Young, healthy but high blood pressure please help????????

Question

i went to the doctor and my BP was 142 and when they used a manual it was 138, im a very athletic kid 5'8 161 15 years old, play sports and all that. I am African american, and i know my race tends to have high Bp but i dont get it im very fit and healthy, maybe just a little baby fat here and there.

My father is on BP medication and my mother is too, but that is due to her lupus. So i ask, whats going on?Am I salt sensitive, and what should my ideal range be? I heard below 135, please help the doctor wants me on medication but i will be on it for the rest of my life and im just so young and worried, please help me.

Answer 1

Unfortunately you have 2 things against you - your race and genetics.  Yes, African American are very commonly disposed to high blood pressure and being BOTH your parents have it, there's about a 75% chance you'll end up with it and it seems you're well on your way.  Just becuase you're athletic doesn't mean anything.  You need to look at what you eat.  Are a lot of your foods fried?  Greasy?  Salty?  A lot of red meats?  Those foods will increase your cholesterol and if your cholesterol goes higher than normal, blood pressure will follow it.  I've seen 28 year olds come in with strokes who were thin (like 130 lbs) and were active before this happned.  Now they're stuck without the use of 1/2 of their body or with major mental issues because they missed the warning signs.  Your blood pressure is only a little above normal, but it certainly warrents intervention and if your doctor wants to put you on blood pressure medication, then you really should go on it.  There's no guarantee you'll need it for life.  If you change your diet - increase vegetables and fruits.  More fiber and lose some weight (unfortunately for your age and height, you're 30 pounds overweight) you should be able to better manage your blood pressure naturally.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, a high BP may be only one indicator of impending heart disease. Have your cholesterol level checked and in the meantime, avoid all fried foods and yes, salt.  Read labels on food. Cheese products, canned soups and snack foods contain tons of salt, for example.

In addition, if your cholesterol level is high and BP remain high, you could also be looking at type 2 diabetes down the road, if OTHER dangers such as being overweight happen to take effect.

It is much better to take the medicine than to risk having a stroke. Follow your physician's advice. Pills are a small price to pay for extending your life for a much longer happier time.

You're worth it!

Answer 3

First off, you have a "predisposition".  You are correct -- African Americans DO have a higher incidence of high blood pressure.

Second, you have a family history -- both mom and dad have it.  I'll bet grandmas and grandpas do too, and maybe some autns and uncles.

So you NEED to listen to that doctor and start taking medications NOW.

You also need to be checked for diabetes, another disease that is higher in African Americans.  Diabetes causes high blood pressure.

But take your doctros advice, and have frequenet checkups

BTW: "normal" is 120/80 (120 over 80), but that varies rather widely.