The silent killer, high blood pressure (BP)

I now check my blood pressure (BP) almost every morning. Yes, I now have a routine. Every morning, when I sit at my desk (working from home) I take out my BP machine and proceed to check my BP before taking my prescribed medication.

Up until now, the BP machine had been redundant for me at home. Actually, I've always had several BP machines at any given time. Especially when I was delivering on my medical mission in Nigerian. Creating awareness on High BP and diabetes.

These two non-communicable diseases are known to be prevalent in the black community. Before now, I've had perfect BP. I remember my BP used to be 123/80. As in textbook reading.

Anyway, age 52.9, I am here now and I know how I got here. I tick the majority of the criteria, black, family history, menopausal, and lifestyle. I have included the lifestyle aspect because, although I have always actively attended the gym, I also have an active social life involving the consumption of beverages and nourishment.

Enough said.

Like I said, enough said. It took me some time to come to accept and come to terms with the new me. At this point, I am grateful I did not just have a stroke and die. Just like that.

I am grateful to be surrounded by my friends (SoJ), and family who made me see the light by sharing their journey with high blood pressure.

Many people have not been so lucky. That's why they call high blood pressure, the silent killer. Just like that, no signs of symptoms, you've had a stroke, or your dead.

Every household should have a BP machine.

Someone shared his story of going for a routine tooth extraction in the hospital. He was already in the chair. As protocol, they did a quick BP check. Lo and behold... 200+/100+.

Needless to say, they wheeled him into A&E, the tooth still intact.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

So this July 2023 I enrolled in the BP medication management family. What has been more interesting about my journey is that my consultation, prescription, and follow-up have been with a pharmacist (clinical pharmacist) and not the traditional General Practitioner (GP). I rate this service 100/100. At this rate, I may eventually forgive my GP for never carrying out an over-40s health check with me (12 yrs down the line).

Anyway, I am here now.

So I'm monitoring my BP and taking the medication as prescribed, but, I'm yet to observe the change I expected I.e BP reset to factory setting🤣... Warrizdis... It's 2 weeks and counting. For now, I bind any increase in dose. Amen.

Meanwhile, the pharmacist called me yesterday (18/7), to check on my progress. Like I've said, this is a damn good service.

He asked if I was experiencing any side effects from the medication. I told him that, to be honest, I was experiencing all the side effects on the list before I started taking the meds🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I told him, biko (please), I don't know what's doing me anymore. Menopause symptoms have overshadowed any other business 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. So no, I have not experienced any increase in all the side effects I had pre-BP medication.

Let me just say he tried hard not to laugh.

He will call back in 3wks.

I can't wait.

💞

Learning

1. High BP is a silent killer as you may not have any signs or symptoms.

2. Invest in a BP machine and learn how to check your BP.

3. Check your BP regularly as part of your health and well being. Take three readings.

4. Monitor your BP if on medication.

5. Take your BP medication as prescribed.

6. Share this blog/ knowledge with your friends and family.