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Ashley -> Health Educator

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just below the surface


10 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hugs

Some medications will reduce systolic more than diastolic.  Beta blockers only work by reducing heart rate so they have a limited ability to bring down blood pressure. Diuretic remove excess water so the heart doesn't have to work so hard. Often a combination is necessary to get all three numbers in order. I take a diuretic because my Arthritis causes a lot of edema. I take a beta blocker because my heart would otherwise run to fast and start to skip. I've reduced both of them and added an angio tension inhibiter to get the span between systolic and diastolic closer. It does this by loosening the tension on the arteries. This drops pressure a lot but more in the systolic. So I split pills and check often with my monitor. I had perfect blood pressure till I got arthritis. It isn't as complicated or work as it sounds. I do have to compensate for anxiety.

Davit
10 years ago 0 32 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I was diagnosed with endometriosis and had surgery three weeks ago to remove an ovary and the endometriosis surrounding the ovary.
My doctor told me that hormones in dairy could aggravate the endometriosis and it would be a good idea to eliminate .  thats why no dairy…that and the fact that i discovered its high in "bad" fat which doesn't help my heart worry in the least...
10 years ago 0 4027 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Jenn,
You do sound healthy.  My bp is managed with minimal medicine, at 118/82, but I'm not sure the diastolic rate is such a big deal.  I am eating  dairy, and wonder why you've cut that out?  I've never smoked, drank nor used unprescribed drugs, so I'm a "clean machine".
 
Could  that anxiety be an internal pressure to reach those great numbers you mentioned?  Taking Tai Chi, among other things, have let me become easier on myself, so I've lost 30 pounds, but over 36 months, along with inches off my body, but I can walk a mile without strain on my heart.
10 years ago 0 11214 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Sounds like you are doing great canadianjem! Good work on doing all the hard work you have already done. You could look into food sensitivities or talk to a specialist if you have more questions about diet but it sounds like you are doing great to me diet wise!
 
Wishing you a calm and happy holidays as well. 
 
 
 
 
Ashley, Health Educator
10 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
It would appear that you are doing very well except for the anxiety. There probably is nothing else to do diet wise. You are doing better than me in that department. I make a nice sweet raspberry wine besides semi dry and dry. I really prefer the sweet one. I see your BP is closer to the 40 point spread than mine which is why I had cholesterol checked. At 63 I probably have some hardening of the arteries and I do have a murmur. 
All I can say is that CBT does work, but it takes time. Sometimes a lot of time.

Davit
10 years ago 0 32 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Actually, I am a very healthy person.  resting blood pressure is 102/68
i don't drink (no more than 1 glass of fabulous red sweet sweet wine with dinner), i don't smoke, i exercise and life weights regularly ( or at least i did before this anxiety became a problem over 3 months ago).
I stopped drinking coffee and wine over a month ago, cut out refined sugar and mostly all dairy. No red meat and low in fat…organic as much as possible.
I don't know what else to do diet wise to try and help myself…..
 any who…wishing every one a very calm and happy holidays 
10 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello Ashley

Caffeine is such a tough one. It is in lots of things. I'm well aware of it's effect and I'm so into doing CBT practices subconscious that it doe's me less harm than it could. It is still there. Two cups of coffee can mess me up. too much chocolate too. Less so if I'm busy. So for me it is definitely a matter of timing. My problem is I drink coffee because of the taste, not the kick it gives me. I would drink more if it was not for the agitation it causes. It is like wine. I drink it for the taste not the effect. So I have a limit on it too. It is like sugar and starches. Everything in moderation. It is all a question of tolerance.  I have a friend that drinks coffee till he shakes and it never cuts through his positive attitude. I used to be that way too before the panic attacks. I used to dread the tight chest which I believe is common and part of that fight or flight preparation. Whether it is pre panic or actual panic. If I'm concerned I take my blood pressure because I know BP can be very high before there are any signs of pain. Which is why it is called the silent killer. Above border line I get that background feeling of just below panic. So obviously this is something that needs to be checked and I adjust my mediation because for me it can be as simple as to much salt from processed food. I don't freak out because I know what is acceptable. Knowledge is power. And like I said at this stage in the game CBT practices work very well for me. Looking back over this post I see that the biggest thing is acceptance. I have a panic disorder and have found a way to live with it. I have some medical conditions and have found ways to accept this and deal with them. And I agree that a healthy lifestyle and diet makes a big difference. And as long as I stick to that I can have a coffee or a bit of chocolate and I can have a glass of wine with supper. Besides it is so much better when I know I have to make it last. 

As for BP, hospitals now leave you alone with a machine that checks your pressures six times and discards the high and the low one. They are accepting that a lot of people are anxious and one reading alone will be high and not the average. 
My Bp resting is around 118/70. But it goes up quite a bit as soon as I start moving around. It is supposed to. 

My rule is if you are worried then get a second or third opinion even. Good for piece of mind if nothing else. 

Wishing you and everyone else a very Merry Christmas. 
10 years ago 0 11214 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi canadianjem,

I think this is quite common, especially for people with anxiety. It can be due to a lot of things like diet (caffiene is a biggy),  sleep schedule, lack of exercise, genetics, learned behaviour, stress, etc, etc. If you haven`t already, cut caffiene out and try to make your body as healthy as possible with a clean eatting, regular sleep and exercise. Also, continue to post here in the support group and reach out to those you love to talk about whatever is on your mind. Sometimes just talking things out or writing things out really helps. Also, of course, continue with the program. That constant anxious feeling can feel awful but it can also go away.
 
What are your plans for the holidays? Holiday stress (even positive stress) can make us feel anxious too.
 



Ashley, Health Educator
10 years ago 0 6252 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I did have, not any more. I do not have a logical reason why but calcium with D3 works for me. It comes back if I don't take it. Yet my calcium level is not low. So it could just be the D3 but it doesn't seem to work alone. 

Davit
10 years ago 0 32 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
does anyone have a constant state of anxiety festering just below the surface?
My chest is always tight and i always feel like a panic attack is just in there waiting to rear its ugly head. I feel like i "should " take an atavan but don't really need one.
I haven't had a fully blown attack  in a while but its in there…..

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