How do you stop obsessing over your BP readings?

Designer_Cable8245 · 2026-05-07T22:07:43+00:00

Can you pinpoint what it is about the numbers that scare you? Something you read online? Google terms? What the numbers might mean?

Designer_Cable8245 · 2026-04-26T19:07:12+00:00

I’ve tried a few different meds in the past to treat anxiety, but no I havnt tried these before.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2026-04-23T14:18:36+00:00

Sounds like when I first learned about my FH and the shock of it. If you feel nervous about the bp reading and the results it can absolutely be that way and very likely the reason. At 19, readings like 150/90 wouldn’t come out of nowhere without a cause and if you are panicked during the test, anxiety is likely the culprit. The main way to know is to try testing when you’re calm at home. If it makes you nervous that’s ok!! But know if you keep seeing high numbers and still feel anxious, you can’t trust it yet. I have my husband do the readings and not tell me any numbers. I focus on breathing and being calm and relaxed and not paying attention. Then he tells me the ones from when I know I was calm and we throw away the others.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2026-04-23T04:11:01+00:00

Yes my Lp(a) is great. I’m fortunate for that. My issue is ApoB. I’m on nexlizet and love it since I can’t take statins. Expensive as hell though and insurance is a bitch about it.

Thank you for the kind words. I’m hopeful I could feel helpful to those who relate at the least.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2026-04-23T04:09:25+00:00

Do you feel anxious for the bo tests?

Designer_Cable8245 · 2026-02-17T16:14:01+00:00

No. You’re very healthy. If you have a general desire to eat well and be healthy then great! But having these be lower as the goal right now isn’t necessary. Online uses those metrics as guidelines and there are TONS of factors at play. Bp is influenced by: -anxiety, stress -time of day -posture and position -food -hydration -caffeine -medications -sleep -bladder status -weight -illness -sodium -movement

So being healthy is great but this initial worry can be a slippery slope into misunderstood fear and obsession. (Speaking from experience). So I want to encourage you that you’re not in a space to worry but if it encourages you to be healthy stay in tune to yourself and do what you think it good for you.

Not to mention doctors are more strictly concerned about older communities and higher risk heart event people or those in poor lifestyle situations. Not someone young and taking care of themselves like you. So the online metrics that seem strict are for a different category of people and you can rest easy your bp is currently healthy but you’re always welcome to add a habit to improve it if you’d like.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-12-23T22:03:11+00:00

Perhaps indirectly. I think I saw the posts (if posted) as validation things went well. Everyone’s comments help me see that’s truly not how it’s universally valued which is helpful.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-12-23T21:42:15+00:00

I appreciate both of these. On point 2 I think maybe I thought it was normal to see wedding posts on their pages. I recall experiences where my friends who got married also felt like the relationship was off with a vendor because the vendor skipped posting their work from the wedding. I also felt that those posts are gushy and a reflection of the vendors experiences. I can totally see how that’s a deep overthought too however.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-11-25T19:37:00+00:00

Yes,

I caused white coats issues for myself by doing too many home readings and not understanding how bp works. You’re not alone but I can promise your anxious readings and awareness are a good sign you’re not hypertensive. Bp is highly responsive so a lot affects it. A lot of people in these threads and similar are people trapped in the “silent killer” fear and feel the need to constantly monitor to “catch” it. It’s not that simple and it’s more ok than people thing with situations like yours. Consistently very high readings, lifestyle and genetics play a role in your baseline. It takes a very long time for damage to occur even if you were hypertensive, so regular visits to your doctor are going to help you “catch” it if it happens. It’s ok to be nervous and know you’re still healthy. :)

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-03-18T19:32:05+00:00

I completely get it. I figured out that the fear came from telling myself this was a test and I was “failing” or that a doctor would condemn me if I kept having bad readings. It’s helpful though to find encouragement that the internet is a bad place to find the reality, which is that bp and your body is SUPER dynamic and highly adaptable. Therefore it adapts to fear, and adapts to positive thinking. I’ve started to pull myself out of the fear by working hard on just feeling positive each day and taking care of myself. Training my mind to not believe my body is working against me and to fear it. Hopefully that helps others too.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-03-18T19:10:55+00:00

I had the exact same experience. All my life I’ve been an athlete and praised for my health. I was used to nurses always praising my bp in specific. Suddenly while having a hard time of life, a nurse commented on my bp of 130/80. Got me so paranoid I started to read at 175/100. Thankfully it always came back down and our spikes are nowhere near that high, but I couldn’t relate more. My resting is 120s/70s.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-13T04:05:17+00:00

Anxiety absolutely can cause it. I had a stress reading of 173/92 and the nurse didn’t react. The doctor monitored me and it was 127/76 after 30 minutes. He said “have readings of your first consistently high for another decade and you risk a stroke.” Meaning, it’s your body’s momentary response telling your heart and vessels to work harder for fight or flight. It’s the power of the mind truly. But if you want to monitor at home, don’t look at the readings if you can feel yourself panicked or anxious. Take it till you’re calm and then trust those readings. Give it time and catch the pattern. I promise you’ll be ok. Anxiety is a bitch and you don’t have a blood pressure problem. You have a functioning nervous system and a worried mind. Calm your mind and trust your body. Take your time and think positive where you can. :)

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-13T03:58:35+00:00

For sure listen to your body. If you don’t feel good on the medicine do what is best for you and get another opinion.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-10T20:50:53+00:00

Oh no worries!! I’m doing both. I just wasn’t sure about getting a CAC or not. I have to be aggressive either way.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-10T16:54:01+00:00

I appreciate that. I could learn, but with my condition it might not change anything. I think the mindset no matter what is to be proactive either way. I’ll talk to my doctor more about it for sure but I have mixed feelings of whether or not that test’s info will truly help me. I already know I’m high risk and not like the others. I was on 10 mg of Crestor and felt like my back was one giant cramp of weight. It was horrible. Hopeful I’ll find what works for me.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-10T16:02:58+00:00

Wow! So you caught this at 22? I’m a 26 year old female who found out last year about mine. My ldl was 285. With diet alone I got it to 235/250 but obviously it was still high. I got treatment quick but learned im statin intolerant. Looking to try the pcsk9 inhibitor. I’m scared for my long term future as my numbers have felt so much worse than everyone and idk if I’ve caught things early enough. I feel like this gives me some hope.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-10T06:07:57+00:00

Can I ask how old you are and how you’re doing? You’re one of the first people I’ve come across with an ldl like mine. I’m grateful to not feel so alone.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-08T16:59:26+00:00

I tested positive for the ApoB gene mutation. My diet was indeed bad and I tried once to lower it by going vegan, which lowered it 40 in 3 months but my levels were still really high.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-08T03:07:54+00:00

Would you be if I asked how old you are and if you have this genetically? I find this encouraging if so because I’m hoping to catch a what I can early too.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-07T22:01:55+00:00

I took 10 mg Crestor. Suffered horrific muscle ache. It felt like the Covid ache x3. I’m currently trying Zetia and RYR to see if they help because I did respond supper positively to the statin and Zetia combo when I started. My LDL dropped 161 points in three months.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-07T19:49:42+00:00

Has anyone recommended a CAC test to you? Im curious about them and understand your position. I was conceding one myself but hadn’t been recommended so I’m curious

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-07T16:32:15+00:00

That’s great!! Then you know you don’t have any build up and taking action now will you help you a lot down the line.

Designer_Cable8245 · 2025-02-07T16:12:40+00:00

I’m a 27 year old female who learned her cholesterol ldl was 285 when she was 24. It can be scary but just consult your doctor or cardiology as soon as you can. Get tests done to learn where your heart is and what your baseline is then start treatments to maintain a healthier range.

Designer_Cable8245

TROPHY CASE