husbands blood pressure

jbjints · Mar 5, 2008

I am 35 years old, married with three children, full time employee and a part time nursing student and my blood pressure tonight was 138/90. I am very worried but I know what I need to do. I need to lose weight by completely change my eating habits and add some physical activities in to my life. I am in need of a lifestyle change but I am just not sure if I have it in me.

I quit smoking almost 6 years ago so I feel like I should be able to lose weight and exercise but I just haven't started yet. I am not sure where I would squeeze the gym in because my leisure time is pretty much slim to none but I like your husband needs to make changes.

Half the battle is knowing you have a problem and the other half is pinpointing that problem and dealing with it. Easier said than done but I like your husband do not really have a choice, changes need to be made.

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 5, 2008

I send both previous posters my best wishes for great success in their management of their hypertension -- and for making the lifestyle changes that need to be made.

However, I caution you about being overly optimistic about the likely effect of those lifestyle changes. Medications are often needed to contol BP in addition to diet and exercise changes. I know that from personal experience. I've lost 30 pounds and do 30-45 minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise 5-6 times per week. But I still need to take 2 medications for my BP, as well as meds for my cholesteral.

While some people see sufficient improvement with lifestyle changes, that's not enough for a lot of us. Please don't hesitate to try the meds if your doctor thinks you need them.

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2008

You guys need to understand that hypertension is also a genetic contribution made by your parents. It is also well known that as you get older your blood pressure tends to go up as well. I agree with the previous poster that you can change all the things you want but your BP might stay the same.

I recommend checking your blood pressure on a daily basis and record your findings for a couple of weeks and present it to your MD at your next visit. It is crucial to understand the trends of your BP as most people suffer from white coat syndrome which can greatly influence your BP at the time of the MD visit.

I do however wish you all the best of luck on all your endeavors including those in the quest of a healthy lifestyle.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 5, 2008

Sorry but we can't provide medical advice. Please get your concerns addressed via his primary care provider.