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Female 40 hypertension

I'm female, 40 years old. My past 2 annual health check ups showed high blood pressure but this was not pointed out to me by my doctor as everything else appeared normal. My most recent checkup the nurse told me my BP was very high. After speaking with doctor he advised to get a home monitor. I have been taking readings for the last 7 weeks and averaging at 132 systolic but my diastolic never comes under 90. I exercise most days, stopped smoking 15 years ago and eat relatively healthy. Why would this not be pointed out by the doctor in previous years? Now I'm concerned that I've caused considerable damage because no one said anything to me. At times I have tightness in right shoulder, headaches on the right side and palpitations. However I have also been diagnosed with gallstones so I don't know if these are symptoms for that. The doctor doesn't think my symptoms are severe enough for gallbladder attacks so now I'm worried that I'm having mild heart attacks. Does anyone know why diastolic never comes down? Could this mean a blockage somewhere or perhaps gallstones could be causing this? Thanks in advice. I just want to feel better but don't want to remove my gallbladder just to bring my blood pressure down.
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973741 tn?1342342773
Your blood pressure sounds what they call Border Line. Rising but not super high (yet) to qualify as true hypertension. I battled this same thing as you at that age. You are unlikely to be having mild heart attacks. The issue with high blood pressure is sure, it can lead to that but it does other damage to your organs. And over time, it can lead to heart attacks. For me? The issue is that I have familial hypertension meaning it is genetic. I first was diagnosed with hypertension when pregnant. They told me then that this meant I'd likely show up as hypertensive when older. I wasn't much older when I started getting readings like yours. Mine did respond to weight loss as in if I were super thin and exercising when young, it went down. However, it became harder and harder to do that. I'm in my 50's now. I ran from hypertension for so many years because it scared me. I didn't want to have it. Finally, my doctor said it was time. Just start medication. I did. I take a low dose of losartan. And immediately my blood pressure lowered. And I had a bonus of some weight loss. And I felt much better. I didn't even realize I didn't feel good because of my blood pressure being borderline or high (fluctuating between these two) until it was lowered through medication. Sincerely, heart attacks aren't like little things you describe. So, and now you have anxiety about this. Treat the blood pressure. How? First, make sure your lifestyle is in order. Great you stopped smoking! Perfect. If you drink alcohol, that will bump your bp up. So cut down on that if you have alcoholic beverages. Cut down on stress. Lose weight if you need to. I have a sweet spot for weight. I doubt I'll ever get there again, ha. But when I'm there, my bp is better (or was). Losing 5 to 10 pounds can really help. Eating the DASH diet is also something people are recommended (you can look it up). And if it doesn't come down? Consider a low dose of mediation to see if that helps. It's the long term effects of blood pressure being elevated that does damage. Let me know how you are doing. I fought medication but really, I shouldn't have. It was made for people like me.
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