Fluctuating elevated and normal blood pressure? -

my husband 47 yr male with sound family history of hypertension shows very wide fluctuating blood pressure readings. he showed a 126/87 at 6am 151/104 and 137/92 over 2 min gap at 12:30pm and 140/97 and 130/88 at 6pm. I have no clue what to assume for this kind of readings. His doctor advices diet control amp; excercise. His cholesterol is normal and is healthy except for severe headaches once in a while. he is on no salt diet and takes 2 tbsp codliver oil, 1 garlic tab, calcium-magnesium-zinc combo tab, CoQ10 200mg each day and an occasional potassium tab. Diet includes fish at every meal, fresh fruits, a lot of tomato juice and veggies. He cooperates to this diet only out of submission. Should he wait more to start his meds or change his doctor? Is he is at risk of stroke or heart disease if his BP readings shoots up and does nt stay so consistently? is this high fluctuation an indicator of some other underlying health issue? Both Parents and all 3 siblings are on BPmeds, except him.

Blood pressure fluctuates depending on activity. A normal blood pressure is 120/80. Doctors will take a standing, sitting, lying down blood pressure and they will all be different. As so after exercise. If his family is prone to hypertension and he does get headaches perhaps you should talk to your doctor about a BP med. Yes, he could very well have a stroke if this is left unchecked. Diet and exercise does help, but in some cases a med is needed. I hope he doesn t smoke as this also contributes to a high blood pressure. Good luck.

Lose a few lbs.?

I am observing similar variations. A) If you take more than one reading without removing the cuff in between, the follow-up readings will be low. Don t know why. B) If you take readings in a consistent way, always in the same position and with some minutes of rest before, variations get smaller. C) Diets like you describe express a certain attitude to health. This attitude may cause high blood pressure. Better eat a little of everything and you won t need any chemistry. D) As far as i understand, a beginning resp. hidden diabetes may be causing blood pressure variations by larger than normal glucose variations. I am wondering if this explains lower blood pressure in the morning.