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13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 4027

Maggie,

It sounds like refocusing those CBT “fear goggles” from BP to food intake, with scientific evidence suggesting that sodium/alchohol/diet can lower BP by 10 points if you just change your diet, is in your new horizon, and mine.

You’ll find out that weight gets more attention than BMI should get, and they’ll tell you about that.

If you’re familiar with the “fear goggle” CBT concept, it means the difference between looking at something directly and keeping it your peripheral vision. That sister program is worth it’s weight(no pun intended) in silver.

Silver is the new “gold”...keep us posted!

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

I see there are members and guests reading these forums. Once again,let me invite everyone to join in, your participation is most welcome. Your thoughts comments and/or worries are most welcome here.

Here for you,

Davit

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 63

Thank you hugs4U,

I will look into the sister program to get more information. Even though I am not overweight but I can always get some tips on managing my diet. I know diet and exercise are the key to a healthy lifestyle.

I also need to STOP obsessing about my blood pressure and that is when the CBT comes in. It

's funny how when I fell great my bp does not even pass my mind and the first symptom of anxiety comes in and BAM bp obsession begins..

Thanks you again

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 4027

Maggie,

Once the physician checks if the BP is not heriditary, your possibilities are limitless.

Let me preface this by saying what actor Billy Crystal says that you “...look marvellous”.

I’m certain the the sister weight management programme(healthyweightcenter.net) will help you reduce weight and your BP naturally, besides having to take medicine and spending money on gadgets, etc. Going on the sister programme would also re-enforce CBT principles for your benefit, I believe. Vincenza can confirm that.

The heart and stroke foundation(they have their own program) also cross-references the reductions by changing diet, sodium intake and alcohol with hard numbers. Eg. You can lower BP points by 1.1 to .09 for each kilogram lost.

There is no lack of information, but the question is are we ready to do the homework so I went for a walk!

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 63

Hi Sunny,

Thank you for your reply..it's funny though because those symptoms you have describe to me sound like symptoms of a panic attack and or anxiety attack

. I will definitely continue to monitor my bp here at home at least once a month and take it when I don't feel anxious and I will take it to my Dr. I was so happy when I checked it in Jan Feb & early March and it was perfect.

Thank you all for your replies..

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1853

Hi Maggie,

White coat syndrome is in fact common finding in the Dr's office. As it has been mentioned, people will invest in a BP cuff to monitor their levels at home to determine what is consistent for them. It seems as though you are well aware of your thought patterns during these kind of anxiety-inducing situations. It is great to hear the support from others and reinforce great ways to keep anxiety at bay...keep breathing, keep active and keep reminding yourself of how far you've come.

Vincenza, Health Educator

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1665

Hi Maggie: As a matter of fact the docs think my BP is hereditary. I started in my 40's and the doc. at that time thought I was just anxious and I was, but eventually it was proven to always be high. I was slim, athletic and physically active. My mother had BP problems and anxiety too, and I started younger than she did. And yes, it is worse when I am anxious, that's why I feel it is important to get those relaxation ex. going. They say high BP can be a silent killer, that is you don't feel symptoms so you don't know you have it. I have always felt symptoms, the pressure in my head and neck, the dizziness, the nausea and the agitation which goes with it. Not everyone does though. Best to go with your doctor and keep tabs. It's good you can keep a log. I only take mine once a wk. or so unless I'm not feeling well, then I keep track every day in the morning and in the evening to show the doc. for my next visit. I write down the time and what I was doing. I still keep a log before a regular visit just to show the numbers because I know it will be higher at the office. My doctor just laughs and says I am allergic to her and assures me she has many other patients who go through the same.

Hope this helps.

Your friend, Sunny

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 63

Thank you Davit. I can learn a lot from you!

Hi Sunny, thank you for your response I am sure white coat syndrome is more common than what we think. My question to you is why did you have to get on bp meds? Is it hereditary with you? Do you think your anxiety caused your high bp and that is why your on meds? My Dr told me that even if your on high bp meds and you get anxiety and can still raise your bp? The anxiety that is. That is why I am asking you.

It's so nice to hear back from you all and your experiences it really does help.

I'm so happy to have found this program!

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1665

Hello Maggierose: I get white coat syndrome too. I take my BP for about a wk. and write them down before a dr's. appt. to show her because it is high at the office. I know when I am anxious it will go up. I take BP meds. too and seems to be managing quite well now. Last summer I had to have the meds. tweaked for me, but everything is going well again. If it happens again and you can, try the deep breathing ex./box breathing. This is what I use to bring it down. Visualization after the box breathing is good too. Give it a try, you might like it.

Your friend, Sunny

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

Maggie

I'm much older than you and on meds that can affect my BP. so it is important to get an accurate reading because I have to adjust for my work load. When I was your age I used to consistently run my pulse and BP up riding my bike or cross country ski. Since there is no heart problems in my family it never bothered me. Some times It would get very high.

A mantra is something you repeat over and over like an annoying song. It does two things. one it takes your mind off what you are doing, and two, it reinforces a thought you want in your mind. Biking I used to say "I can do this" when my legs would get weak on a long hill. It kept me from giving up. You probably do a variation at the Gym. You might count, or you might space breathing to help with the work out.

In this case you want to associate BP with a work out instead of anxiety so that when it happens because you are anxious the thought will be this is okay, it is no worse than the gym.

You know fear of the thought is worse than the fact.

Of interest there is a machine on the market you wear that has head phones and it plays a tone you try to match your pulse to. Like an electronic beta blocker. You don't need the machine, you can do this mentally. (and save a few hundred) I've done it in a major panic attack and it will bring your pulse and BP down if it is just anxiety.

If you try I wouldn't mind knowing if it works for you too or if it is just something I can do.

Here for you,

Davit.

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