What is a short list of things I should not do before taking my BP? Also my blood pressure starts to rise about 4pm every day and keeps getting higher until about 10pm.My blood pressure is around 140/90 at 4pm and rises to around 170/115 by around 8pm.I know that this is very high but is there anything that could be making it rise every evening?
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Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Thread starter Collana
- Start date
Part Time Mime
New member
You need to sit down and wait for several minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Do not move or talk while measuring. And finally, it is better to have someone who will help you to take measurements.
Well I was thinking about a short practical list of things that affect BP.Some of them listed in the book that comes with the BP monitor I have says not to eat or drink 30 mins before taking BP but that is almost impossible for me because I am always drinking and taking a snack for my hypoglycemia.They also say sit down for 15 mins and rest.I don't understand why they would say that because in fact are we suppose to be taking "real world" blood pressure measurements? You would think that a BP measurement should reflect what you have say a minuter or two minutes after you sit down.They also say don't excercise 30 mins before yada yada. What I was looking for was a more practical list that most everyone uses.When you go to the DR,atleast mine,he never asks if you ate,drank,ran,or anything else when he takes a measurement.And if you're high like I was,I wasn't asked anything.I was just put on BP medicine. I'm hoping someone who has high BP can charm in here. I have a small auto fill monitor that I use to take my own measurements. I don't have to pump it up and listed to an S scope either.
komal karthik
New member
Yes, there are practical things you can do.
If over weight, lose weight.
Reduce sodium intake to not more than 1,000mg. Yes, I know, this is lower than many people will claim it should . This allows for extra sodium that slips into your diet unknowingly.
Drink plenty of water, 8 glasses per day.
Do not eat fast food, too much sodium.
Do not eat Chinese food, too much sodium.
Do not eat in resturants if possible, too much sodium.
Limit or do not drink soft drinks, adds unnecessary sodium.
Do not cook with salt. Taste buds will adjust to no salt, will take time.
Do not add salt to food at the table.
Limit beef to about 2 times per week. Cattle are fed salt in order to gain water weight before they are sold for butchering. That sodium remains in the meat increasing our sodium intake.
The DASH Diet is a good guide for meals which will be balanced in sodium and potassium.
Eat foods to provide potassium.
Get copy of your lab work and be sure and ask what level your potassium should be. Low sodium V-8 juice is high in potassium if you are too low. (TOO LITTLE POTASSIUM IS DANGEROUS and TOO MUCH POTASSIUM IS DANGEROUS). Potassium helps regulate the electrical system of the heart, simple way of stating it.
Learn to relax and flow with life and not get stressed.
Do not get frustrated with other drivers. Sit back, relax, because you cannot go around, cannot go over them. Your frustration will raise the BP.
Anxiety will elevate BP. Stay calm.
Exercise daily. Do not hold your breath during exercise, especially lifting weights.
If you are living a past pace life, slow down.
Exercise does elevate BP and is normal. This is the reason to not test BP for 1 hr. after exercise.
The "sitting" blood pressure is the only measurment doctors know how to treat.
The proper way to take blood pressure is to sit still for at least 5 minutes with back supported, no talking, no wiggling, feet flat on floor, and arm at heart level. This is according to hypertension specialists. However, most doctors are in a hurry and do not take the blood pressure the correct way. This is why it is very important you keep a record of your BP taken at home the proper way. Take your BP record with you when you visit your doctor.
You have plenty of time to take BP between your snacks for hypoglycemia. I have to do the same for diabetes to prevent lows.
Was your BP at time of diagnosis based on the reading at the doctor's office? If so, you may be one of many who have "white coat hypertension" when seeing a doctor. This is even more the reason to keep BP record at home in a relaxed atmosphere. Anxiety will raise blood pressure.
I saw a diabetes specialist recently and normally do not have white coat hypertension, however, I did that day (new doctor, intimidating personality , etc.). My BP shot up sky high. Normally my BP is 128/40 but this time it went to 178/98 or something like that. I had been warned about his intimidating personality and thought I had steeled myself to the point he would not intimidate me. Hmmm...I did a number on my blood pressure for sure.
Were you given a "diuretic" along with the BP medication? If not, ask your doctor why not since a diuretic should be the first line of defense.
Hope this will be of help to you.
If over weight, lose weight.
Reduce sodium intake to not more than 1,000mg. Yes, I know, this is lower than many people will claim it should . This allows for extra sodium that slips into your diet unknowingly.
Drink plenty of water, 8 glasses per day.
Do not eat fast food, too much sodium.
Do not eat Chinese food, too much sodium.
Do not eat in resturants if possible, too much sodium.
Limit or do not drink soft drinks, adds unnecessary sodium.
Do not cook with salt. Taste buds will adjust to no salt, will take time.
Do not add salt to food at the table.
Limit beef to about 2 times per week. Cattle are fed salt in order to gain water weight before they are sold for butchering. That sodium remains in the meat increasing our sodium intake.
The DASH Diet is a good guide for meals which will be balanced in sodium and potassium.
Eat foods to provide potassium.
Get copy of your lab work and be sure and ask what level your potassium should be. Low sodium V-8 juice is high in potassium if you are too low. (TOO LITTLE POTASSIUM IS DANGEROUS and TOO MUCH POTASSIUM IS DANGEROUS). Potassium helps regulate the electrical system of the heart, simple way of stating it.
Learn to relax and flow with life and not get stressed.
Do not get frustrated with other drivers. Sit back, relax, because you cannot go around, cannot go over them. Your frustration will raise the BP.
Anxiety will elevate BP. Stay calm.
Exercise daily. Do not hold your breath during exercise, especially lifting weights.
If you are living a past pace life, slow down.
Exercise does elevate BP and is normal. This is the reason to not test BP for 1 hr. after exercise.
The "sitting" blood pressure is the only measurment doctors know how to treat.
The proper way to take blood pressure is to sit still for at least 5 minutes with back supported, no talking, no wiggling, feet flat on floor, and arm at heart level. This is according to hypertension specialists. However, most doctors are in a hurry and do not take the blood pressure the correct way. This is why it is very important you keep a record of your BP taken at home the proper way. Take your BP record with you when you visit your doctor.
You have plenty of time to take BP between your snacks for hypoglycemia. I have to do the same for diabetes to prevent lows.
Was your BP at time of diagnosis based on the reading at the doctor's office? If so, you may be one of many who have "white coat hypertension" when seeing a doctor. This is even more the reason to keep BP record at home in a relaxed atmosphere. Anxiety will raise blood pressure.
I saw a diabetes specialist recently and normally do not have white coat hypertension, however, I did that day (new doctor, intimidating personality , etc.). My BP shot up sky high. Normally my BP is 128/40 but this time it went to 178/98 or something like that. I had been warned about his intimidating personality and thought I had steeled myself to the point he would not intimidate me. Hmmm...I did a number on my blood pressure for sure.
Were you given a "diuretic" along with the BP medication? If not, ask your doctor why not since a diuretic should be the first line of defense.
Hope this will be of help to you.
Beyond Mordant
New member
I really wasn't asking about thngs to bring down BP. I just wanted to know things not to do before taking a BP measurement.My owners manual seems alittle picky so I wanted to know the things to avoid that are really a important.
As far as white coat BP is concerned I am a technologist and where/worn a white coat so I am perfectly normal with white coats.It is the co-payment that I was concerned about raising my BP
As far as white coat BP is concerned I am a technologist and where/worn a white coat so I am perfectly normal with white coats.It is the co-payment that I was concerned about raising my BP