blood pressure

[funkychicken]

Today I had my blood pressure taken and it was 129, less than half an hour later it was done again and it was 142, I was worked up and nervous (damn hospitals lol) but would that have caused it to go up so much? I have my blood pressure taken every year and today was the first time its been high. I'm only 17 so find it quite worrying, is there any way I can lower it? Also will it cause any long term damage?
Thanks for any advice =)

[Litchick]

One's blood pressure can ABSOLUTELY go up and down especially when one is nervous/upset, etc...I had a doctor appointment yesterday; just to get some allergy med but yet my blood pressure went up to 158!!  After a few minutes the doctor took it again and it was 130.  Since you are only 17, it is probably nothing to worry about...but if there is a family history it is possible for you to have it become high later on.  Don't SMOKE EVER, limit your alcohol, try to find relaxing ways to cope with stress, exercise, eat right and most importantly, try not to eat too much salt.  Just keep going to your GP at leat once a year to monitor.  He/she will tell you when you need to start keeping an eye on it.  For now, try not to worry.

[Impret-Sir]

Dont panic!!  The systolic (the first number) being a little elevated is not so impotant, many simple things will raise this for a short time, running up stairs, looking at a sexy girl, even going to the loo! Providing it comes back down again its not a problem, besides, 142 is not terribly high anyway, particularly if your normal is 129. Taking it it just once doesnt really tell you anything, it would normally be taken over a twenty four hour period, if your GP had any concerns about you. If the diastolic, (the second number) is raised, that can be a cause for concern, but even then, a single reading is not enough to draw any meaningful conclusions. At seventeen it is highly unlikely you have high blood pressure, are you in normal health and not obese? If so, then the best thing you can do is reduce salt in your diet, dont get overweight, get plenty of exercise, and stop worrying!

[Clanad]

Apparently most people's blood pressure tends to elevate in the Dr.'s office... in fact here they have a term for it... white coat syndrome...

[LitChick]

And I'm a victim every time!