If your blood pressure is 205/180 what should you do?

Holy moly! Glad you're still with us. Not something to fool around with.

Here's the link to WebMD. Search on high blood pressure. http://www.webmd.com Lots of info there.
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Smoking gives me high blood pressure. I don't really worry about it because I eat healthy and stay in somewhat shape...not great mind you.

Aerobic exercises should help with your blood pressure more than anything. If that won't help stop eating fatty foods and keep exercising. If that won't help go to the doctor.

Get under a doctor's care immediately and do what he says. Stop smoking, reduce salt, exercise (in moderation at first), reduce stress, take medication, lose weght...

Most important get immediate medical care and stay in long term treatment. Else you are risking stroke or worse...

This is the thing... I don't smoke, or drink.

I went to the doctor one day 2 months ago and he said I have high blood pressure. OK, I think to myself.

I go the second time and he says I need to take pressure medicine. I got it but I didn't think it was that important.

It could not have worked too well because my pressure shot up after a week of not taking it because I ran out.


Next thing you know I am feeling EXTREMELY dizzy and trying to get to the clinic.

The whole experience was weird.

I told myself I would post a book long request for others to continue with my ideas like lost children getting found and stuff.

But it looks like I will get a chance to do it myself.

I can't believe I almost died...

I have gotten a higherblood pressure before, but only for about 4 hours. I find it increadably scary to think that I had almost died. I would not depend on the pressure medication for the reason you stated. Your body will become dependent on it and if you stop taking it your blood pressure will skyrocket. The sudden jump in blood pressure is probably very dangerous. As I said before exercise is the best way. Aerobic to be precise. Run a couple of miles everyday. That should really help. At least walk for a half hour everyday.

Well read up on it and learn about high blood pressure and what you can do about it. It most definitely is something not to be taken lightly. The WebMD site I posted a link to above is a good resource for medical info.

Do what goodmorphing says. Forget the internet. Get a new Doctor. The one your going to does not seem to have a clue. It can take a little while to ascertain the which medication suites you best. Also he should be trying to find out whats causing yours. And exercising, in itself, does not necessarily cure blood pressure. My advise ( i've been on blood pressure medication for 25 years) and will be forever. I and my Dr know the reason. Your best friend at the moment is your DR. Ask questions, do what he says - otherwise your dead Fred

Well, there is a white-coat syndrome. That is where people get high blood pressure at the sight of a doctor... that is a true thing. But your reading is way too high for that.


The thing about HBP is that it isn't a problem that presents on its own. Usually there is something causing it. That is why you need to be under a physician's care. A reading like that should be seen as serious and even critical. You can't really know by reading what exactly is causing it, and you cant get rid of it if you treat the wrong thing. And all the time you are spending reading and guessing you are walking around in danger, because all it takes is a weakened blood vessel in your brain and a pressure spike and you have had a stroke.

What is your family history? Lots of times this is a problem that seems familial.

HBP can also happen in the presence of other medical problems that you might not even know about.

The blood pressure medicine is very important it should be taken to alleviate the problem while you seek the cause or affect a lifestyle change (if that is what you need). Then you should be able to work your way away from it. But, depending on the cause, it might be something you will need to be concerned with the rest of your life. Better that than trying to rehabilitate yourself back from a stroke (if you make it through the stroke).
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I referenced WebMD because it is a good source of information and education. Not as a substitute for a doctor (a good one that is) or tests. But for someone who has gone to a doctor and still apparently doesn't know much about high blood pressure or its risks after it nearly kills him, it is a resource to learn more. And education needs to start somewhere...it's not always or even often provided by doctors. The more you know on the subject the better prepared you are to talk to your doctor and get specific information regarding your situation or you can more quickly figure out that you need to get a new doctor.

I'm a nurse, so the title to this thread immediately caught my attention...I thought the perhaps that was what your blood pressure was right now, so my response was going to be, go to the hospital immediately because you're about to have a stroke.

I want to reiterate what others have said here...talk to your doctor immediately, and if you aren't getting satisfactory information from your doctor, it's time to choose another provider. And never, ever, under any circumstances, do what you admit to doing before your BP shot up this high...do NOT neglect to refill your medication, and don't go a week without taking it. Your experience shows what can happen when someone stops taking their medication without telling their doctor.

*lurk* everybody's got a handle on this. i'll just reiterate whats been said.. use webMD for an immediate guide on what are likely causes and what you can do to begin to help yourself. but you must consult a doctor - one with a clue - this situation is a hairy trigger on a bomb.

Joe, do what your doctor tells you, dead is lonely and frankly it sucks for all those left behind including us here at WinC. >

Hey, WebMD is an ok resource for info, but only you know if you can read up on this and not let what you read get in the way
of what your Doctor tells you.

I know of a lot of people who decide that 60 minutes reading online makes them more astute in what aiels them than 10 years
of Medical School and Internship whic their Doctor has to go through before even being able to practice on their own let alone Specialize.

You also might want to ask around the people you know to see whom it is that they have heard the best about in treating HBP.

you take care of you dang nabbit >

or we and de`boys have ta jump in the caddy and stomp by for a cup of tea!

I just can't get over that I almost kicked the bucket.

I don't have a family history of high blood pressure. I do get allot of excises because, as a security officer, I have to make tours of my building. It takes a good 40 minutes to an hour and 10 minutes to finish a patrol... 2 or 3 times a night.


I don't know... all of this seemed to come out of nowhere. @ months ago I didn't have HBP and now I do.

I am currently under out patient care (because I was hospitalized for 3 days) and I am going to see the doctor tomorrow.

I just dont know what to do... I couldn't go to sleep last night thinking i might not get up.

Some doctors in the hospital are thinking that something is going on with my Kidneys and that is what is causing the problem. All I know is that they were saying with the high blood pressure, I could have a heart attack, stroke (and in turn become a vegetable), or organ failure .

That was my very first hospital stay EVER. Really scary.

Thanks everyone for your support. I will look at the WebMD website.

Some doctors in the hospital are thinking that something is going on with my Kidneys and that is what is causing the problem. All I know is that they were saying with the high blood pressure, I could have a heart attack, stroke (and in turn become a vegetable), or organ failure .

Now I think that you really need to go and see a new doctor. Treating the HBP might just be treating the symptoms and your problem will get worse. A good doctor would be your best bet for you to get treated correctly.

I've had really high blood pressure and actually had a "mini-stroke" in the past.  Don't *ever* just quit taking blood pressure medicine.  When they take you off it, they step you down so that your pressure doesn't spike.

I take baby aspirin every day to try and prevent strokes and so forth.  I am also on a mild blood pressure medicine and a "water" pill which gets rid of all the excess water that I tend to retain because of the blood pressure.  Mine is caused by a combination of Thyroid and Kidney disease (one is a cause of the other).

Get it checked out.  Blood pressure is nothing to mess with.

I hope it all works out OK for you.  You're doctor will give you advice on what to eat, how to exercise, etc. 

I have been watching this thread not knowing how to responde. I don't have anything to do with HBP but I just want to let you know that I hope everything will turn out ok for you. Sorry I can't give you any advice.

Hello Joe
You seem to have gotten some good advice here. I am also an Reg. Nurse.My specialty is cardiopulmonary and I have been in the biz for 16 years. First a single blood pressure by itself is not nearly as important as blood pressures over time. However the 205/180 falls within the parameters of a 'hypertensive crisis'. There are many causes however studies indicate that many who develop BP problems are genetically predisposed. This doesn't even have to mean that your family members have to have 'diagnosed hypertension'. Some people produce a lot of cholesterol [ your liver produces it and it can sometimes stay high even if you eat rabbit food-the fancy word is familial hypercholesterolemia or familial hyperlipidemia ]
The important thing is GO IN FOR A COMPLETE WORKUP ! Have your cholesterol and triglycerides checked if you haven't already done so.Next and most important is get on a medication a stay with it.There are beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE drugs, diuretics etc. If you take these and then stop, something called 'rebound hypertension' occurs. Which means your receptor cells are just getting used to the effects and then bam, that chemical effect is gone. Not good. May I ask your age? What were your previous blood pressures? Are there any kidney problems in your family? The reason I ask is that there is a kidney 'problem' called pheochromocytoma that can cause very high BP. If you think of your heart as a water pump and all your blood vessels as garden hoses in a closed system with a set amount of fluid it makes sense that the 'pressure' goes 'up' if a) the hose internal diameter gets smaller as in high cholesterol plugging the lining of those 'hoses' or those 'hoses' getting narrow all of a sudden because they vasoconstrict due to fear, stress, pain etc if the fluid in the system gets higher as in salt in the blood pulling fluid into the hoses, increasing the fluid volume ( hence low sodium diets ).Think about those pipes ( your blood vessels ) trying to accomodate that extra pressure. Thats why strokes occur. Think about the strain on the 'water pump-your heart trying to push blood into this system. Not good because like a motor it will eventually burn out. The good news is all this is very treatable with the appropriate meds and they are getting better with fewer side effects all the time.If you need more info in laymans terms please email me. I am also a clinical educator. Take a deep breath, try to relax.Fear will shoot up a BP quicker than anything. Take Care. We are here for you.

all i can say is good luck joe, RN2004 sounds like she knows what shes talking about (or at least i would hope so). and take it easy on the GUIs, maybe its the tension and excitement causing it? good luck.

wow i know where to go after i go into diabetic shock you people rock.

This really is a storehouse of knowledge.

joe, I also have never had problems with HPB (and I hope I never do by the sounds of it) but I hope and pray that everything works out well for you and like many people have said we are here for you and will support and help in any way we can.

Besides, I don't think I could expand on all the advice that's been given already.

Take care.

Thank you everyone for your positive responces. i go back to the doctor tomorrow. I hope it goes well.

Wow. My husband, a cop, (good exercise, lousy diet) was at work and his BP shot up like that. Heart palpitations (sp?) started, then came the chest pains. He had the good sense (for once) to come home and take something the doctor had given him for sleeping and that saved him. Slowed everything down. Turned out it was his thyroid. Wierd how one little thing can just screw up your whole system like that. He's still on the HBP meds, the heart palpitations are here for good, but at least they fixed the thyroid thing. Good luck and don't stop until you find the reason and get it fixed, if you don't it seems everything can go downhill. BTW, he was 38 when it happened.

Being a police officer can be stressful. Sometimes I wonder if my job is helping to cause my stress levels to go up?

I felt lousy yesterday, but I fel better today. I see the doc today.

I'm only 29 they tell me!!! In the hosptial, I was on the floor with 60 and 70 year olds. It felt wierd that I was on the 'cardiac aresst' floor... I forget what they called it.

Your job DEFINITELY causes your stress level to go up! Any type of security/enforcement career has such a high level of anticipation that your body is bound to react. That and the incredibly addicting and fun adrenaline bursts . At least with your being young you have a great chance of finding the reason and correcting it (along with your personal habits) before anything is unable to be corrected. Remember some of those 60-70 year olds are there because they didn't take care of themselves at your age!

I'm only 29 they tell me!!! In the hosptial, I was on the floor with 60 and 70 year olds. It felt wierd that I was on the 'cardiac aresst' floor... I forget what they called it.

Joe ... age is not a factor!
Look at Karma ... she might wield 'The Fist of Doom' but she is still only a kid (in Wombat years)compared to me!
And stressing yourself out like this only does you harm.

Your job DEFINITELY causes your stress level to go up! Any type of security/enforcement career has such a high level of anticipation that your body is bound to react.

Not always, I've never come across any members of my ADF unit with anything other than lower than average BP .... even under fire.
But stress and a bad diet, as well as an inherited genetic pre-disposition (you never know) are very real factors.