[SharkFish]

Hi All,

I visited my OB today - I'm 15w3d. He asked me how I have been feeling, and I said generally fine excpet for sleeping almost every minute I'm not at work and having a headache for about a week that I can't seem to shake, I've even popped the odd panadol in desperation but to no avail.

Anyway, he took my blood pressure. The look on his face pretty much gave away the fact that it wasn't normal. I asked is it ok - he said no it's high. The numbers were 190? something over 140? something. I asked if this was cause for concern or worry. I didn't really get a straight answer.

He took it about 5 times and it was pretty much the same. Then he did a quick scan to check on both babies (at my request lol) and then took it again twice. Still 'high'.

I've never had high blood pressure before that I am aware of. I've been in hospital probably a bit more than your average healthy person in the last 7 years or so, and every time I've had obs done etc always been told it's normal. Every time my gp has ever checked my blood pressure I've been told it's normal.

So I guess my questions are:

1. What is considered to be a 'normal' blood pressure? (I've never asked the numbers before and just been happy knowing it was normal - not curious enough to need further info iykwim?)
2. What exactly do each of the numbers mean or stand for?
3. Is 190 odd /140 odd really high, or just above normal?
4. Are both numbers as important as each other, or is the top or bottom one more 'important'?
5. Is there anything au natural I can do such as exercise or eating wise to try and reduce it?
6. Is there anything else I should learn about it or be aware of?

FWIW he presribed me a low dose blood pressure medication.

I left there a bit oblivious really, but feeling as though I had asked the questions I needed to to understand.

Then when I was speaking to my mum later I told her about it and her response was 'sh*t that's high'. So it made me wonder if it's quite high, or just a bit higher than normal iykwim?

Anyway, sorry for the novel - I guess I'd just like to be a bit more informed.

Thanks if advance for the education

[jayskette]

http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-hea...d-pressure.aspx

also

http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-hea...es/default.aspx

This post has been edited by jayskette: 05/04/2012, 07:27 PM

[ubermum]

It's hard to know just how high that is when you haven't said what your blood pressure is normally, but that is high. This chart gives you a good picture of blood pressure averages for adults. Click

[annasue]

Not sure you've heard the dr right because if your diastolic blood pressure was really 140 then he should have admitted you to hospital for further tests and management.

[follies]

My partner's blood pressure is 140 over 100 and they are putting him on medication.

[suline]

Im worried that your Ob didn't cover all these questions with you, if it is bad enough to start medication.

He should have at least discussed what your observations actually were, and what the implications this can have on your health and pregnancy! Hopefully you are seeing someone to monitor your BP while on medication.

Best wishes x

[MoonPie]

1. What is considered to be a 'normal' blood pressure? (I've never asked the numbers before and just been happy knowing it was normal - not curious enough to need further info iykwim?) 100-130 / 60-80

2. What exactly do each of the numbers mean or stand for?
The top number is the pressure in the vessels when the heart contracts, the bottom number is when it released. Basically, its how hard your heart is working to push blood through the body. In pregnancy, the heart also has to perfuse the placenta, so a high BP is an indication of a placenta that isn't really working properly. I think.
3. Is 190 odd /140 odd really high, or just above normal? 190 is pretty high, I'd imagine your Ob would have hospitalised you. The 140 is so high that I'm assuming you missheard. Maybe 114 (which is still very high.)
4. Are both numbers as important as each other, or is the top or bottom one more 'important'? Both reasonably important.
5. Is there anything au natural I can do such as exercise or eating wise to try and reduce it? Not sure about this one!
6. Is there anything else I should learn about it or be aware of? Google pregnancy induced hypertension.

[SharkFish]

Thank you jayskette for the links - I will check them out. I've had a quick look and apparently anything with a bottom number above 120 is 'very high'. hmmmm.

ubermum - I kinda realise that, which is why I sorta feel silly for never being interested enough previously to ask what my 'normal' blood pressure is when I've had it taken at gp office or in hospital previously. Just been happy with the word normal.

annasue - thanks for that. I guess that makes me slightly concerned. As I said the look on his face said it all, before I even asked the question about what it was. I think I need to do some reading to find out what diastolic blood pressure means. I have to take the blood pressure medication and return to him next week - clearly I need to ask a few more questions! And yes, I'm definitely sure I heard him right, also I was looking at the machine the last couple of times and saw the numbers for myself. Do you have any links to any sources that state this should be the case for blood pressure this high (i.e admitted to hospital for testing and management), as if I can take some 'data' to him next week I'd like to discuss and understand the management of it better with my OB.

I feel rather well though - is that normal?

Thanks again for your responses.

[Chelara]

It's not good all, for anyone. It is possibly due to pregnancy but can be a sign of preeclampsia coupled with the headache it seems it could be. Did they get bloods and urine?

Hope the meds work for you and you have no lasting issues.

[SofaSpud]

Wow that is high, is there a chance you have got these numbers wrong? The 190 is very high but the 140 although possible, seems a little unlikely considering his treatment. In medicine there is no such thing as normal but blood pressure is treated these days whenever the top number is consistently greater than 140. The lower number should be lower than 90. A very basic explanation of what these numbers represent is the systolic, or top number, is the pressure within the arteries when the heart is contracting and the diastolic, or lower number, is the pressure within the arteries when the heart is relaxing. In early pregnancy your blood pressure is usually lower than usual, just as an example mine has been 100/60 whilst pregnant. Assuming those numbers you report are wrong, I wouldn't worry too much, so long as it won't be too long before your follow up appointment, give the meds a chance to work. However if those numbers are correct I'd have thought he'd send you to ED to find a cause, that would also explain your headache. Good luck.