138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

[Waterbabe_Helena]

After walking 2 miles plus doing aerobics today I had my BP taken by the surgery nurse. It was 140/100, which she said was too high.

I demanded a recount and five minutes later it was 138/98 which she was happy with. She said she'd prefer to see 138/90. If I'd rested even longer and she'd tried a third time, would it have gone down?

Any comments on 138/98? What would be perfect?
I felt quite nervous being in her company, I wonder if that affected it?

Helena

[Richt]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

I will read with interest all the answers also as its not something I am familiar with.

[ttdriver]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

Blood pressure can fluctuate alot within minutes, depending on activity level, nervousness, etc.

The best indicator is to have it taken often and average it out.

Betty

[2big4mysize]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

you just worked out and were nervous? did she know this? your too high was just a little too high ans considering all you had just done remarkable well.

anything with the bottom number of 90 is considered high and now they are paying more attendtion to the bottom number as the cause of high BP damamge.
if you are worried start getting your BP done daily before you workout and see. the exercise will lower your overal blood pressure but it will raise it during your workouts.

[sallyseachange]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

...I felt quite nervous being in her company, I wonder if that affected it?

Helena

White coat nerves can certainly affect BP

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

WHITE COAT NERVES? BRILLIANT EXPRESSION - I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

The nurse had just tried to persuade me to have a cervical smear test (have avoided them for 15 years) and that is more likely to have raised my blood pressure than the exercise!

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

you just worked out and were nervous? did she know this?

I told her I'd just walked 2 miles and done aerobics. She said that should not make any difference.

It was amazing that I dropped 2 points in 5 minutes. It might have gone lower if she'd done it a third time.

[Marvin]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

When I go to my Dr's office, it's not unusual to have my blood pressure drop several points when tested over time. I think we do calm as we sit. I can't say your exercise didn't affect it, because I think personally it did, but I'm not a medical person. I know it does for me.

I agree, it would have dropped if you had tested it again.

[bradybunch]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

My sister is a Rn. when she takes my blood pressure it is always fine but let me go to my doctors office and it will skyrocket. He makes me very nervous fussing about my weight, glad to hear its not just me.

[2big4mysize]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

they actually have a medical term called white coat high blood pressure it is that prevalent.

[NinaMarie]

Re: 138/98 at age 48 319 pounds - comments?

Interested in reading these threads because I'm in school for nursing.

Okay....the OP your nurse was completely awful!! You aren't supposed to take pulse or blood pressure after excercise if you are looking for your resting rates....(this would be what you would experience in a normal doctor's office)

Also the fact that 140/100 was bad but 138/98 was okay to her makes absolutely no sense what-so-ever! Those two readings are essentially the same.

Finally, white coat syndrome typically raises the top number, not the bottom so much. The top number is in reference to how fast your heart is pumping, essentially, and the bottom number is how hard it has to pump. So (I actually have white coat syndrome, lol. Go figure) to use myself as an example, if I take my BP at home it's normally about 122/68 to 125/70. When I go to the doctor, it might raise to 140/70 with is a typical indicator of white coat syndrome (the top number is a lot higher than the bottom). I always tell a new doctor I have white coat and to retake it in a few minutes after I calm down and it is always back to normal the second time around.

As for what these numbers really mean, you are hypertensive....I am not a doctor obviously...I would imagine that they wouldn't suggest BP medicine for that on first reading but if you loose weight and the numbers are still that high it's something to possibly consider....Best of luck to you!