High blood pressure, get NERVOUS at test, 17 years old!! help?
Know the answer? Share your knowledge and answer this Hypertension question.
Cholesterol Myths
Learn
- Overview
- What It Is
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Symptoms
- Prognosis
- Living With
- Complications
- User Questions
Take Action
- Screening
- Medications
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Alternative Treatment
- Care Guide
- Support Forums
- Questions for Your Doctor
- When to Contact a Doctor
- Find a Doctor
- Resource Guide
< Hypertension Questions
Answers
Questions About Hypertension
High blood pressure, get NERVOUS at test, 17 years old!! help?
I am very nervous of nature, and i do everything i can to lead a healthy life, due to this nervousness ... I have very little confidence, and I'm afraid i am somewhat of a hypochondriac - i know i sound kind of screwed up :)
The thing is, i have never tried to monitor my blood pressure before now ... I have a resting heart rate (when no thoughts makes me nervous and raises it) of about 55 bpm, and i work out 4 times a week (resistance training), as i have done for approx. 3 years. I am a very muscular young male, and i certainly look healthy...
But i tried taking my blood pressure today, and to put it frankly, i was very nervous... As soon as i put on the cuff and started the reading, my heart started racing, and i had a pulse around 100 bpm ... My reading was 150/98 !! Am i unhealthy, or is this due to the extreme nervousness i get when i try to test it? I really don't wanna die of Hypertension at age of 17 :(
Thx for your help ..
Just to put a perspective of my "anxiety" associated with my health, if i read about brain aneurysm for too long, i start thinking about what if i had one, and i become dizzy and sick to my stomach.. I once almost passed out due to a blood sugar test where we had to cut open our fingers just to get a bit of blood in school ...
Whoops i have also ingested around 550mg of caffeine 30 minutes ago.. was too much, feeling a bit jittery :S
Relax frank. It happens sometimes. Just remember, you can do everything you wish to do.
It is difficult for someone to take their own blood pressure accurately. And yes, nervousness can affect your heart rate. If you are very concerned about your health, you should see a doctor.
Do you have your own BP kit? If so, put the cuff on, and then sit in a chair with your feet on the floor and your arms straight on your lap. Sit like this and try to relax for several minutes. Then take your BP. You need to do this 5-6 times in a row, waiting for at least 30 seconds between readings. Then take the average of all these readings. I don't know why you should be so nervous about taking your BP. It must be done when you have sat and relaxed for awhile. And do not take it on a day when you have been exercising, unless you wait for a few hours to test it.
If your BP remains high like that reading you mentioned, it would be a good idea to see a doctor and get a checkup. And try to relax! Being nervous will usually raise your BP, and that wouldn't be a correct reading.
EDIT: Drinking that much coffee could raise your BP, too. No wonder you are jittery!
Sadly, it is due to your Hypocondria. A Blood pressure pill and anxiety medication may help you. You Need to relax when you take your blood pressure, you are not helping yourself in any way. Sigh...stop reading about health problems. You can live your entire life without a threat of cancer, and worry your whole life for nothing! Ditch the caffeine, believe me, it is NOT Helping.
You would be surprised by how much the human body can take before it dies off. At 17 you aren't even fully developed, in the brain and in the bones. That maturity comes much later, your spine doesn't solidify in it's general position until around 21-22 or so, (so keep an upright posture, trust me I know, I'm paying for it now at 31)
I also have anxiety and am a hypochondriac. I don't work out, but I smoke and drink. I quit coffee (I used to be a VERY avid drinker) because it upped my anxious levels and my entire paranoia, especially when I could feel my own heart beating.
Honestly, hun, I think it's the caffine and the anxious thoughts that are doing this to your BP. Mind over matter, so what you think and worry does tend to effect the body, all those stuff up there in the brain are connected, those you can control and those you cannot control. Usually it works out that if you don't want something to happen, then that happens.
You have a very good cognitive brain. Think happy, you get happy. That is kind of how it works, don't be afraid to use your throughts to better and not worry. Overcome that anxiety (which is a gene disorder and nothing against you normally) and start believing in yourself, feel the blood, and think healthy, because you are!
Latest Articles
Latest Quiz
Cholesterol Myths
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor
implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A
MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment
or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright ©2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights
reserved. Source: EBSCO
