General Chat

hi
some people are just unlucky and it is in your Genes,
my younger brother had high cholestrol at the age of 7 he inheritated from his dad, and has been on statins (or similar) for 20 years.
I was overweight despite watching what i eat, and my cholestrol was normal. unfortunately i am still overweight no matter what i do,
i do have high blood pressure and have done for a few years once i hit my 40s, i do all i can like eat low fat food, no salt, excercise etc, but my doctor has put me on tablets i know it is also in my family as my mum and grandparents had high blood pressure.
My husband on the other hand eats all the wrong foods, drives everywhere and smokes and has low blood pressure!

You need a second opinion and you are entitled to one.
Dont worry a different Dr can give you medication if needed, they have a code of practice to there patients health they have to follow.
I have seen different Drs in my surgery if not happy with an oponion from one of the Drs.
Its more important to get yourself sorted then to worry about upsetting your Dr.

Make yourself an appointment Monday with a different GP. you owe it to yourself you are doing everything right, its your Dr that is getting it wrong.

Good Luck and let us know how you get on.

Ps try not to worry not good for your Blood Pressure!

My advice is to find a new GP. You need treatment for BP and Chol.

Prior my heart attack end of May this year my chol was 5.2 and my GP most unhappy with that and I was on a good diet as I'm diabetic.

Following heart attack I agreed to use statins and now my chol down to 3.8. I'm also using BP tabs. High chol can be due inherited

If your GP aware of your healthy lifestyle he is not fit for purpose job wise. Wouldn't be fit even if you had a bad life style. He ain't there to be judgemental but to help and advise his patients.

Get a new GP soon as poss. Heart attacks/strokes aint nice and you sound at risk

you must have the same conditions as when you are tested at the docs......

your arm band should be the same height as your heart, your legs not crossed , sitting upright and no test within 6 minutes of the previous one.......(according to the leaflet with my machine!) and not after a drink of tea....... you should keep a log of the tests at home, and a set of tests at the similar time of day......

My normal reading is 13/7 which is good for me as I take BP pills everyday.

If my systolic changes so does my distolic and then my pressure rises. Forunately, I have pills for both problems.

Lindy ;))))))))))))))

the other thing is if the cuff they put on your arm is'nt the right size it wont give an accurate reading, i.e if your arm is on the bigger side

Jane I have used 2 different types of home bp kits and I personally dont think they are as accurate as the doctors.

Hi Bob and Iris

I thought I could have something like white coat syndrome at one point but now I take my BP at home and it is usually a little bit higher than what the Dr makes it. So I don't know anymore.

When I was nursing I got banned from ITU because my blood pressure went up too high when I was there. On a normal ward I was ok.

Jane

There is a syndrome?,

called loosely
"White Coat" High Blood pressure

can i just add something ....i have found, and my dr now agrees with me ,that my bp is very much higher when he takes it ,it is at least 10 points lower when i take it at home . do you have a bp machine to take it yourself at home ,it could help.

Many on the Atkins diet swear by it for reducing cholesterol.
Trouble is it gets boring just eating eggs,bacon,chicken,cheese etc and no fruit,veg or milk.yoghurt. For some its in the genes. I suffer from high blood pressure and raised cholesterol. My doctor is great and monitors me all the time. However he did say its likely to be genetic. He started me on medication when bp was always over 140/85

My brother who is a smoker has normal blood pressure and cholesterol

Jane,

Have you tried reducing your carb. intake? The only thing that reduces my husbands cholesterol is reducing the carbs. he eats.

He's able to eat eggs/bacon/cheese etc. and his cholesterol will come down as long as he cuts out the bread/pasta/rice/potatoes.

Have you had your liver functions checked?

Rose

My average BP is 90/60 but my cholesterol was at 7 so I take statins.

OH eats high fat foods on designated days cos he is a runner (and nearly sixty), he eats a trough of porridge oats every day and his cholesterol is 4.

Try the prridge first...lol

Sue x

your BP will be different at times through the day, for instance Mine is higher in the morning as I get up......but is much lower through the day........

Bob

I don't know Ann. I know high cholesterol and HIgh BP can go together. So if my BP goes down will my Cholesterol. Who knows.

As for changes to my life style. All that was said was to try and increase my exercise and becareful what I eat.

I will try and do the right thing and see what happens but i don't think it will make any difference. We will just have to wait and see.

Anyway thank you all for your help and advice. I must go now as it is time to go dancing. If nothing else it will cheer me up.

Jane

I had a diagnosis of genetic hypertension 11 years ago, and although controlled with a mild diuretic for all those years I was keen to do more about it myself, for reasons that the doctors don't like to talk about~long term side affects.
1. Diuretics not only remove sodium they also take much needed potassium with it....so step up on potassium rich foods if you're happy to keep taking that morning pill.
2. Listen and be warned about statins ~ they are also on the hit list for side affects which is why many doctors are hesitant to prescribe them, unless really seriously needed.

I would highly recommend everyone to read the book by Dr. James Scala "High Blood Pressure, Diet against it" especially if you suffer from diabetes and /or high cholestrol. Its been a real eye opener for me and has given me back control over my own body. You have to be very strict with yourself if you want to eventually avoid those drugs.
Read the book and ask the doctor to monitor you whilst you make the big changes in your lifestyle, and your diet.

There is good and bad cholestrol and I have known people who have lived with constant high readings all their life despite intensive exercise. There are a lot of myths that need clarifying.

can i ask a question ,do you think it realy does matter what you eat as regards cholestrol i know at least 6 people who eat so healthily they would'nt let anything pass their lips that
was'nt good for them always exercise etc, they have high cholestrol then you have me who has blood pressure i never say i cant eat that, its not good for me my cholestrol is normal ,and several people i know who are obese eat anything and everthing and have low-normal cholestrol,do you think to much is made of it?

Did the doctor say what changes you should make to your life style?

I/m 44yrs old and I live in England.

I am trying similar Chloesterol reducing drinks to see if they make a difference.

I am getting really fed up with this.

Jane

Do see a different doctor. I am on BP and cholesterol reducing drugs and I weigh quite a bit more than you for the same height. Can we ask what age group you are in (i.e. I am nearer 70 than 60 but have been on BP tablets for 8 years.
Could you perhaps change to skimmed milk? it is OK when you get used to it, and half fat cheese, edam is better than cheddar.
Benecol spread, yoghurts etc are supposed to be good but it sounds as if you need to be on statins. are you in England, wales or Scotland? They do vary.

ann
Glos

I can only try. I'm not very optimistic though as I can't see one Dr contradicting another even if they believe they are wrong. I will give it a go and see what happens.

I don't want tablets unnecessarily but I do feel it is about time they started treating this now.

Jane