hard but i have been looking, so if anyone has such research i'd love to take a look.

"The greatest obstacle to knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge." -Barry Marshall, Nobel Laureate

bandaidwoman

No, 135/85 is now prehypertensive.

anything above 120/80 is abnormal, the bible of hypertension community JNC 7 discusses it.

Official Race Member of the Crank Crushing Rednecks

Eat more mud, mountain bike until you die!

XX Feminine power

Yanick

Yes ma'am you are correct. Although i didn't know about the JNC 7 or what not, i just remember having a discussion about it with a doc and he said something about a person with 135/85 is now considered to need some sort of intervention.

"The greatest obstacle to knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge." -Barry Marshall, Nobel Laureate

ROID

No juice in over 2 yrs.

I get a check up at the doc every 6 months or so. Last one was Jan. and it was 140/ 88or 90 taken on the arm with the sleeve and pump thing. I thought it was high but the nurse said it really wasn't that bad ??? A week ago I gave blood and got another reading, same method and it was still 140/85.

I purchased a home meter and yesterday it read 134/79 w/ a heart rate of 72bpm.

I do cardio 5 days a week/ lift 3days/week.
Diet isn't that great but no fast food, soft drinks. Mainly baked potatos ,rice, chicken, some frozens things. I've decreased my alcohol intake to about 10-12 beers per week.

Is this something i need to go to the doc about specfically ? Should this be a big concern ?

" A cookie without sugar is just a cracker" ~ ancient voodoo proverb

"A man with infinite patience is never left waiting."~ROID's past incarnation

Yanick

With a BP like that, you are not really gonna stroke out on the spot or anything (during intense exercising your BP spikes to some insane numbers, so you're probably safe from any immediate risks), but the problem with hypertension (or as Bandaidwoman pointed out, prehypertension which increases risks of hypertension later in life) is that it increases your risks for tons of health problems later in life, namely heart failure and coronary artery disease. Over time it can beat up the kidneys and cause a slew of other complications.

Lifestyle modifications can and should be implemented now. DASH diet is a good place to start (just google it, tons of info). Obviously monitoring it is a good thing too, once a week or bi weekly unless you really want to be detailed and do it everyday to see how events in your life, diet, training may impact the readings. I also don't completely trust those stupid ones they sell that measure your BP themselves. Better to get a cheap sphygmomanometer/stethoscope and learn to check it yourself, its not hard and more accurate IMO.

Also, an inadequate stress outlet will lead to physiological changes (htn being one of them). So if you have a stressful life, tend to worry, be anxious etc, look into stuff like meditation, take warm baths, maybe some aromatherapy, or simple things like listening to calming music for 30min/day, or taking walks to just clear your mind and such can help.

As to the question about whether your reading warrants medication, its a tough call. Maybe bandaidwoman (hopefully she'll be around to help out) can shed some light, she'd know a lot better than I. A call to the doc wouldn't hurt, I mean the criteria to diagnose HTN is two readings with a minimum of 12 hours apart, i believe.

Take home message is, you can start to implement changes in your lifestyle now which can possibly control your BP on their own, monitoring your BP regularly is never bad and a phone call or a MD appointment can't really hurt.

"The greatest obstacle to knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge." -Barry Marshall, Nobel Laureate

bandaidwoman

Some docs treat prehypertesion aggressively, some don't. There is no general consensus yet.

Although your alcohol intake is moderate and not heavy, some people are sensitive to the hypertensive effects of alcohol and I tell them to try to stop it altogether for at least a month to see what happens. Make sure you are not taking ibuprofen more than three times a week since they have hypertensive effects in those that are susceptible. I can't speak for others but I treat prehypertension aggressively since there are more and more data that prehypertension wreaks havoc on vascular health long before someone becomes a full blown hypertensive. You need a simple urine test since sometimes early nephritis ( leakage of protein) can cause secondary hypertension in someone as young as you are. And by all means try the DASH diet, I have seen spectacular results.

Official Race Member of the Crank Crushing Rednecks

Eat more mud, mountain bike until you die!

XX Feminine power

ROID

I'm gonna monitor things daily for the next month. Decrease alcohol intake to maybe a 6 drinks/beers one night a week. Organize my diet a little better.

I was consuming a lot of alcohol prior to Jan. 09'. For about 3 months; Oct., Nov., Dec.; I was going through 1/5 liquor and more than 1 case of beer per week. I'm pretty sure this was the cause.

" A cookie without sugar is just a cracker" ~ ancient voodoo proverb

"A man with infinite patience is never left waiting."~ROID's past incarnation

IronAddict

Along with all those risks associated with alcohol, you'll probably get Gall Stones first.

The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

ROID

You mean there are going to be side effects to my reckless lifestyle ? Surely you jest dear fellow

I do need to be more conservative with my not so good habits. I don't smoke at least.

" A cookie without sugar is just a cracker" ~ ancient voodoo proverb

"A man with infinite patience is never left waiting."~ROID's past incarnation

bandaidwoman

at or below 120/80

you are prehypertensive or even hypertensive according to JNC 7

Official Race Member of the Crank Crushing Rednecks

Eat more mud, mountain bike until you die!

XX Feminine power

ROID

I was mistaken about my readings prior to my noticing of the elevated BP.

It was 120-125/75-80.

Anyway, thanks for the info. You all have added years to my life.

" A cookie without sugar is just a cracker" ~ ancient voodoo proverb

"A man with infinite patience is never left waiting."~ROID's past incarnation

Ajaykumar

regularly my friend having high blood pressure he is unable to control it any idea

KelJu

My blood pressure runs a between 140-150 over 80. It has been that way my entire adult life.

ROID

I'll come to your funeral

" A cookie without sugar is just a cracker" ~ ancient voodoo proverb

"A man with infinite patience is never left waiting."~ROID's past incarnation

KelJu

Yeah, I don't expect to live very long. I already get chest pains now and then. I am sure all the crystal meth and coke I snorted in my late teens and early 20s and the steroids I did in my mid 20s didn't help the situation.