Blood Pressure

Thanks for the clarification. Regarding the BP issue, my wife is a nurse and said what the other driver said about TEMPORARILY lowering your BP can be true but isn't definite as all bodies are different. She said this is how it works: donating blood, say within an hour or two before having your BP tested temporarily decreases the arteriovascular flow of blood. In addition, she said dehydration can do the same thing. So, if you want to make sure (these are MY words, not hers), don't eat or drink anything the night before your test and the morning of your test, go donate the blood and then get your BP tested as soon as you can after donating the blood. Just make sure you don't have too low of a blood sugar. Eat and drink as soon as you can after having your BP tested.

 

Double check, and make sure they are using a large cuff to take your BP. If they use a regular size, it may be too small, and that will increase your reading. If Concentra is the only place it's high, they may not be using the right size cuff. Good luck, and happy Zen thoughts!

 

Are you being forced to go to one certain clinic? I read online that the only good way to tell that you have high blood pressure is wearing some sort of monitor that you can wear at home and it will automatically record your blood pressure without thinking about it.

Does aspirin contain caffeine? If so wouldn't that raise your BP?

 

I have been told by doctors that I have a weak pulse. As such, when my BP is taken with an automatic cuff, it always reads high (185/100). However when taken manually by a nurse, it is normal (120/75). Therefore I always request that my BP be taken manually. I don't know if this applies to you, but it may be worth a shot.

Good luck.