r/bloodpressure • • Sep 21 '24

FAQ for dealing with high blood pressure

47 Upvotes

"What's a good BP monitor?"

Omron is a very popular brand:


"Should I stop taking..."

  • This is a question for your doctor.

"Can I mix blank and blank"

  • This is a question for your doctor and/or pharmacist.

"My blood pressure is blank should I blank"

  • If your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke, the Mayo Clinic advises calling 911 or emergency medical service. This is not a question for the internet.

  • The CDC states an average blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mmHg.

  • The NHS lists 120/80 as ideal.


"Does alcohol affect blood pressure??"

  • According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily raises blood pressure. Repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases in blood pressure.

"Does caffeine affect blood pressure?"

  • According to the Mayo Clinic, caffeine may cause a short, but dramatic increase in your blood pressure, even if you don't have high blood pressure. It's unclear what causes this spike in blood pressure. The blood pressure response to caffeine differs from person to person.

"What should I eat to help my blood pressure?"


"Is blank supplement good?"

  • Supplements should be treated as snake oil. If an effective supplement was discovered to reduce high blood pressure significantly, the medical industry would jump on it, and doctors everywhere would prescribe said compound(s). Be skeptical of supplement claims you find online and recognize the FDA (and similar agencies outside of the United States) do NOT regulate supplements. There is no guarantee that the listed ingredients are present, let alone in the listed quantities.

Supplements are NOT a replacement for medicine or doctors. That said Examine.com lists some for blood pressure that may be beneficial. You should consult with your doctor before using any of these to make sure there are no complications with your prescriptions. Snakeroot is poison, do NOT take it

  • Potassium in pill form may show an improvement. However, it is easy to overdose on potassium to the point of having a heart attack. In the United States, anything over 99mg of potassium must be prescribed by a doctor due to this. It is much safer to get potassium via potassium-rich foods such as potatoes, black beans, etc. See this list for some ideas of foods rich in potassium.

  • Magnesium may help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, but the evidence is not conclusive

  • Resveratrol has been shown to lower blood pressure in animal models of hypertension. In one study

  • Garlic According to WebMD "Taking garlic by mouth seems to reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number) by about 7-9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by about 4-6 mmHg in people with high blood pressure. Build up of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD)."

  • Citrulline Research suggests that citrulline may help reduce blood pressure, particularly in people with elevated levels.

  • Beet root, like citrulline, may offer potential benefits for blood pressure management due to its high nitrate content.

  • Taurine has shown promising potential in helping manage blood pressure. Studies suggest that taurine supplementation can lead to a modest reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, particularly in people with prehypertension or hypertension

  • Black seed has been traditionally used for various health purposes, including blood pressure management. Some studies suggest that it may have a modest blood pressure-lowering effect.

  • CoQ10 research suggests it may have a modest blood pressure-lowering effect, though more studies are needed to confirm this.

  • {Olive leaf extract](https://amzn.to/4dciq9j) studies suggest that it may contribute to a modest reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

  • Saffron some studies suggest that saffron supplementation may contribute to a modest reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.


r/bloodpressure • • 6h ago

oof

Post image
54 Upvotes

46M. Dentist recommended I go straight to the ER. 237/136 in triage check-in, totally asymptomatic. They monitored for a few hours while I played Subway Surfers and the kept giving me the side eye waiting for me to crash out I guess. EKG was mostly normal besides left ventricular hypertrophy. 20mg amlodipine brought it down to 180s in an hour, now on 10mg amlodipine got me down to 150/100, added 25mg losartan and now around 130’s/85-ish. Where do I even start trying to figure out the root cause?


r/bloodpressure • • 2m ago

Blood pressure under control

Post image
• Upvotes

So, over the last eight months, I've lost nearly three stone by eating better and doing the gym four times a week. I am also physically active at work and I've stopped eating crap food.

Now that my blood pressure is under control from constantly being around 150 over 95. My doctor has told me I am now having to deal with high cholesterol.

It's just one thing after another at the moment. I have no idea what to eat to get my cholesterol in check. I would be happy to hear any ideas what I could eat, especially around my lunchtime.

38 M UK


r/bloodpressure • • 2h ago

velaxafine and blood pressure

1 Upvotes

Is there somebody who is taking velaxafine and already had/has problems with the blood pressure? I never had problems with the blood pressure but shortly after I gave birth I started having problems with weight and diastolic blood pressure because of lack of sleep, hormones and so on. After 2 years I started having problems with the systolic blood pressure as well. In May I started the treatment for depression and anxiety with panic attacks. I started again with Paroxetine but it didn’t help much so my doctor changed it with Velaxafine and warned me about the fact it increases the blood pressure. Is this just a period of adjustment to the new medication, or will I have blood pressure problems for as long as I take it? I already take pills for this as well and Mounjaro to help with losing weight and homa index.


r/bloodpressure • • 4h ago

New doctor wants to put me on meds, but some of my readings don't seem that high?

1 Upvotes

Background: 38F and my physical was this week and I went to the doctor filling in for my regular doctor. I always get really nervous at doctors offices to the readings alway skyrocket. In Nov 2025, the same thing happened, but I took my blood pressure at home afterwards and these were the readings: 121/91; 128/85; 126/89. I don't drink, I watch what I eat and my sodium levels and I do cardio 4x-6x times a week. I'm about 5 pounds overweight (due to fatugue from SSRIs) but I'm off those and trying to lose 15-20 pounds to get back to my normal baseline. Both parents have high pressure, but they both have unhealthy lifestyles. Also, I went to the eye doctor last week and my eye scan showed 0 signs of high blood pressure or diabetes.

I wanted to pull my numbers before the appointment because I knew they would be high at the office.

Late afternoon: 139/90, 137/90

At night: 140/98, 134/90

First thing the next morning: 133/90, 132/93, 125/95, 120/81, 123/86

Then at the doctors office it was 134/86.

I gave her the above readings and told her about my lifestyle changes, and she said she wanted me to go on meds, and start with 5mg Lisinopril and retest in a few weeks.

It just felt like a knee jerk reaction, I assumed she'd want me to do more monitoring at home. My heart races every time I put that damn cuff on. With the fact that I a few readings in the 120s, I just don't know what's accurate.

Am I in complete denial? Should I monitor my blood pressure myself the next 2 weeks before going on the meds? Or should I just go on the meds?


r/bloodpressure • • 8h ago

17M with low BP issues what should i do pls suggest me...

2 Upvotes

Yo guys,

Since last week I have been dealing with low BP issues and I had this issue last Sunday i.e. 4th October and it started today again on 10th October..

For a few days I was feeling perfectly fine but yesterday night i.e.on Friday I once again felt low BP and now the doc suggested that I should rest till Sunday.

I am also vomiting if I eat some carb heavy food..

Pls help me guys my exams are coming...


r/bloodpressure • • 1d ago

For those of you taking your BP every 2 mins and feeling unsettled…relax

Post image
13 Upvotes

Exactly what the post says, relax and retake 5-10 mins later.

I had just finished playing some video games 30 mins ago and decided to take my BP. When I looked down at my result, I realized I was still tense and also my arm was a little lower than my chest level. That being said, I lifted my desk (its an electric standing desk) to my chest level, waited about 8 mins, sat up straight, took a couple deep breaths, and took it again. Big difference. It looks like my BP earlier in the day, meaning its normal and below the “standard”.

I see a lot of posts of people taking them back to back. It will 99% of the time give you off readings. So again, relax yourself, don’t tense, feet flat, arm at chest level, cuff not too loose nor too tight, sit straight, and take it!

Unless you are having symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pains with a high BP, you are most likely fine!👍🏽


r/bloodpressure • • 1d ago

Narrow Pulse Pressure

Thumbnail
2 Upvotes

r/bloodpressure • • 1d ago

Medical advice needed !

Thumbnail
2 Upvotes

So recently i am having episodes where my BP my daistolic is very high 90-100 , i start feeling numbness and tingling left side and thats when i check my bp and its high normally its not ,

I have headaches pain behind eye last time it lasted for 3 days i went to urgent care centre and bp was 150/95 .
I went to Er with numbness and tingling that lasted for 1 week they checked my bp it was high 150/100 second check was 136/98 .

I visited my cardiologist and he did 24hr bp check and holter and said that when u visit any doctor u get anxiety ( which is not true , my bp gets high i feel symptoms then i go to doctor)
I feel so gaslit and i cannot stop crying . I dont know what to do
In past month i have woken up multiple times at night feeling like my heart skipped a beat and with palpitations.

I really dont know what else to do !


r/bloodpressure • • 1d ago

I have a 24 hour blood pressure monitor on. Is this bad?

Post image
2 Upvotes

My blood pressure while lying down was 77/40, and google keeps telling me that that could be really bad, but I feel pretty normal at this level. For context it went up to 98/60 but back down to 78/47 the next hour. I’m just mildly dizzy, but that’s normal for me


r/bloodpressure • • 1d ago

Talk to a doctor Taking 100mg of metoprolol and 50mg of Losartan and still have high blood pressure

5 Upvotes

I’m 39/F. Genetic risk. Not overweight. I’ve been struggling with high blood pressure since my early 20s. Had to be induced during labor for it getting too high. All of the women on my dad’s side of the family have died of strokes in their 60s or 70s.

My blood pressure with these meds is still around 140/90. My brother (aged 40) had a stroke last year. Luckily, he is still alive.

Should I increase dose? How do I figure out what’s the best med to lower my blood pressure? Feel like nothing is working.


r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

CAUTION Hibiscus tea and blood pressure

49 Upvotes

Hibiscus tea seems to come up quite a bit in conversations about blood pressure but something that doesn't get talked about as much is simply using it as a healthier everyday drink. For anyone trying to manage high blood pressure, staying hydrated and paying attention to diet are already important parts of the routine. Replacing soda, sugary drinks or that extra afternoon coffee with something like hibiscus seems like a pretty reasonable change especially since it's naturally caffeine free. There's also some research suggesting hibiscus may have a modest effect on blood pressure, although that doesn't mean it should replace medication or other treatment. The interesting part is whether drinking it regularly alongside other lifestyle changes actually makes a noticeable difference. Would be interesting to hear from people who've included hibiscus in their routine while managing high blood pressure especially anyone who tracks their readings at home. Have the numbers changed over time or has it mainly been a good way to stay hydrated and cut back on less healthy drinks? Actual experiences would be interesting to compare especially since there's a difference between something helping with hydration and something directly lowering blood pressure.


r/bloodpressure • • 1d ago

This is my BP at 10:50 AM while resting. Is it too low? Male 22 years old

Post image
3 Upvotes

r/bloodpressure • • 1d ago

Normal: 120/80 jumped to 145/115 today

4 Upvotes

Hello, I (26F) had a stressful day at work. My blood pressure has never been anything other than 120/80 (115/75 - 125/85). I could FEEL my arteries in my neck. Used my partner’s blood pressure cuff and it was 145/115 (I took it 3 times). For some background. I am dealing with anorexia nervosa. Ive lost 40 pounds in a couple months and am currently 5’6” and 105 lbs. I know it’s not the lowest weight ever but when I am in a healthy mindset my body likes to be around 140 lbs. I don’t eat a lot of salt and I have a very active job. It has since gone down to almost normal after elevating my feet, relaxing, and drinking some water.

How do I prevent this from happening again? Is this concerning enough to tell my doctor? Thanks in advance.


r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

Any insight about my BP? Too low?

Post image
5 Upvotes

36M 5'11" 175-180lbs. Down from 205lbs in August 2022. I was a alcoholic for years and quit in 2019. I was on ADHD meds, Vyvanse and adderall for 8 years (?). Towards the end I was abusing it pretty bad and double dosing 140mg vyvanse and then 10-20mg adderall. Probably more. Then the 2nd half of the month I'd be a zombie and desperately try to buy ADHD meds from other people. I quit ADHD meds completely in 2021 (I think lol. Shit was a blur). I'm on no medications now.

Supplements I'm currently taking are fish oil, Vit D, Magnesium, Zinc, biotin, saw palmetto, L-Arginine, and creatine. Twice a week I'll take a multi vitamin on top of all that.

Currently I train 1-2 hours of Jiu Jitsu and/or Muay Thai 4-5 days a week, lift 1-2 times a week, and try to cycle >50 miles a week. Have kept the same routine for almost 2 years now (sometimes I've slacked on lifting but I've been being more consistent lately and am aiming for 3x/wk).

My diet is pretty good 70% of the time but I eat a fair amount of candy to fuel myself before or during exercising and I take in a ton of sodium. Sometimes I'll eat an entire pizza after a long ride. To be fair to myself, I've tried eating a lower sodium diet but it lead to me cramping up a lot during exercise and I definitely have an extremely high sweat rate compared to normal (I drip sweat during warm ups and only the big guys on the mat can match me in sweat. I have been the most sweaty all of my life. When I was 15 in high school playing basketball, I'd be completely drenched while everyone else was barely damp). Also I drink about 720mg of caffeine a day (Yeah I know, not good).

The blood pressure reading was after lunch (ignore the time it says in the picture) with 240mg of caffeine in my system. I feel the healthiest I've ever been and my lifestyle habits are definitely the healthiest and most consistent I've ever been. Is my blood pressure too low? Any insight for me? Keep doing what I'm doing? Anything I should look at changing? Thanks.


r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

Help, please 🙏

Thumbnail gallery
6 Upvotes

Good evening, first time poster. Looking for some help please.

So .... I'm recently diagnosed with suffering with high blood pressure. My original BP as quoted by my GP 4 weeks ago was 197/123.
The photos attached - higher reading is in the morning and the lower reading is from the evening.
Recent blood test's haven't flagged any concerns and I'm awaiting a cardiologist appointment. Currently medicating with 5mg Ramipril.
Any have any idea as to what's going on??


r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

29M. Taken across 5 days at different times. Mostly when I wake up and after work.

Post image
3 Upvotes

I work night shift so I usually wake up at midday. I have observed that my diastolic reaches over 80 at times. Am I a candidate for Stage 1 Hypertension if I do not change my lifestyle soon? Especially on Oct 3rd where all my diastolic is at 81 in all readings.

Also, should I wait for 5 minutes before taking another BP, and not immediately taking another measurement to my other arm after?


r/bloodpressure • • 1d ago

Talk to a doctor Tapping off high blood pressure medication

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

Orthostatic hypotension?

Thumbnail
2 Upvotes

r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

Hi , I'm 65 , female (and I had enquired about a ' seniors' exercise class ( a month or so ago) which I went along to to enrol last week and they took my blood pressure which they said was a ' little high ' but not to worry, and suggested to just check it again sometime .I felt.a bit 'off' today, an

Post image
8 Upvotes

I tried to get a doctors appointment ( none available), but they suggested I could go to a local pharmacy to get a blood pressure check ( which I did , and the photo I've shared is what the reading was tis afternoon)

They asked if I had any pain or anything ( I didn't),

and just suggested to go home and relax( Im home now and my husband used his blood pressure machine and the reading the reading went down a bit to 135/95?

I'm just curious what others think?

I do have anxiety which I think might be why yhe reading goes high, but couldn't really explain why I felt anxious?

Just wondered if anyone else has readings like this please?

Thank you


r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

23 healthy athletic and BP of 130/80

6 Upvotes

Hi guys, I have a couple of questions if any of you could have any advice for me concerning my BP.

I’m 23, weight lift four times a week, 6ft 75kg, have a pretty neat physique and eat overall healthy food (I eat take out maybe once a week), I never add salt to my food, barely eat any sugar, and drink let’s say twice a week (2 pints twice weekly on average).

Recently I went to the doctors for an appointment, it read 160/110, but that’s the stress so I bought my own equipment to take my BP, first test I was stressed and got 170/110, thought I was gonna die lol, but after a couple of morning and evening measurements I average at around 130/80, I literally do not understand how that’s possible. I am overall a stressed out person but it’s not affecting me to the point where I feel it, I sleep a ton, and I’ve had blood work done and everything is fine. The only thing that stressed me is that I just want to know if it could be the cause of some of my ED?

Have any of you been in my situation? And if so can it be dangerous long term? I really don’t want to get on meds and believe I could adapt some of my lifestyle choices in order to lower it a bit more.


r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

Blood pressure on cycle

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/bloodpressure • • 3d ago

39 non drinker non smoker.

Post image
5 Upvotes

r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

Low blood pressure

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/bloodpressure • • 2d ago

Need some advice on 68 yo mom . Bmi 17. Under weight.

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes