Blood preasure info

[large]

I replied to this in FG, but i thought i would get a much better response on this board pasting below :



quote:
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Originally posted by sweet
Hey guys, I am a nurse and I work on a busy medicine unit. I can tell you the majority of my patients are using ace inhibitors and other antihypertensive meds.

I would strongly recommend not using PB meds such as vasotec and altace, these meds can drop your BP to dangerously low levels. When giving these meds in the hospital it is necessary to take vital signs beforehand, if the patients heart rate is less than 60bpm I am not allowed to give it. A low heart rate combined with excessive hypotension will combine for a very deadly combination; not only will there be an inadequate fluid volume in your circulatory system, your cardiovascular system will not be able to compensate; this would lead to cell death due to inadequate oxygenation. Take my word, you don’t want that.

Not to mention it requires regular renal function tests and potassium serum levels.

It also requires strict potassium intake restrictions and also has a very long list of drugs it interacts with.

I keep telling people that high BP is only a problem over the long term (were talking years upon years here). Over the course of 10-15 weeks it will not cause a problem. As long as your BP falls to previous levels afterwards a 3 month spike of mild to moderate hypertension will not cause any adverse effects.

There is a very slight chance you could have a CVA (stroke) if you systolic (top number) gets above 190, but like I said it is only slight.

I don't know your situation, but I would hazard to guess that your BP is not constantly high, many things effect BP, stress, exercise, even the time of day.

Try this; take BP readings 3 times in one day; Morning, afternoon and night. The average of those 3 is a more accurate indication of what your BP is really like on a constant basis.

Keep an eye on it, if you are nervous come off the gear, or fess up to your doc.

Just some info for you:

BP standards for an adult.

(Optimal) 120/80-130/85 (normal))
130-139/85-89 (high normal)
140-159/90-99 (mild hypertension)
160--179/100-109 (moderate hypertension)
180/110 and higher (severe hypertension)

A RESTING heart rate between 60-90 is normal.

Keep in mind these are constant readings.

Your bp will be lowest in the morning and afternoon, and peaks in the late afternoon and evening.
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Im not going to disagree with this statement at all , after all you are nurse, but i have one question to you witch i think you will be able to answer, why would they state diferent standards in the american heart foundation for example ? that to me is wrong if your stats are correct with im sure they are and u guys use them in the hospital why would they write false info ?

cheers

[imonboardtoo]

what u asking? what is high BP? and are you pointing out conflicting standards as in benchmark numbers or something else?

[large]

what i was asking that user in FG was why do they have diff standards in the american... for example. If they use these

(Optimal) 120/80-130/85 (normal))
130-139/85-89 (high normal)
140-159/90-99 (mild hypertension)
160--179/100-109 (moderate hypertension)
180/110 and higher (severe hypertension)

in the hospital, is it not contradictin themselves ? Sorry if i wasnt clear

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by large
what i was asking that user in FG was why do they have diff standards in the american... for example. If they use these

(Optimal) 120/80-130/85 (normal))
130-139/85-89 (high normal)
140-159/90-99 (mild hypertension)
160--179/100-109 (moderate hypertension)
180/110 and higher (severe hypertension)

in the hospital, is it not contradictin themselves ? Sorry if i wasnt clear

I woudl say a standard answer is the most medical reccomendations are different from association to association. no one can ever agree on anything inside the medical community to many big egos.

[imonboardtoo]

But the AHA numbers are not that different from what the other guy said. Maybe it's just terminology. AHA says normal is under 120 for systolic but calls 120-130 pre-hypertensive. There is a big push in the US now (AMA too) to call anything even a point over 120 hypertensive.

All other numbers are in line as far as mild to severe hypertension, although AHA sets anything above 160 as Stage 2 or very dangerous.

[large]

I agree with Stone Cold, the medical association doesnt seems to know what the hell to set as standard! I for one can say that im usualy always in the 130's during the day, the only time in the 120's or the teens is at night before going to sleep when im tired...

[imonboardtoo]

True. And most important is your own natural BP. Some people normally run at 100 for systolic. For them 115 would be hypertension. If you're always at a certain number, that's normal for you.