My BP started showing episodically high years ago but nothing was done other than monitoring until it went up and stayed up AND was tested sitting, standing, lying down and after ten minutes relaxation. Then and only then I was prescribed an ARB.

I use an Omron wrist meter which like you shows considerable variation but mostly around a useful level nowadays. After a high reading from the nurse I was lent a 24 hour monitor (I suspect they disbelived my own readings) and this showed exactly the same thing, quite a range of variation around an average of 120/85 or so.

My BP turns out NOT to be sodium sensitive (not uncommon) and slightly potassium sensitive (potassium reduces it). But that doctor wasn’t entirely clueful, he put me on the standard high carb low fat diet and my BP is VERY carb sensitive (familial diabetes/metabolic syndrome) in no time it was heading north of 150/95.

Low carbing dropped it to the extent that my new GP discussed stopping the meds, but since ACE and ARBs have kidney protective and other benefits we decided to keep on with them. Five years later and it’s starting to increase again. But then I’m five years older. The average is creeping up but the variation appears to be in a smaller range.

Mother is tiny and now 93 so not as fit and active as she used to was, she’s had hypertension for about 50 years now and her BP has fallen to the extent she has had her meds reduced several times: another example of familial factors and things not going the way tradition expects, maybe she’s getting better at not expressing the genes while I’m getting worse.

I had a similar problem, by BP always seems to be high at the doc’s but normal at home. My conclusion: it’s always so frickin cold at the doctor’s office, so I assume its because my body is trying to warm up.

–I hope this quy doesn’t really get sick, because he has no faith in the medical community.

–I am a Nurse Practitioner with Cardiology Background; First, medicine is EVIDENCE-BASED in today’s practice; There are STANDARDS of Care — and these are all based on reliable multi-centered double-blinded research studies and outcomes. It is shown numerous times that getting and maintaing a B/P < 120 systolic and < 90 Diastolic (120/90) significantly decreases your chances of cardiovascular events (like stroke and heart attack).. So I suggest who ever reads this, research the studies for your answer. Don’t take someone not medically trained and stake your life on it. Secondly, The research says you cannot make a diagnosis of hypertension on ONE b/p reading in the office. There is such a thing as “reactive hypertension” formally known as “white coat syndrome”. Therefore, we have the patients do EXACTly what this guy did; take home blood pressure readings on various occasions and document this in a journal— then bring the journal with him at his next office visit. Dr’s aren’t trying to “give you a nother pill”… they are trying to prevent a poor outcome (Called primary and secondary prevention).

Also, It is a known fact that Sodium intake reduction actually decreases blood pressure (<2000-2500 mg/day; which is equivalent to a teaspoon), as does increased CV exercise <30 min/day) and weight loss. Just look it up– Go to the American Heart Association’s website and check it out for yourself.

I don’t know what kind of beef this gentleman has with Medicine, but like I said, I hope he gains more confidence in the medical community because one day his life just may depend on it.