Greetings, Dr. Roach I am in wonderful health at the age of 89. My systolic blood pressure was 113 mm Hg for six months. It then fell to 88 mm Hg for a week ten days ago. The pressure has been 187/93 mm Hg for the past week and today. When my blood pressure dropped, my doctor stopped me from taking the blood pressure medicine I was taking. I’m not taking any drugs at the moment. What on earth is going on? — D.J.
The answer is that blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day and night, however there are certain typical trends. Blood pressure typically spikes in the first few hours after waking up and then falls at night.
Beyond these broad observations, blood pressure can fluctuate minute by minute, and it might increase by 20% or more when we think about something that makes us feel uncomfortable or frightened. You should anticipate occasional readings in the 90s or 130s if your typical systolic blood pressure is 110 mm Hg. What worries us the most is the average blood pressure. Getting a number of blood pressure readings is the best way to get a decent notion of the average.
What I believe is happening is that you had outstanding control of your blood pressure, but you may have had a few low readings, either by accident or because you weren’t consuming enough water or salt. Your doctor may have overreacted by discontinuing the medication that your body actually need to regulate your blood pressure.
Your blood pressure may have appeared lower that week if your readings were taken when the medication was at its most effective. This is because certain blood pressure medications don’t last all day.
Using a home monitor to take several blood pressure readings each day is the best way to resolve issue. They are reasonably priced, and you can use ValidateBP.org to locate a validated device and base your prescription dosage on the average result. Blood pressure extremes, such as 88–187 mmHg, are not good for your heart and brain at age 89.
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Greetings, Dr. Roach Diverticulosis affects me. I’d like to consume berries for a healthier diet, but I’m worried that it can trigger a pain flare-up. Apart from vitamins, are there any other options? — S.T.
ANSWER: For most people, a nutritious diet is a good diet for diverticulosis. I believe that consuming more fiber through food is preferable to taking supplements. Because they are tasty, low in simple sugars, and high in fiber, berries are an excellent option.
The seeds in berries can be causing you concern. For fear of obstructing diverticula, it has been customary to steer clear of them. Nonetheless, it is generally agreed that diverticulitis attacks are not triggered by seeds, nuts, or maize. However, it makes sense to stay away from particular meals if you’ve experienced issues with them causing an attack.
Although he regrets not being able to respond to each letter individually, Dr. Roach will try to include them in the column. Questions can be sent by mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or by email to [email protected].
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