I have been monitoring my husbands blood pressure.9/6/12 9:20 PM: SYS = 147, DIA = 749/7/12 8:15 PM: SYS = 145, DIA = 739/13/12 9:20 PM: SYS = 128, DIA = 749/15/12 9:25 PM: SYS = 162, DIA = 79How come the variability is so great and should we wait until October to see a doctor (after trying natural methods to lower pressure - weight loss, salt and alcohol restriction, etc.?)
Hello! Thank you for asking on Chat Doctor! I understand your concern and would explain that these changes in the blood pressure may be related to physical activity, psychological stress, high salt intake with food, caffeine intake, etc. His blood pressure values are above the normal limits (130/90 mm Hg), most of the time, which means that he is suffering from high blood pressure. Lifestyle modifications are very important at this stage of high blood pressure. Is he already making these changes to his lifestyle? This doesn't seem to be an emergency. My opinion is that you may wait until October to see your doctor for a careful physical exam, a resting ECG, a chest x-ray and some blood lab tests (complete blood count, thyroid hormone levels, kidney and liver function tests, fasting glucose, blood electrolytes, etc.), to exclude other possible secondary causes of high blood pressure. You should discuss with his doctor the possibility of starting an antihypertensive therapy, if his blood pressure values are still at these levels, even with the lifestyle modifications. Hope to have been helpful! Best regards, 