Drinking and BP

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 15 2010

Q: I drink 32oz. of dark red wine a night. My blood pressure is about 130/95 without meds. Is that okay?

A: I am more worried about your drinking habits than your pre-hypertension. Your blood pressure is in the range where you should start making lifestyle changes to get it into better control. You are drinking over an average sized bottle of wine a night. This is not healthy. I suggest you discuss this with your doctor.

Cause of pre-hypertension

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Apr 25 2009

Q: Is pre-hypertension hereditary or is it caused by stress?

A: Your genetics may put you at risk for getting high blood pressure. Your inherited genes are just one risk factor. Medical diseases can also cause pre hypertension and high blood pressure. You can control many things that contribute to getting pre-hypertension and hypertension by your lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle that includes managing stress and regular exercise is the best way to prevent high blood pressure.

Defining high blood pressure and hypertension

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 10 2009

Q: Is there any difference between high blood pressure and hypertension?

A: Your blood pressure can be high but still not be in a range where medication is needed. This is known as pre-hypertension. With pre-hypertension, your blood pressure is not normal but you are not yet hypertensive. When blood pressure is high enough for medical treatment, it is known as hypertension. For more details about the difference, go to an article discussing the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7).

For a shorter version showing treatment guidelines, click here.

Safely reducing medication

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 11 2009

Q: I just started high blood pressure medication few weeks ago with lopresso and now my average blood pressure is around 110/73 but I feel dizzy when I take the medicine. I just ordered the resperate and my original blood pressure falls between pre-hypertension and stage 1 hypertension. How can I safely stop/reduce the medication?

A: You need the help of your doctor to safely stop taking blood pressure medication. Make an appointment with your doctor to find out if tapering your medication would be appropriate at this time.

Pre-hypertension and intervention

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Oct 10 2008

Q: My son is 20 yrs old and he gets constant headaches. His blood pressure runs 136/83. What should he do?

A: Your son needs to see his doctor and be evaluated. His blood pressure is in the prehypertension range as his systolic pressure is between 120-139mm Hg and his diastolic pressure is between 80-89mm Hg. Without intervention, he could develop high blood pressure.

What time of day to take your blood pressure

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jan 21 2008

Q: How often should I take my blood pressure measurements? Every day or once a week? Morning or Night?

A: How often you need to take your blood pressure depends upon many factors including whether you have pre-hypertension, controlled hypertension, or uncontrolled hypertension. Ask your doctor how frequently you need to be monitored. Early morning high blood pressure has been associated with a greater risk of stroke.

Hypertension over a period of time

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Aug 03 2007

Q: Is hypertension a condition that worsens over time?

A: Untreated, hypertension can lead to a heart attack, stroke, and death. It certainly can get worse with time. Pre-hypertension leads to hypertension if corrective action, such as life style changes, is not taken.

Pre-hypertension and medicine

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jul 07 2007

Q: My BP history is between 120/80 and 135/85. My new physician told me on the second visit that I had high BP and he put me on 180 mg. of BP medicine. I quit taking it because it made me sick. Why would he consider my BP numbers high?

A: Blood pressure over 120/80 and less than 140/90 falls into a gray area that is being called pre-hypertension. This condition is associated with future development of high blood pressure so most physicians recommend life style changes or other therapeutic interventions depending on an individual’s risk factors.

Blood pressure change from morning to night

Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 29 2007

Q: Why is blood pressure high in the early morning and then low during the rest of the day?

A: The body has a natural biologic rhythm which regulates the release of hormones and bodily functions. Because of this, blood pressure in most people starts to increase in the early morning and peaks in the late morning or early afternoon. It then gradually lowers until the cycle starts over. Throughout the cycle, blood pressure remains within the normal range for people not suffering from high blood pressure.