I’m young (26) and my blood pressure is consistently 130/70 and has been for a few years now. Every time I go to the doctor, it’s always questioned, but I kind of brush it off, but my last reading kind of worried me a bit. I have been sick, which could be a contributing factor, but it was 150/90. With that said, have any of you guys been diagnosed with hypertension as a young man? I just automatically assumed since I’m training, eating well, etc. it shouldn’t be a concern, but my entire family is on blood pressure medication – is it inevitable?
I would get a home monitor and check it periodically when you are nice and relaxed. Wait until you are healthy and try it then. A doctor’s office is of the worst places to have it taken and they are now finding people who are being medicated for high blood pressure, but they are just more tense when in the doctor’s office.
I had a home monitor for a while and it’s almost always in the pre-hypertension range. I have only seen it under 120/80 once or twice.
I’m young (26) and my blood pressure is consistently 130/70 and has been for a few years now. Every time I go to the doctor, it’s always questioned, but I kind of brush it off, but my last reading kind of worried me a bit. I have been sick, which could be a contributing factor, but it was 150/90. With that said, have any of you guys been diagnosed with hypertension as a young man? I just automatically assumed since I’m training, eating well, etc. it shouldn’t be a concern, but my entire family is on blood pressure medication – is it inevitable?
Were you taking any medications for cough or cold? Many of those medications (pseudo ephedrine in particular) raise blood pressure.
If not, it is worth looking into further. As an aside, until you get an answer, be careful with salt tabs when training and competing…
Thanks for the help.
I don’t take salt tabs ever (never saw the need for me). I try to keep my sodium to a minimum and I think the only thing I eat that has high sodium would be peanut butter.
Yep, I know young folks with high blood pressure. So, what is you doc doing?
He told me to come back in a week for two once I’m over my cold to get some more readings and then go from there.
Yep, not something to mess around with. If it is genetics, guess it will be med time. If it is food, diet, and or exercise, well, go at it.
and what is your bmi? diet?
and what is your bmi? diet?
18.5 BMI
Wife says I have a great diet compared to most.
BP is like 110/80 or something low like that being tested twice this week at doctors. Doc tells me I need to drink more since my BP can get low.
And yep, I can eat anything I want. Just in moderation and watch what the scale tells me. Back to me low end of race weight so I get to pig out at dinner tonight, and Monday night.
YEA
I’m 6’ and 170lbs – so I’m pretty normal.
I’ll have egg whites for breakfast with hot sauce (sodium, whoops) and a some oatmeal w/ peanut butter and banana.
I’mm have a salad with grilled chicken for lunch with minimal dressing (Annie’s greek dressing – sodium).
Dinner will consist of grilled chicken w/ a bag or two of frozen vegetables with hot sauce (sodium – damn).
Snacks normally consist of an apple or banana and maybe a Nature’s Valley granola bar.
Monitor it for a while at home.
There is a thing called “white coat syndrome” - where patients get anxious in a doc’s office.
I was diagnosed with high bp in college - was up in the 150/90-100 range. Despite being 6’1 and 165 lbs and very active. In my case, it was genetics.
I’ve been on meds ever since and don’t notice any side effects or any problems with training. Now it’s controlled to 120/80.
I don’t think there is a hard and fast rule, or metrics for blood pressure. Just generalized recommendations. Age, genetics and other things can make it vary between two otherwise identical people. BP drugs, like many prescription drugs are overprescribed. Your numbers are not bad.
I’m 6’ and 170lbs – so I’m pretty normal.
I’ll have egg whites for breakfast with hot sauce (sodium, whoops) and a some oatmeal w/ peanut butter and banana.
I’mm have a salad with grilled chicken for lunch with minimal dressing (Annie’s greek dressing – sodium).
Dinner will consist of grilled chicken w/ a bag or two of frozen vegetables with hot sauce (sodium – damn).
Snacks normally consist of an apple or banana and maybe a Nature’s Valley granola bar.
Actually, only about 5-7% of the population is sodium sensitive for high blood pressure, so the odds are that you are not one of those. More to the point though, have you tried backing off on your training big time for a week or so, and then having your BP checked every day??? I’ve found that i have to “taper” for Dr apptmts b/c if i don’t, they’ll say i have high BP and that my blood is all f***ed-up, e.g. my various blood components will be elevated, which apparently occurs after hard workouts which leave a bunch of muscle breakdown byproducts in your bloodstream. Then, when i take a very easy week and get retested my BP is just fine and so is my blood work. So, you might think about giving this approach a try:)
Consider having a sleep study done. If you show any signs of sleep apnea, that may be contributing to your high blood pressure.
When I was younger and much fitter, I had similar blood pressure levels that you do now and had very mild sleep apnea due to a slight obstruction and a slightly deviated septum. I let myself get in poor shape and gain weight, and my sleep apnea got worse and my blood pressure went up as a result. First step to getting things in order was having a sleep study done, and now I’m tethered to a CPAP machine every night. It’s worth it’s weight in gold - my sleep has dramatically improved, I feel better, and my blood pressure has improved as well. I can’t imagine a night without it.
I still need to get back in shape and drop the weight (back on the wagon very soon), but I have a feeling that sleep apnea was a factor in my overall well being even when it was very, very mild. I encourage anyone who snores, gasps for air when sleeping, or who struggles to breathe when sleeping to find an ENT, get a sleep study ordered, and see whether something as trivial as a CPAP or something more significant like surgery can improve your quality of life and health.
and what is your bmi? diet?
18.5 BMI
Wife says I have a great diet compared to most.
BP is like 110/80 or something low like that being tested twice this week at doctors. Doc tells me I need to drink more since my BP can get low.
And yep, I can eat anything I want. Just in moderation and watch what the scale tells me. Back to me low end of race weight so I get to pig out at dinner tonight, and Monday night.
YEA
i meant for op. i always hit reply on the last post made. he seems normal.
I’m 26 as well, and was at the doctor two weeks ago. He was shocked by my 151/90 BP and told me to schedule a follow up appointment. My Dad also started on high BP medication when he was 26.
6’3" and 180lb
When I was 19, in those dark times before I started triathlon, my BP was even higher. So I changed my diet and started running, cycling, swimming, etc. It went down to 130/80ish but has slowly started to climb, even with me doing long distance racing.
I want to give it a 100% effort with diet and other measures before I commit to pills for the rest of my life. I will let you know what the doctor says when I go back.
You and I are on the same mindset – I can’t stand succumbing to a pill. I don’t hate having to be dependent on anything like that, whether it be for my blood pressure or my anxiety/depression. When you get some info, definitely update the thread, I’m interested.
definitely get a monitor at home and see what your baseline BP. Preferably get it while you’re sitting down for at least 5 minutes and relaxed. If <140/90, I wouldn’t stress. Anything consistently over >140/90 I’d probably consider a basic first line HTN medication like lisinopril or losartan. You’re not going to die with BP consistently slightly >140/90, but research have proven that people generally live longer with less medical complications when their BP is under controlled <140/90.
I don’t think there is a hard and fast rule, or metrics for blood pressure. Just generalized recommendations. Age, genetics and other things can make it vary between two otherwise identical people. BP drugs, like many prescription drugs are overprescribed. Your numbers are not bad.
Wow. And you know this how?