Blood pressure, is staying high. Ugh!

#1

Back on January 20th I had a check-up with my doctor. My blood pressure was in the 160’s/over something in the 80’s.

I keep checking it at home and find it has stayed high. Sometimes it is in the 170’s! I am not certain how accurate this is as I feel stressed every time I set out to check my bp. I become tense and I can feel it.

The thing is, I felt fine before that high reading at the doctor’s office. Now I wake up at night afraid that it’s too high. I feel anxious a lot of the time.

Anyway, I have been strictly keto since I began in August of 2018. No cheating. I’ve had a few days here and there of very low carb but generally keep it under 20 carbs. I supplement with potassium, magnesium, salt and krill oil.

What am I doing wrong?! I had issues with high blood pressure four (4) months after I started Keto, along with a racing heart. Then, when I added in more potassium and magnesium, my blood pressure went down into the 120’s over 70’s and occasionally 80’s after a month or so.

Recently, I caught an awful sore throat and fever. I was sick for over a week. Then, before fully recovered I had my doctor’s visit. And my blood pressure is up. I hadn’t checked it for a while, so it could have been up before I got sick, but I felt fine.

Partly I think it is high due to stress. I always feel very stressed about checking my blood pressure. But that can’t be the whole story. I’m at a loss as to what to do or what to have my doctor check for.

I guess I’m just hoping someone out there might have some suggestions. Perhaps I need something for stress too!

Thoughts?

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #2

Stress definitely has an impact on blood pressure. Being sick will also have an impact. Sometimes it takes time for things to resolve. I’d suggest being patient, and keep tracking, especially when you’ve had a chance to relax.

#3

I’m starting to feel afraid, and so I think I will start the blood pressure medicine my doctor offered and then check it regularly to see what happens. I have a follow-up in two months.

When I walk I feel fine. I’ve started walking for 30 - 45 minutes at a good pace, again. I stopped when it got cold outside, but thought it might help with the bp. It hasn’t yet. I kind of wonder if it might help more to just stop checking it.

I’m drinking camomile tea to relax myself. Can having a fever cause damage that causes blood pressure to rise?

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #4

Sounds reasonable to me. :slight_smile:
What was your BP like before keto? Was it high then as well, or was it in the normal range?

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #5
#6

I don’t know what it was before Keto. Sadly, I hadn’t been going in regularly for check ups. However, I suspect it was high. I weighed at least 350 and was constantly out of breath when I walked short distances.

Now, I am never out of breath and have lots of energy. But I wonder if it’s nerves or if I had strep throat and that did damage. My doctor said the blood test showed my kidneys were fine, but I wonder.

I also take Koncentrated K and vitamin D everyday with meals for arterial health. But perhaps I should have a CAC test done to see how I’m doing. I’ve never had one of those tests, but have assumed that any blockage I may have had was being cleared out by this keto diet and the Koncentrated K. Perhaps I’m wrong.

Also, I had been fasting every other day for about 40 hours or more before I went to the doctor. Then I thought the high bp might be because I had relaxed a little in supplementing potassium. So I’ve stopped fasting for now, though perhaps I shouldn’t. I just don’t know.

Thanks for your encouragement!

(Bob M) #7

The best thing to do is relax. You can’t take your blood pressure if you’re freaking out.

Fasting should lower your blood pressure, or at least it does for me.

Sickness does weird things to you. As does seeing someone in a white coat. :wink:

You know, I take Vitamin K pills infrequently, but got a zero score on a CAC scan BEFORE I started taking the pills. So, whatever I was doing was working. I just started taking them infrequently, hoping they wouldn’t hurt.

It might take a while for your system to get back to normal. But maybe for you measuring blood pressure is similar to using the scale for some people – using the scale can drive some people insane, if there’s no decrease or an increase. Maybe take a while without measuring?

Seriously, sometimes I think it’s like getting LDL measured: you’ve lost a ton of weight, your skin looks better, you lost your allergies, you’ve dropped dress/pant sizes, you feel great…then you get a cholesterol test and your LDL has gone up. You freak. But is your body really trying to kill you, given the benefits you’ve experienced? I think not.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #8

The more important of the two numbers is the lower one, and 80 isn’t horrible. The systolic number, the upper one, is a short-term stressor on the blood vessels, while the diastolic number, the lower one, is a constant strain that never goes away. So it’s the diastolic number that really matters.

Be sure to get enough protein and salt, as well as keeping your carbohydrate intake low. Your daily sodium intake (from all sources, including sodium already present in your food) should be in the range of 4-6 grams a day, which translates to 10-15 grams of table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl). Your blood pressure is regulated by the presence of nitric oxide (NO) in your blood, and protein is the only macronutrient containing nitrogen (carbohydrates and fatty acids are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; what distinguishes proteins is the presence of nitrogen in addition to the other three elements).

The high chronic insulin level resulting from excessive carbohydrate intake interferes with the production of NO, which relaxes arterial walls, lowering the pressure. Limiting carbohydrate intake to a level that allows your chronic insulin level to drop (it will still rise somewhat after every meal) will allow your body to produce sufficient NO, as long as you are also getting enough protein to make the required amount of nitrogen available. Sodium intake has less of an effect on blood pressure than is commonly believed, and even for salt-sensitive hypertensives (people with high blood pressure that is affected by their salt intake), the healthiest range of sodium intake is still the same as for everyone else (it’s just that their risk curve outside of that range is steeper).

#9

Thank you, Paul, for your answer! I always appreciate your responses to questions.

Just a while ago I took my BP again and it was 159/83. I wonder if I have a bit of anxiety in the mix here.

Anyway, so far today (4:46 pm on 2-3-20), I’ve eaten approx: 90 grams of Protein, 45 grams of Fat and 9 carbs total (not net).

Today I ate chicken legs and thighs with the skin. Normally I eat beef chuck roast, hamburgers or salmon. I add fat when something doesn’t have enough fat. I’ve consumed at least 1625 mg of sodium (there was salt in the seasoning I mixed and put on the chicken that I can’t measure). Also, Cronometer says I’ve consumed 2046 mg of potassium today.

I use Cronometer to make sure I get enough salt or potassium and if I see a trend down, I make supplement.

For supper I will probably have beef or eggs (something easy). I’ve been very strict about keeping total carbs under 20.

#10

I’ve been working on BP issues for a while mine is under BP meds but still goes in the 130/90 sometimes. It seems elevate when I fast, and when my Ketones are high, at least sometimes. I can’t seem to make rhyme or reason to it.

Things I find impact my BP
Alcohol of any amount - 24 hours it will be +10 ish on both systolic and diastolic. It also seems to elevate my heart rate… very unfortunate.Highly suggest cutting back or eliminating …
Sleep - Need to get good sleep, look for any sleep problems, improving your breathing during sleep. helps mine be lower. Get enough sleep , and good sleep
Salt - and all electrolytes seem to mess mine up (mileage may vary). I’d suggest trying them increasing and/or decreasing. I seem to be sensitive I try and avoid salting anything.
Water intake… - Seems to moderate. Get enough water.
exercise lowers - Talk to your doctor before starting. Seems semivigorous walking is enough.
Ginger and Tumeric - lower, at least the tea
Coffee more then 1 cup a day raises, tea no impact
meditation - lowers I’ve starting practicing I think it is call Tapping mediation , Dave Aspery had a person on recently talking about a quick and dirty way to calm down :stuck_out_tongue: … Yes I know…It really does seem to work.

In the Keto diet podcast leanne vogel talked about increasing Carbs because of adrenal issues. The suggestion is to eat your carbs at night. No idea if it is a thing. I can’t tell what you are suppose to do if you have adrenal issue outside of calm down… I am calm… I tried it to no effect.

Just to be clear my BP is elevated but under treatment. Normally it is in the 120’s and 80s. I would suggest seeing a doctor if it is going over 130/90. As far as I can tell elevated BP is a legit risk for CVD and stroke…
I’m trying to figure out why mine is higher in order to lower it enough to get off the medications over time.

Good luck and regards

#11

I would also mention, the blood pressure reading is intended to be a resting measurement.

Be sure to sit with your back straight , and your arm supported for at five minutes… This would be a good time to practice your breathing… :slight_smile: . I’ve started watching my heart rate to tell when I’m calm.

If you have never checked your BP machine, it doesn’t hurt to make sure it is right with an actual person. take it with you to a clinic or someone who can check it manually.
It could be possible that it is off.

#12

Weeverrm, thank you for taking the time to offer suggestions. They sound good.

I only drink alcohol a few times a year, very rarely, but haven’t been getting as much sleep as I used to. Now I sleep between 6 1/2 and 7 hours. I just keep waking up early. But sleep is important, so I’ll try to get to bed earlier from now on like I used to do.

Salt might contribute, so I’m playing around with it. I may drink water too often and thereby deplete my electrolytes.

I have a habit of drinking cinnamon tea with slices of fresh ginger daily and often take tumeric supplements.

I don’t drink coffee, but had started drinking green tea in the mornings and stopped it after learning my BP is high.

Meditation - I can’t say I’ve ever been one to do that. However I do enjoy walking, even if it is only on my treadmill at home. It feels good.

I do take my BP while resting (sitting in a chair for at least 5 min first). My machine may be off, so I should have it checked.

I have been realizing that I am often tense and stressed due to being a care giver for a relative for several years. She is mostly on bed rest and needs to be fed and changed, bathed, etc. While my husband does what he can and we do have aids who come out to help, I do most of the care.

Also, I have always become more stressed whenever I am about to take my BP. So I have some anxiety about taking my blood pressure which may raise it. Even so, I am certain that is high without the anxiety.

Oh, one more thing. Since reading about hibiscus tea, I picked some up this morning and am about to have my third cup before I head for bed tonight. And I’ve been adding more fresh, chopped garlic to my food.

#13

The stress of being a caregiver is rough, finding time even 10 minutes of quiet could help. Good luck and best to you.
I’m surely no expert but I can tell you the breathing really helps.
And yes it is a bit out there :slight_smile:

(Marianne) #14

I think some of us just have hereditary high blood pressure, myself included. When I started keto, I had high hopes of getting off all my bp meds. Didn’t happen. It is lower than it was, but typically 140-150/90. I’ve been on clean keto for almost a year.

#15

Hi Marianne! Thanks for your response!

My BP has been down to “normal” levels, but it has been up and down a few times now. I wonder about it being hereditary or if it is stress or if I just get very anxious about having it tested. I’ve never liked going to doctors. :grimacing:

Now I am wondering what type of tests I might have done to rule out anything serious. Also, I wonder if it is OK to fast with high BP or if I should eat to keep my potassium and other electrolytes high.

I plan on doing more walking outside instead of on the treadmill indoors as that might be more relaxing than staring at the wall when I walk. :slightly_smiling_face:

(Marianne) #16

I bought a home bp monitor which works great. It was onlyl like $30 on Amazon. I test mine frequently and it is still higher than I’d like, and that’s on meds. I’m afraid of what it would be if I weren’t taking any.

Good luck.

#17

I have a home BP monitor as well. But even here at home I feel the stress as I prepare to test. Crazy. I’ve never gotten the monitor checked to see how accurate it is though.

(Cathy) #18

OTC meds can raise blood pressure. Things like aspirin and ibuprofen. Also chronic pain can be a cause.

(back and doublin' down) #19

This! There are so many forms of meditation, and learning to quiet your soul and breathe really does make a difference.

@GreeneggsNham Caregiving is a tough role. Are you in an area where you might plug into a support group? Then again…you have us right here!

About 10 years ago, I had a gall bladder attack and went to the ER. It wasn’t a priority, and they stuck me in a back room to wait on a doc. I was bored, my phone was going dead, and I started thinking about some meditation and biofeedback stuff I was studying at the time. I started breathing deep, conjuring up peaceful visions and would notice the bp, heart rate and oxygen levels change. Then I’d start thinking about things that upset me, make me angry, get myself all stirred up and make the bp and heart rate soar! Eeeek…it worked! and then a nurse stopped by to ask if I felt ok cause the changes caused an alarm. Ooops.

Thoughts are powerful.

#20

Cathy, thanks for that info. I didn’t know that, but, I haven’t been taking any medicine. I’ve been taking magnesium, potassium, vitamin D3, Krill oil most days, and sometimes I take Qunol Ubiquinol. :confused:

Paendora, I am doing some deep breathing exercises. This might be helping. I’m also walking again as that is the one thing that has changed in what I do and might possibly help.

I do think I am stressed, the more I think about it. I’ve been a caregiver for a long, long time. I don’t consciously think about it, but when I focus on how I feel, I do think it stresses me.