[evilhei]

I have also problem with high BP. Throughout years I remember always at doctor office when they measured it, they said its little bit high but nothing to worry about. Now last time I went to see a doctor it was something 160/90 and thats high. So I bought myself a machine and now from time to time I measure it at home, its now normally something like 140/75 which is still high.
Doctor also prescribed me some medicine but I didnt take it, I want to lower the stress and eat better to fix the underlaying issue.

[Thomas the Rhymer]

(09-29-2014 11:02 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  

So a few doctors visits in a row I have had blood pressure somewhere around 135/80 which doctors and nurses are like "woah, thats high" and then proceed to brush off.

The only thing could be my salt intake. I cook and am not shy about salt.

Anyone have any tips besides cutting salt, exercising more, and cutting out saturated fats? I will begin doing these things and see if it makes a difference.

That's a normal bp.

But if you're that worried: in your age group, pretty much every single case I've seen in my practice of hypertension is due to high salt intake, and I've cured several young people of their hypertension simply by giving them a tough love speech on their salt intake. It's amazing by how much it can go down. No exercise, no cutting out of carbs, no herbal meds, just cutting out the salt.

(Random mini-rant: It's kind of sad that mediocre doctors make the best money - instead of curing the patients, they prescribe some pills and then they get to charge every few months for a new script. A more mediocre doctor would therefore just prescribe some anti-hypertensives and watch the money roll in. Nice passive income, although it's at the expense of the patient's health. This thought has been annoying me a bit lately.)

Salt retains water in the blood circulation, causing overall pressure to increase. Cutting out salt reduces the capacity of the blood to hold water, therefore reducing blood pressure. It's to do with osmosis - water always attempts to dilute salt.

[Sonsowey]

I hope it has been salt, I had read a series of articles clearing salts name in regards to high BP. I really do think my diet is healthy and do not buy the full on paleo thing...

I have already significantly reduced my salt intake, will see if that makes a difference soon

[Simeon_Strangelight]

(10-03-2014 12:28 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  

I hope it has been salt, I had read a series of articles clearing salts name in regards to high BP. I really do think my diet is healthy and do not buy the full on paleo thing...

I have already significantly reduced my salt intake, will see if that makes a difference soon

I would be careful with the salt-reduction:

Dr. Wallach was a Nobel price Nominee and won several cases against the FDA already.

Better is to use only sea salt, very pure local salt or Himalayan pink salt.

Quote:

The problem comes in with table salt (also called Iodized salt). This may come as a shock, but table salt is comprised of sodium chloride and along with that often contaminated with sand and glass. Herein lies the problem. When you consume this lovely mixture the sand and glass are abrasive. They scratch and make small tears in your body including your veins. Your body reacts by trying to patch and heal with fats (cholesterol). This often causes your body to make more cholesterol than needed and cause blockages and in more extreme cases can lead to stroke or heart attack. So it does make sense that doctors place you on a salt restricted diet.

http://drleonardcoldwell.com/2013/08/21/...bout-salt/

I have been using only sea salt or Himalayan exclusively - it even tastes more intense than the general salt, which also points to the fact that most industrial salt is highly contaminated or changed.

This alternative explanation actually makes more sense - certain kinds of salts creating even blockages as well as causing insufficient amounts of stomach acid and thus creating various long-term problems. So in a way the advice by conventional doctors regarding table salt is partly right - certain salts contribute to high blood pressure due to self-defense-cholesterol blockages, but they also cause serious gastrointestinal problems later on.

However I would also add that certain diets like raw vegan or 80-10-10 likely require almost no salt intake. But those kind of diets are expensive if done right and you would have to say goodbye to a lot of foods and drinks very quickly.

[Thomas the Rhymer]

(10-03-2014 12:28 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  

I hope it has been salt, I had read a series of articles clearing salts name in regards to high BP. I really do think my diet is healthy and do not buy the full on paleo thing...

I have already significantly reduced my salt intake, will see if that makes a difference soon

The food industry in general is at the moment pushing a massive propaganda campaign to say salt isn't bad for you.

The same thing that the cigarette industry was doing a couple of decades ago.

The truth will win in the end though.

[DVY]

It has to do size too. The heart has to work harder for larger bodies. (I'm 6-3)

There is also the "white coat syndrome". Are you nervous from doctors?

Hows your personal life? During dental school, I consistently had a BP of 155/80. High stress, long hours. Ive gotten it checked recently and its dropped to 135/80.

There is something to high stress and lower life expectancy.

[Sonsowey]

Ok I have brought my blood pressure down to 116/76. I just went to the doctor for an unrelated matter, and I was relieved to hear such a good number!

The only thing I changed in my life was lowering the amount of salt I added to food. Hard boiled eggs without salt instead of with salt. Much less salt in cooked food when preparing it.

Just like that, dropped way down. I had consistently been getting readings around 135-140/80 for years and never worried about salt. I know this is just one reading and I will reconfirm this soon but I am happy about it so far.

I do not have White Coat syndrome, doctors do not make me nervous. However my recent visit was about another issue and I actually was very nervous about my health. Luckily I am fine and the issue is not as bad as I thought. But even admittedly being worried that I had a serious medical issue, by cutting down salt it dropped right into the healthy range.

If I had to guess, I would say I dropped the salt I put into food by about half. I cook a lot and previously I was very generous with salt. Now I am just sparing.

[evilhei]

Same here. I have cut down salt, slept more and not stressed so much and last 5 days my readings have been around 125/75. Good decision not to touch any medications

[Ingocnito]

(10-10-2014 06:49 AM)evilhei Wrote:  

Same here. I have cut down salt, slept more and not stressed so much and last 5 days my readings have been around 125/75. Good decision not to touch any medications

Agreed, the salt is more taxing than you think. Water weight simply due to drinking water, not because salt is calling you to quench your thirst is good however.

Any time you hold water your blood pressure will be higher, the question is WHY the water is being held and for how long.

Also, reduce dairy to a minimum and get protein from meats and nuts.

Agreed as well, avoid getting on blood pressure meds.. every person I know whose been on them are on a roller coaster of blood pressure. Not until I'm an old man will I consider meds.

[godofwar]

I had the same problem, same numbers as OP.

I will try the no-salt thing.

And stop playing poker. After winning in a home game, I measured at over 155 for the first number.

Do you guys recommend any in-home BP systems?

[Sonsowey]

^No idea about in home, but many pharmacies have machines to use for free .