Even if you think you know all about blood pressure, sometimes life gets in the way of doing
what you know you should be doing.
A week and a half ago, my body gave me a rude reminder of – "Hey!
You're supposed to be taking care of me!" Too many nights of staying up
late, letting stress get to me, and maybe
being a little too lax on watching the sodium catch up with me. I had taken my
normal blood pressure for granted for too long!
Note: Just to be transparent here, this post was written in August 2013...so definitely more than a week and a half ago now. Also, to verify the 3 days - look on the date at the bottom of the blood pressure monitor pictures.
Note: Just to be transparent here, this post was written in August 2013...so definitely more than a week and a half ago now. Also, to verify the 3 days - look on the date at the bottom of the blood pressure monitor pictures.
First Warning of Blood Pressure Trouble
Originally I thought the slight headache I had was from not
having as much soda as usual. But then I felt an odd bit of pressure in my
head.
 |
| Sunday, August 4 at 8:30 a.m. |
Out came my blood pressure monitor – and fast! The bad news
was:
8:25 a.m. 165/99. A
little bit of déjà vu hit from the first time I heard the high numbers back in
2009. I had to remind myself not to panic – altho – too late! I knew
what could be happening!
8:27 a.m. A second reading was 171/106!
Ok. Take…a….deep….breath! Relax. Go to the kitchen. Pull out celery….cut it up….start eating. Pull out oatmeal. Make oatmeal while chewing celery. Two minutes to cook oatmeal, add raisins & cinnamon – all foods that help lower high blood pressure.
Ok. Take…a….deep….breath! Relax. Go to the kitchen. Pull out celery….cut it up….start eating. Pull out oatmeal. Make oatmeal while chewing celery. Two minutes to cook oatmeal, add raisins & cinnamon – all foods that help lower high blood pressure.
Haven't had oatmeal yet, but ……..Is this working?
8:40 a.m. Some
success! Numbers are on right path….159/95!
9:12 a.m. Note to
self: Maybe I don't need the e.r. like the first time this happened….numbers
are down to 129/90.
Are You Obsessed with Taking Your Blood Pressure?
As you can see from the pictures on this page of the notes I
took, and I've seen others comment elsewhere, having blood pressure spike can
make you want to take your blood pressure constantly! At times, I was taking it
every minute!
But having the blood pressure monitor actually brought peace
of mind. I knew what was happening
& could use the knowledge I had to start taking care of it. And seeing the result
was kind of like compound interest in a bank account – after seeing success,
it's easier to have more success!
One thing I should have done but didn't was to take a baby
aspirin or two. That would have helped thin the blood just in case.
Find the Time to Keep Your Health in Mind!
The moral of the story here is to take the time each day to do what
you know is best for you. A time or two off the beaten health track might be
ok, but don't make a habit of it.
.JPG "Your blood pressure monitor can be your friend") |
| Wednesday August 7 6:29 pm - Success! |
That's where I went wrong. Too many late nights either
working or worrying, then watching tv to clear my head, and not enough healthy
food and letting stress get to me.
Do this type of thing long enough, and your body WILL let
you know you need to change!
What have you been doing to your body lately? Do you know
what to do if you get any symptoms? And the big question is….Will you get the
symptoms before something bad happens?!
For way too many people, they don't get symptoms before
their consequences catch up with their actions. I've been lucky for whatever
reason in that both times something just triggered an "oh no!" moment
where I took action.
Tracking Blood Pressure for Peace of Mind - Or for Taking More Action!
As you can see, on my log, I tracked anything I did that could have affected the numbers: for example, noting the 4 hours of sleep, and having celery, and even the pword - you know (poo - yes, I know...ewww! But it's a natural thing!) Also noting any feelings going on, such as headaches makes it easier to look back at what could be happening and adjust routines, etc.
Don't Play Wait & See
Waiting to see could bring disastrous results. If you don't
know for sure, get to the emergency room or at least call your doctor – and fast. It's
better safe (and maybe a little embarrassed) than sorry.
The results I got aren't necessarily the same results you will get, but using the same techniques should get you on the right path. Be sure to keep in touch with your doctor, especially if you think there is trouble brewing.
P.S. Click here to read the whole story on the techniques I used to get these results are in the ebook, How to Lower Blood Pressure Fast! Control the "Silent Killer" with Natural High Blood Pressure Remedies.
Images courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Me, Myself & I.
The results I got aren't necessarily the same results you will get, but using the same techniques should get you on the right path. Be sure to keep in touch with your doctor, especially if you think there is trouble brewing.
P.S. Click here to read the whole story on the techniques I used to get these results are in the ebook, How to Lower Blood Pressure Fast! Control the "Silent Killer" with Natural High Blood Pressure Remedies.
Images courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Me, Myself & I.