Hi, Komom! First thing you need to do is calm down. The same thing happened to me with the high numbers and worrying, and from experience, I know that being scared just pushes them higher. So sit down, and take a long deep breath, breathing in slowly, holding to count of 4, then breathe out to count of 4. Do it 4 times. It will help relax you.

Look at what you're eating. Are you having many prepared foods? By watching your sodium & eating foods with potassium, that will help tremendously. Don't know if you like celery, but it's become my best friend in the food department. It's got something in it that relaxes the lining of the blood vessels so they relax and let the blood thru easier.

Oatmeal helps also. Bananas & raisins & orange juice are others. Did they say anything to you about taking a baby aspirin? You might want to call your doctor just to get his/her advice on taking a baby aspirin every day for a while, especially if you get dizzy or nauseous. Have lots of water with it tho to protect your stomach.

Hope this helps. Above all, try to relax & take it easy. As scary as it is to go to sleep, your body needs sleep to heal, too. I know I was scared to go to sleep, & wanted to stay awake thinking I wouldn't wake up, but that's when your body does its healing. Without it, your blood pressure will go up. Check my blog for more info, ok? Good luck!

Exercise is almost always good for high blood pressure, so don't worry about your BP being a bit high after running up stairs! You should never have a reading without being fully rested and calm.

I have had BP as high as 175/117 before now, and I am still here. You need to have a calm approach to gradual reduction. There are no magic solutions.

Cut out salt from your diet, don't eat ready meals. Cook your own foods, lots of vegetables, and avoid restaurant prepared food and takeaways as they will be laden with salt. Drink plenty of water. make sure you exercise, keep that heart doing something when it is pumping away. Then go see your doctor.

John

I have also ran 176/106 several times. It was during a panic mode or my temper got to me....I quit taking my BP right after an episode... I wait at least a 1/2 hour after resting. I am also still here. I was told I had high BP last July, we're still trying out different med's to find the right one...maybe you need a change? Ask your Dr. Our BP readings change during the day, I was told not to worry about spikes after exercise. Just to let them know when I go over 140/90. Which is often if I let my bad temper get to me. Hugs

If you are like me your BP can easily be 10-20 points higher at the doctor's than at home. It is useful to get a 24-hour blood pressure monitor from your doctor if you can, as this rules out the "white coat" effect. Your blood pressure may still be high -- but not as high as a few single readings might suggest. My GP sets me up with this every so often.

There are many drugs to try... I have tried more than a dozen. Don't give up.

Komom - my blood pressure was so high at my doctors office, it scared the nurses. But after I calmed down, it did come down some. I was told by my cardiologist nurse that your numbers and mine were not stroke level, so calm down. When I get upset, my blood pressure rises like crazy. Get you a good blood pressure machine and check your pressure first in the morning, around noon and then before bedtime. Don't stress if your numbers are high. Your doctor will more than likely put you on medication to help lower it. I am taking 40 mg. of Lisinopril and now I worry if my blood pressure will get too low. :) Hugs to you - you will be fine and we are here for you.

to sohurt62.....I was wondering what your numbers were when it scared the nurse?

I think it is so sad this blood pressure scare so many people are living with. As we age we will ALL get some high blood pressure. Iended up in the er over these DRS> presuring me to take all those differant blood pressure pills and statins I was going insane all day taking blood pressure readings. NO ONES BLOOD PRESSURE STAYS AT THE SAME NUMBER ALL DAY Even if you are driving to work, get mad at your husband your blood pressure will go up and down all day. But if your blood pressure is HIGH all day then you need meds, And my cardio Dr. told me never take bp in early morning it is the highest. Do your bp readings 3 times a week sit quite 15mintues before you take it . Don,t ,t run up stairs!! then take it it will be high. My blood pressure has been 148/92 at my Drs. she did,nt make a big deal about it. So many people so scared all the time . I was the same way I was depressed. could,nt sllep thinking I was going to dye from my bp. or get a stroke. Who wants to live like that???? I myself get depressed my bllod pressure goes up, but as long as it does not go real high i try to exercise as much as I can walking, I have gained 12lbs. from Christmas till now. going to be working on that. I know my cholestrol is 226 . All those pills made me so sick and scared. I take nothing. I have never had an operation, heart disease No Dr. ever told me I did, I have never had a cold. and Iam 67 I do have anxiety have for years take meds for that. and prozac. I will not live my life trying to keep bp down or up those pills mess with your heart. but some people need them and any one can get a heart attack and be in top shape look at JIM FIX greatest runner we had drop dead at 57 heart attack. It is so confusing and scarey . I do get pvc,s have for years. I also take Excidren for headaches or aches and pains. I never take my blood pressure befor I go to bed or early in morning late morniing, afternoon maybe around 6:00pm. and that is about 2 times a week. my husband takes hb pressure meds but his bp was high all the time like 188/108 168/96 as long as mine does,nt go over 150/90 I don,t panic. bBut now my husband that was really high one time it was 200/100 . well I have to go. I think like I said . Try not to think about your bp readings all the time even people on bpmeds are worried and scared all the time. what good are the pills then??? would love to know. zzz

MaryAnn, you are 70!!!!!!! why lie to these people.

WOW!!!!

At this point just wondering how are you doing?

Have you ever tried meditation? I tried for years to learn it, but it was always hooked to some kind of religion and I just couldn't get into it. Then I found Jon Kabat-Zinn's books and CD's. His style is based on Buddhist traditions, but completely devoid of any religious connection. He just has you focus on your breathing. Everybody breathes, right? So basic. So fundamental.

It works. Within three weeks, my BP dropped so much that I could go without most of my BP meds.

The problem with it is that it's just like exercise. It requires a lot of discipline to take the time out of your day and just STOP and focus on the meditation. Not the kids, not the job, not the house - just relax every cell in your body and focus your mind on your breathing. If you can maintain the discipline to do it, you can see incredible results.

(It's a struggle for me - I'm not a very disciplined person.)

Whilst it isn't good news, people can live with higher readings. My own is 200 -220 over 130 -150 and nothing seems to bring it down. I live a normal life and otherwise function completely normal.

Don't let fear paralyse you

Classicjazzman.

I'm not saying "not to worry" but don' panic, you are not going to die. I found out about 10 years ago, when I went to a gynecologist in Vegas, during an exam. The nurse took my bp once, I saw her face and then again. It was 190/110. When the doctor came in, she told me what it was. I asked her if it was because I was going through my changes and she told me absolutely not. What a a-hole she was. Then when I was waiting outside her office, the idiot had her door open and I don't know who she called, but I heard her telling the person on the other end that she had a 46 year old patient in her office with a bp reading of 190/110. Did not hear the rest of the conversation, and she did not seem too concerned, but I was. I asked her if there was any medication should could give me until I went to my regular doctor on Monday, three days later. She told me no. I was furious. I just lost my mother three weeks earlier and I'm sure it contributed to my high reading. When I went to see my doctor on Monday he was even more stunned and furious that she let me leave her office without any time of medicine and asked her name and number. He reported her to the MEdical Board and quickly prescribed medication. Go to find out, she had been reported before and two of the men that I worked with their wives went to the doctor and really disliked her and her deamenor. From what I read, some people run high and need maybe two types of medication to keep bp under control.

I don't need to monitor mine.I would probably stroke out if I took my bp at timse when I know it's high. I panic. I know when it's high.. try to calm down, watch your salt intake and yes orange juice does help, especially if you have just a small amount before bedtime. I hope your doctor is able to find a medication that will get it under control. If one med does not work there are many others. Again, stay calm, don't freak out. Margie

Thanks everyone for all your rely's. I am happy to report that I am st l here d doing well. BP is usually in the 120/80-135/88 range. I havelost some weight and a up to walking 3 or 4 miles at least 4 times a week. It has not been easy and isometimes still struggle with anxiety. But overall I am much better!!!