systolic blood pressure

[cat33]

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT A HIGH SYSTOLIC BP WAS NORMAL. THE LAST TIME I WENT TO DR. HE SAID IT WAS TOO HIGH 189. SO HE GAVE ME A CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKER (FELODIPINE 5MG) WHICH HELPED BUT MADE MY ANKLES SWELL. SO HE HAD ME STOP IT FOR A WEEK (THE SWELLING WENT DOWN) THEN TRY HALF A DOSE. MY ANKLES SWELLED UP SOO MUCH I COULDNT WALK (IN 3 DAYS) SO I STOPPED TAKING IT. IT TOOK FOUR WEEKS FOR MY ANKLES AND FEET TO LOOK NORMAL IN THE MEANTIME I TAKE ATENOLOL 200 MG. A DAY AND BENAZAPRIL, HE UPPED FROM 20MG TO 40MG. AND MY SISTOLIC PRESSURE IS STILL 150. SHOULD IT BE LOWER? OR DOES IT TAKE AWHILE TO GET INTO YOUR SYSTEM. I  JUST MADE THE CHANGE FROM
20 TO 40 ON THE BENAZAPRIL ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO

THANKS CAT.

[Jack54]

Hi Cat33. I stopped felodipine and am now taking Avapro. My feet, ankles and legs were swelling badly. That appears to have stopped. I took my new med for the first time last night.

I think your BP would be better controlled with Coreg vs atenolol. Coreg is different from all other beta blockers in that it has a good affect on the arteries. I forget the exact process. It is recommended for heart failure patients.

Our arteries play a big part in controlling our blood pressure. When the heart beats our arteries expand to prevent our BP from spiking or going too high. When the heart rests, the arteries contract to prevent our BP from falling too low. Veins do not have these elastic properties.

As we age our arteries lose some of their elasticity. Some elderly people have what is known as high pulse pressure, which is the distolic BP value subtracted from the systolic BP value. Something aroung 50 or greater is considered high pulse pressure. An example would be 180/65 which is extreme, but it does reflect some loss of arterial elasticity I belive.

I know that a systolic pressure of 150 is too high, and am aware of the evolution of though in the medical community. Still, for you to get it lower may mean loading up on the doses of your medicine. You are taking a lot already.

I think if you could add a little more exercise to your daily routine, assuming that you are able to exercise, it would help to lower your BP a tad, I think. You should talk to your doctor before doing this, as you surely know.

You may still get to below 150 when the BENAZAPRIL takes full affect. I read on the directions that came with my Avapro that the full affects might take 3-4 weeks. Good luck :)

[Barbarella]

asimov is correct with the guidelines he/she stated.  However, I found out even in the year of 2007 and with all the new guidelines that doctors still have different opinions.  I read an article recently that stated a systolic BP of 150 for an older person was a "healthy" BP.

I know the guidelines are getting lower and lower, the same goes for cholesterol, but a BP higher than 140/90 is definately considered high BP.

Many years ago doctors paid no attention at the systolic number, many years ago"100+your age" was considered "normal".  All this is outdated big time.

[asimov]

Systolic pressure is as significant a heart attack predictor as diastolic pressure.

Normal blood pressure is thus usually said to be 120/80 (systolic/diastolic) or less.  The higher (systolic) number represents the pressure while the heart is beating. The lower (diastolic) number represents the pressure when the heart is resting between beats. Blood pressure of less than 140 over 90 is considered a normal reading for adults. A systolic pressure of 130 to 139 or a diastolic pressure of 85 to 89 needs to be watched carefully. A blood pressure reading equal to or greater than 140/90 is considered elevated (hypertensive). However,  I have recently read some new literature that anything over 120/80 is now considered pre-hypertensive especially for anyone with diabetes or heart disease or prone to these types of health issues through their family.  Best of health.