Blood Pressure Question

your ER visit will cost you a LOT more than an office visit.

In Rochester MN, there is an off-site clinic that charges you like $25 for an office visit. They would be able to give a script for BP.

But you would still want to take into consideration what it was you were doing when you got the high BP readings.

 

Here's what you do,go to an affordable walk in clinic.I don't have insurance and because I did'nt have a job at the time it only cost me $20.00.I went to the climic because of high BP.Doctor perscribed medicine and a week later I passed the physical.You will have to take another physical so I suggest going to a clinic ASAP because it takes awhile before the BP medicine starts to kick in.My BP was 161 over 90 now it's 138 over 78.Also help it along by drink water,eating fruits and veggies and lay off the salt.You may have been nervous as to why your BP was high but then again maybe not.I won't depend on that to be the reason,go to a walk in clinic.

 

also look into getting a BP monitor for yourself just strap it on and it takes BP for u... should be able to find one on line for about 35 to 45 bucks.... walmart will have them also.... check into free clinics in your area some are run by local churches where they give free meds if you prove ur not employed good luck!!

 

Walk in clinic will want proof you're unemployed which could be a simple letter from a relation.Once you start the BP medicine have it checked days later but don't go by a portable one like Walgreens.I had them check mine and it was shk high,higher then ever and thought this medicine spose to help it go down not raise it.So I immediately went back to the clinic and it was normal.The nurse said those portable testers are never accurate.Also hrs before the physical dont eat or anything that could raise your BP and above all DO NOT SMOKE before the physical.

 

You're better off to take the advice of buying a BP monitor and working to keep your BP down . If you are taking BP meds you will be required to take a DOT physical every year instead of every 2 years. Some carriers will reject you for that reason.

 

I have a portable for the wrist at home. It seems to be about as accurate as the one at the doctors office. A paramedic told my wife once that they could be recalibrated at one of their offices, if she wanted. If you are concerned about your bp then you can get one of the wrist montors at Harbor Freight for $14.95. Most drug stores sell them but you will pay more. BP is not something to play around with, but I would not go out and get on meds unless absolutely necessary. Start walking and getting some exercise. A natural remedy for high bp is Hawthorn Berry. It works. I know someone who had their bp jump up to 200/150 and it brought it down in a few days to normal. You can find it at Vitamin World and most other health food stores. There are no side effects and it is cheaper than the prescribed blood pressure medication. You also won't have the stigma of having high bp on your medical records. Even if you need to get on the meds, you can go to any walk in clinic and they should be able to prescribe the proper medication for you. Not all carriers do their own physicals as long as yours is current. However, some will have new hires go to their company doctor for a physical, regardless of how recently you have had a physical. If it was only high on one or two occasions, it may not be too high. Everyone has their bp spike now and then when we get stressed. It doesn't always mean that you have chronic high bp.

 

I had one of those wrist monitors and it was junk . The cuff monitors for around $40 are much more reliable and keep a history of readings.

 

I bought my first wrist monitor from CVS. I don't recall the cost. I later bought one of the cuff monitors. I didn't notice any difference other than the wrist monitor being much easier to use. When I could not find the wrist monitor, I found one at Harbor Freight that was on sale for $14.95. Both the wrist monitors that I bought kept a history of bp. I have had my bp taken at a drug store and it seems to be close to my wrist monitor. Your bp can fluctuate somewhat from minute to minute. The cuff monitors are a little more expensive than the wrist monitors. In a truck, the wrist monitor is much easier to deal with than the cuff. I have a friend who was concerned about his bp recently. He bought one of the wrist monitors at Harbor Freight. His seems to be working just fine. I was told once that the wrist monitors are not as accurate as the cuffs, but that has not been my experience. They all do the same thing and in the same way. The only difference is that one takes it at the wrist and the other higher up on the arm. Regardless of which way you do it, if you have high bp you need to keep a check on it.

 

Avoid stimulants and pop a couple aspirin before a BP check and you'll be fine.