Re: stroke/heart attack risk

From: occupant (electronicmailfixtosend_at_telus.net)
Date: 07/31/04 

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 18:40:33 GMT

Griffin wrote:
>
> On 2004-07-31 07:51:24 -0400, occupant
> <electronicmailfixtosend@telus.net> said:
>
> > Cholesterol normal
>
> "Normal" is different for everybody. What were your numbers?
>
never knew to ask for numbers. doc said it was normal. I am a
hypochondriac and maybe that is why he didn't give me the numbers.

> bp 135/80.

My numbers on my bp machine LimeSource UA-767 I just bought a few weeks
ago are averaging 140-90 90 or 145/100 90 (pulse) range but today, the
last 12 hrs I am getting scared because the readings are as indicated
below and I wake up with my heart pounding, go back to sleep and wake up
a few hours later with heart pounding.

156/106 88
160/105
148/100/82
172/104 102
164/108 102
142/100 80
158/98 88

waist is 41"
no smoking, no alcohol drinking but I am an extremely excitable person.
I am also a very paraoid person.
haven't had a fasting diabetic test for 20 years just had recent 30
blood/urine tests (diabetic test included?) was told was all fine

my old GP of 25 yrs said he could hear valve noises, whatever that means
(I thought he was trying to scare/get me on meds) or something 4 years
ago but I didn't want to go on meds so I saw no doc for anything until
I went to a new doc two weeks ago for a cough but new doc much younger
seen me twice and gave me a physical, never mentioned valve noises - not
faulting him - but he knew I didn't want to go on meds either and
suggest baby aspirin per day.

Now scared to exercise with these latest readings if bp machine is
working right and I am using it right which I think I am.

Embarrassed and confused, without wasting anymore of anyones time I
guess - sadly - I should go and ask my new doc for meds first of the
week and be done with it. I wanted to die of natural causes but this is
getting too scary. Thanks for your input. It is the only problem I
have (other than my logical thinking) and I can't accept it. I have
done too little too late. I won't post here again.

Thanks ever so much. You have no idea how much I appreciate your
reply.

  
>
> That's "prehypertension" by JNC-VII classification.
inactive(too much internet) 20 pounds overweight, aged 55, 6'/200 >>lbs,
moderate gut.
>
> BMI=27 (overweight, not yet obese). You didn't mention your waist size.
> If it's greater than 40, it's a risk factor using the ATP-III
> guidelines for cholesterol management. You didn't mention whether or
> not you smoked, are diabetic or prediabetic (fasting glucose >=110).
> I'm assuming you don't have any CHD risk equvalents such as peripheral
> arterial disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, etc. Those are also risk factors.

>
> > Don't want to go on medications if at all possible.
>
> Understandable. Depending on where you stand risk-wise, however, there
> are also risks in doing *nothing*.
>
> > Is it reasonable to assume 30 min of moderate daily exercise will
> > significantly reduce my
> > bp?
>
> It's certainly worth a shot.
>
> > Is 30, 60 or 90 days a reasonable amount of time to see if a
> > reduction in bp is possible with exercise?
>
> I'd give it three to six months.
>
> > Is there a bp level at which strokes/heart attacks are likely (almost
> > certain) or is it extremely varied?
>
> There's no absolute threshold, but some studies have shown an immediate
> reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events (strokes and heart
> attacks) within a short time of lowering blood pressure, so there may
> be benefits to doing so sooner rather than later.

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