High Blood Pressure!

[Raffine]

I just got back from an appointment with an endodontist where I was supposed to have a root canal (fun!) and they refused to do it because they found I have HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE! 145/101! They checked it three times, and the last time it was up to 150/104!

I've never had the slightest issue with this, as a matter of fact, it usually runs quite low and below normal. I'm in pretty good shape, my diet is healthier than average, I'm not an ounce overweight, I don't drink - but I do smoke and there is a family history of this on my dad's side.

I already have an apointment next week with my primary doctor for a checkup, so now I guess we have something to discuss, as opposed to how these usually go:
Q> How have you been feeling?
A> Fine.
Q> Any problems or questions?
A> Nope.
Q> We'll run the standard tests and if everything checks out I'll see you next time.
A> OK. Bye.

 I'm gonna call his office and see if I need to come in immediately.

So now I guess I wait for my head to explode. . . 

[Menard]

I just got back from an appointment with an endodontist where I was supposed to have a root canal (fun!) and they refused to do it because they found I have HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE! 145/101! They checked it three times, and the last time it was up to 150/104!

It's high enough for concern when a procedure is about to be performed, but it's not at any extreme level.

If you have not had a history of high blood pressure, it could have been anxiety; or the doctor's assistant was stacked.

[InspectorDC]

It's not high enough to be worried, you'll get that down again in no time with some minor treatment (if even needed, could very well be a little anxiety as the guest said)

[Raffine]

Thanks, guys. It just was a bit of a shock, like being told by your ophthalmologist he can't fit you for glasses because of that third arm they discovered sprouting from your back. 

I just got back from walking over a mile, so I'm on the fast-track to recovery. 

[ulthar]

If you have not had a history of high blood pressure, it could have been anxiety; or the doctor's assistant was stacked.

Exactly.

Mine does the same thing.  Low-low-low-low (at one point when I was 18, it was SO low, I stayed unconscious for about a month...), but when I go into the to doctor's office, it reads high - almost as high as your first reading.

I don't like Dr. visits.  They tend to try to find things WRONG with me!

And a root canal is stressful (for the patient...I'm not sure the docs care that much).

I'm a bit surprised they got wigged out by this.  It's not THAT high for a transient reading, and that it got higher once they told you about it (and you started to worry more) seems to make sense to me (a lay person, not an MD).  You'd think they see this all the time for root canal procedures.

If it checks out okay with your MD, you MIGHT want to consider changing dentists.  If they are THAT scared to do procedures.....well, I'd not trust 'em myself.

Zap can offer some more authoritative advice.

[asimpson2006]

Mine is usually pretty low usually under 120/80 though at times I have been above that number, it's more or less something that is uncommon for me  I think I've had it had 160/80 one time or something around.  For just a little over a year I had my blood pressure checked weekly and for a while it was multiple times a week (I was visiting a wound center once a week and had a visiting nurse for 3 months b/c of that)

I usually find lots of way to relax myself to help bring it down if it's too high such as meditation, light music and reading to relax.

Also a bad movie now and then doesn't hurt if you enjoy it.

I also try and keep my sodium intake down.  Now that I'm trying to cut down on the fast food that I eat, I can generally cut my sodium intake by a large amount.

[Menard]

It's not high enough to be worried, you'll get that down again in no time with some minor treatment (if even needed, could very well be a little anxiety as the guest said)

Who the hell are you calling a guest?

[trekgeezer]

Yes, there is a condition called White Coat Syndrome.  The very site of a doctor makes mine rise.

[Hammock Rider]

Raff,
 Try to avoid getting sucked into taking any kind of meds over this. It's not THAT high and should be treatable with exercise and relxation techniques. Also , you may have to give up the tobacco if you want to lower it. Family history can surely be an indicator of a possible health issue, but many times you can deal with a problem through lifestyle changes.I take hypertension meds and they have plenty of negative side effects. Check them out online. Getting off them once you start is tough too, because they can have some nasty withdrawl effects, in some people. Do some research if you want and do what you feel best, just don't let someone buffalo you into the meds. I'm nowhere near being a doctor, I'm just a fat guy who knows about some medical conditions through personal experience.

[Menard]

The very site of a doctor makes mine rise.

 

You must really be into doctors.

[Menard]

Raff,
 Try to avoid getting sucked into taking any kind of meds over this. It's not THAT high and should be treatable with exercise and relxation techniques. Also , you may have to give up the tobacco if you want to lower it. Family history can surely be an indicator of a possible health issue, but many times you can deal with a problem through lifestyle changes.I take hypertension meds and they have plenty of negative side effects. Check them out online. Getting off them once you start is tough too, because they can have some nasty withdrawl effects, in some people. Do some research if you want and do what you feel best, just don't let someone buffalo you into the meds. I'm nowhere near being a doctor, I'm just a fat guy who knows about some medical conditions through personal experience.

Now folks, let's not get into lifestyle recommendations here.

So far this is a one-time thing that is most likely due to anxiety, or it could be organic as such due to something ingested, or otherwise a combination of different things.

If one's blood pressure is high one day, they don't need to be going out and making lifestyle changes all of the sudden. High blood pressure is only diagnosed when it is consistently high over a series of checks; not due to it being high on an odd occasion, or else everyone of us can be declared as having high blood pressure.

Uh, let's all try to keep our heads on our shoulders for now.

[InspectorDC]

It's not high enough to be worried, you'll get that down again in no time with some minor treatment (if even needed, could very well be a little anxiety as the guest said)

Who the hell are you calling a guest?

Haha sorry man, I must have scrolled just enough down to only see the "guest" part and not your name. Didn't mean to be rude.... or did I? 

[Rev. Powell]

It's probably anxiety.  I used to get high BP readings at doctor's offices, but low readings when I measured it at home.  According to one study, "Few people relish the thought of a filling or root canal. Gobetti says a typical patient's blood pressure might rise by 10 or 15 points because of nervousness just walking into a dentist's office."  

Dentists don't like to perform procedures if your BP is elevated because "anesthetic behaves differently in patients with high blood pressure and hypertensive patients typically bleed more during surgery."

http://www.ur.umich.edu/0405/Sept13_04/19.shtml

I wouldn't worry.  But you've inspired me to start a thread about my own health anxieties.

[Ash]

My blood pressure has been steadily increasing over the last few years.
It runs on my father's side of the family.  My dad is 64 years old and he's obsessive when it comes to his BP. 

My diet has become much better over the years.  Whereas before I'd eat just about anything, now you'll find the words "fat free" printed on most of the stuff in my fridge.
I also use salt very sparingly. (have for years)

I like to donate plasma for extra cash and out of the last 6 times I went in to donate, I was turned away 5 times because of high blood pressure.

It's always my diastolic pressure that's too high. 
(the bottom number)
My systolic pressure is always fine.

I have an appointment to see a doctor tomorrow for it.

[Menard]

My blood pressure has been steadily increasing over the last few years.
It runs on my father's side of the family.  My dad is 64 years old and he's obsessive when it comes to his BP. 

My diet has become much better over the years.  Whereas before I'd eat just about anything, now you'll find the words "fat free" printed on most of the stuff in my fridge.
I also use salt very sparingly. (have for years)

I like to donate plasma for extra cash and out of the last 6 times I went in to donate, I was turned away 5 times because of high blood pressure.

It's always my diastolic pressure that's too high. 
(the bottom number)
My systolic pressure is always fine.

I have an appointment to see a doctor tomorrow for it.

I don't have high blood pressure, though it has, as anyone's does, been elevated at times.

The only reason I mention that is that I used to donate to a plasma clinic. I noticed a trend in my blood pressure that was related to how much activity I'd had that day, or week; regardless if it was through work or exercise.

When I worked at a factory one summer, while the inside temperature was 10 degrees higher than the 95 degree outside temperature, my blood pressure was amazingly in good numbers and pretty stable. It seems to follow that course if I do a good workload or exercise up a good sweat.

Being that you do have an elevated blood pressure, I don't know if it would work much for you, but if working up a good sweat did help to lower it a bit, you may be able to use that to your advantage on days you want to donate at the plasma clinic.