“You’re not leaving here with your blood pressure that high,” the doctor said. It was 189 over something equally ridiculous. It was not interested in coming down. Finally she said, “Okay, pick up this prescription on your way out and take it the minute you get home.”
Vividly running through my head were images of my mother, who suffered a series of strokes that eventually killed her in her 70th year. Plus images of assorted aunts and others who suffered debilitating strokes and often early deaths.
“But . . . but,” I said to the doctor, as I have repeatedly said since my carefree youth; “I don’t have high blood pressure. My three older sisters? They all had high blood pressure. They also all had beautiful auburn curls, while I got the utterly straight, dishwater blond hair. So, shortly into our adulthood, I took to saying, ‘OK, keep your gorgeous curly hair, I’ve got the good blood pressure.’ It seemed like a pretty fair trade.” My physician said, not unsympathetically, “Those genes may have caught up with you.” And just like that, I joined the ranks of the hypertensive. That great mass of humanity waiting apprehensively for the stroke or heart attack that might swoop in and end it all.
By the time I got home I was visualizing an immediate demise.
Unlike my mother’s generation, though, today’s hypertensives have internet encyclopedias worth of information and an arsenal of drugs bewildering enough to induce a small stroke if you really try to figure them all out. Beta blockers. Diuretics. Angiotensin II receptor blockers. Vasodilators. A good doctor, whose advice you can follow, at least on which meds to take, is a great boon. 
The rest of the try-not-to-have-a-stroke business is fairly straightforward. Quit with the nicotine, and moderate the booze (or quit that too.) Watch the weight – extra poundage, especially around the midsection, can increase your stroke probability rather dramatically. Walk for at least 30 minutes a day, increasing the distance as you can. (Swim, bike, exercise.) Salt can do you in fast; if you’re trying to stay within the recommended 1,000 to 2,000 mg per day, a large order of fries (350 mg) might not be a wise choice.
This writer is good with most of the above – excepting an occasional uncontrollable urge for a small order of fries. Plus whatever that was I picked up from the Kaiser pharmacy definitely worked. One tiny little pill, and the next day my blood pressure was 114 over 85.
Maybe I’ll stick around for a while.
Fran, I just found time to read this. What a scary episode! Glad your BP is now under control. And hope everything is holding steady on your fabulous trip!
All’s well. I hope to write about the trip & EXCELLENT conference. Also hope to learn to deal with the aging business.
Bless you! Sorry you had to join us. I too always hadvery low BP until one visit where Dr. found it slightly high and prescribed. No problems since, bp stays low.Yours will too — just pop the pill and forget about it.One reason we are living so long is the new drugs properly prescribed. Believe me, a stroke is not what either of us want!
I am DEFINITELY popping the pill! And yes, here’s to long (hopefully healthy) life. I’ve so far out-lived my stroke-prone mom by nearly 13 years already.
Hey sweetheart this is really troubling me.
BTW I really enjoyed how you told the story.
That said I offer whatever efforts or psychological support to you.
I know you do a fine job of controlling your mind but I may be useful for “updates”.
xo
D
You’re a doll, Deborahn2. I tend to think it was a fluke . . . but am religiously taking my Lisinopril.
Funny, I was thinking of something along these lines this morning as I was salting my eggs — I wonder if a time is coming when I’ll be told I can’t do this anymore?
I’m the only one in my family (youngest of five children) without hypertension. Both my parents had it too. I suppose it’s only a matter of time, but your news is encouraging. Thank you for that!
Maybe it’s something about us Youngest Siblings. I think the answer is along the line of “Pray, but row harder” — Do what you can, within reason, and don’t worry about the rest. Since my husband has heart issues, I long ago switched from salt to lemon pepper (tiny amount of sodium, & very good on eggs and elsewhere.)
I haven’t thought of that! It sounds good, thanks for the tip!
Wonder how many times your doc. took your b.p.. On the other hand, I suppose she couldn’t
have been that much mistaken. Lovely to hear that the prescribed pill seems to have done the job. Your trouble, of course, is that your life style has been too healthy in all the ways that, as you noted, should have been protective; no ballast of relevant sins to toss overboard. Ah well,
sounds like you’re back on a steady course. Whew! XOB
Thanks! T’was a briefly scary time, but all seems well again.