BP and Cholesterol Question

[jwilhelm]

Hi there - I am having some anxiety over my BP and Cholesterol.  I do have a history of suffering from health anxiety and was treated with Celexa for almost 2 years before coming off of it.  I have been off it for around a year and have felt great up until I went to the Dr and he took my BP and it was 140/86....he told me to take it at home and it was 117/70.....great reading.....then I started to have anxiety over different things and in the days that i was experiencing anxiety I took it again and it was 140/90.....panic set in.....I have continued to take it several times and when I am calm and relaxed it is 126/82 or if I am nervous it goes anywhere from 133/86 - 140/90......I am assuming this is just due to anxiety....am I right to assume this.  Is is safe to assume that if I truely had hypertension that my readings wouldn't fall low into the normal range?  Also now the anxiety has kicked in I am worried about my cholesterol...when I was in my early 20's the Dr's told me that it was a little high for my age.....tested every year since and once it was borderline but the past few years it has been in the normal range according to my dr.  .I had it tested almost a year ago and it was within normal limits...now I am scared it is high.  So my question is should I be worrying about it if it was normal last year - what are the chance it is high how and if so how long should it take to reduce it through diet and exercise.  I worry about these things becuase my mom and dad both had high BP and cholesterol and my mom had a stroke at 53....I don't want that to happen to me.   I know my health anxiety is in full force right now and I am disappointed that I seem to be having a relapse.....Should I consider going back on Celexa or give it some time...I have only felt this way for about a week or so.......and yes I know this is just feeding my anxiety. lol  I promise to not google or do anymore searches!  Thank you for your time.  Jill

[Pre_MedBound1]

A related discussion, To Estellayem was started.

[estellayem]

Pls helpe with the above
Estellayem

[estellayem]

I did all the texts about a year ago and just had stress text Snd cat scan nothing but Iam not okay I have dizziness and feel unreal with heaviness under my left breast and I feel like falling down when walking and even at rest Iam not balance yet my cardiology said nothing I  find it difficult taking a breath please what should I do because within me  something is wrong I can't function no pain just pressure and chest discomfort. Bp up and sometimes down and pulse low and sometimes high . Though Iam on metropolol 7.5mg pppppllllssss let anyone with this symptoms or doctor pls advise . Thanks
Estellayem 

[Lee Kirksey, MD]

I would say that you should consider speaking to your PCP regarding managing your anxiety which is wreaking havoc with your BP physiology.

[jwilhelm]

Thank you. My bp is fine as long as I am not anxious. When my anxiety is in check it run approx 120/80. With anxiety is when it shoots up. Its a viscious cycle. I am nervous about havin high bp and its my nerves that seem to cause it. Do you have anu suggestions. I even get nervous at home when I take it. If I am super nervous that is when it jumps up to 140/90. I hsvent had issues with my anxiety for almost 2 years and this has sent me for a loop. I have been feeling anxious all week. Should I give it some time to pass or see my dr abouty starting meds again.  I have read it bis probably wise to stop taking my bp as it is just fuelling my anxiety over it. Afterall when I am calm it was 117/70. Please advise. Also is once a year ok to check cholesterol. It was normal last year and I have an appt in july is it ok to wait till then. Thanks for all the addvice.

[Lee Kirksey, MD]

Hi Jill
It does appear that your readings normalize outside the healthcare setting but my question is are your values normal all the time at home or is their some daily variation. I think you would benefit from a mindful meditation, stress reduction book or course. In my book Your Guide to Optimal Health: Creating Your Personal Wellness Wheel I stress the importance of the interaction between mind and body. What is clear is that no matter what the cause of your high BP, if your stress causes it to be frequently elevated then you can potentially harm your body. As far as your cholesterol, given your family history it should be rechecked and tightly controlled.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

hi jill, i have been where your at. mine is low and than when i get anxiety it throws it up really high. everytime i would go to dr no matter for what something so simple  as soon as they would get ready to take bp it would shoot up 168/90 . go home it be 116/70. when am anxiety i take it at home its always 150/80 some where like that. so my cardio dr did a 24 hr bp montor and it showed me to be low most the time. so yes if you have reg low blood pressure or normal you do not have high bp.  i would take mine it be a little high so 15 mins later i take it again it was higher one night after doing that so much i got it up to 185/90 only because the more you take the more you panic. so dont do that. take once in am and in pm if you need to.  and remember this it wont kill you if you know its high you can be put on pills brings it right down. so try and relax, i did and now am good to go.

[jwilhelm]

I forgot to mention  - I am now 32 years old!