Sure, one of the reasons for my Stroke was HBP, so it was a given for my current condition … BUT in the early stages after my hospital stay for 2 months, my HBP seemed under control and "stable", so much so I could attend my twice-weekly Rehabilitation sessions at St. Andrew's Day Center … for a good while too … until one day, when that all changed.
Every session I attend, before I am put thru the exercise machines, I would have my BP taken. A rudimentary requirement, with folks needing to adhere to the 120-140 Systolic and 90 Diastolic before they are allowed to continue, least your markers are a signpost to your diminished health and subsequently deterialmental to your abilities to cope with the exertion.
My Systolic (above measurement) is always on the higher side, and an obvious hypertension malady, while I have always focused on the Diastolic-readings (below measurement), with "90" being my cut off, because simply, if I could not be below 90, I could not carry on my rehab sessions, or so I remind myself...
"What does the systolic blood pressure number mean?And this has been the case for a while, before I decided (by myself) to go away and seek some semblance of "help" before I went back to rehab - which subsequently took much longer than I anticipated, months on end, whereby I was even "out-processed" of the program for taking that long a time.
When your heart beats, it contracts and pushes blood through the arteries to the rest of your body. This force creates pressure on the arteries. This is called systolic blood pressure.
A normal systolic blood pressure is 120 or below. A systolic blood pressure of 120-139 means you have normal blood pressure that is higher than ideal, or borderline high blood pressure. Even people with this level are at a greater risk of developing heart disease.
A systolic blood pressure number of 140 or higher is considered to be hypertension, or high blood pressure.
What does the diastolic blood pressure number mean?
The diastolic blood pressure number or the bottom number indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
A normal diastolic blood pressure number is 80 or less. A diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 is normal but higher than ideal.
A diastolic blood pressure number of 90 or higher is considered to be hypertension or high blood pressure." (Information via)
I have since stopped counting how long, but I know I left the rehab program before I was signed off by the therapists on my ability. That will always haunt me, especially now, as my neck region and even arm (where once was paralyzed) has since started to ache again…
The above was my reading yesterday at the local polyclinic - at about 3:30pm - when I was there seeking treatment for an inane cough, and I was esthetic to see both numbers! Siply the "best" numbers I;d seen since my discharge from hospital in end-2010! A "Minor monday Miracle", I called it :)
But least I "celebrated" too early, I checked myself out at home (with a home kit) at 10am, with the result less than satisfactory:
Perhaps I'll try again later in the afternoon at 3:30pm as well, as folks mention a person's HBP reading is slightly lower on the afternoons, as a person's body adjusts to waking up and thru the day … my machine's better not be busted tho! LOL
Seems I might still be back to concentrated bitter gourd juice for a bit (a remedy taught to my mum from whom i do not know), or I should also be downing more celery … and of course my regular medicinal intake.
I cannot dispense any advice on what to take, to reduce one's high blood pressure - sure as heck as it hasn't really worked for me, innit?
In many ways, that's one of the main reasons why I avoid conflicts these days, or deliberately shy away from confrontations or quarrels, not to be embroiled in any negativity, which might get my blood'a'boiling. I had a quick temper "in the past", which I now actively quell, so I cannot say if it has actually "gone away" or that I am a more serene person I might attempt to be serene, but it doesn't mean I naturally am … the inner peace which escapes me, and my constant search for it still eludes my patience … "drama", I know, right? LOL
While typing up this post, I realized I did not bring along my BP-reader to Jakarta with me last week, as I did when I visited Bangkok early last year - to keep tabs on my own health. Or perhaps it might have been a good thing, as it would have brought further attention and stress to myself? Be that as it may, it behooves anyone to pay attention to their own conditions, regardless how healthy you might seem on the surface. Don;t wait for the shit to hit the fan, yeah? Or else you might find yourself whining about it on a blog like this of mine LOL
Cheers
Andy
