Blood Pressure question for Dr's here or anyone who may know???Update pg 2

[glo]

Is a blood preassure of 98/154 bad? I mean enough to go to Dr. right away? Or can it wait?

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I'm not a doctor, but I'd go to the doctor's right away!

 

[browneyes]

Do you have those numbers right 98/154 instead of 154/98? GO RIGHT AWAY!

 

[Blondie]

First off, don't panic! That will only increase your BP.

Secondly, take it again, and then again a third time.

If the bottom part is still in the 150's it's time to see your MD, and quickly!

 

[ahutton]

I had pregnancy hypertension, and when my upper number was over 140 they were concerned about it. For the lower number when it was over 90 they were concerned. I spent a lot of my pregnancy laying on my left side, and resting, which helped keep it in check. I would guess those numbers are baseline concerning for anyone. But don't stress out, it just makes it worse. I would at least call your doctor.

 

[becka]

That 154 is awfully high. I would call your doctor right now and see what they want you to do.

 

[Serena]

I'm assuming the top number is the 154/over the 98. If it is, you don't have to panic, just call the doc and make an appointment. It's bad, but nothing to panic about.
If it's the other way around, get to the doctor now. Something is very wrong.

 

[glo]

I am just looking for info on those numbers guys....
It is for a friend...

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by ahutton
I spent a lot of my pregnancy laying on my left side, and resting, which helped keep it in check.

I thought 150/90 was borderline. I'd call him to be sure he doesn't want you in. During my pregnancy I was on my left side resting a lot also. What's with laying on the left side? Anyone know the reasoning?

 

[mrsv98]

I was on my left side a lot also. My OB said it had to do with the oxygen flow to the baby and blood flow, not putting pressure on major arteries and such. Not a very technical explanation!

 

[EROS]

GLO, you probably mean 154/98. The second number (diastolic) is the more important of the two. Anything over 90 mm is considered elevated. If it was over 110 mm, I would consider it critical. I'd urge your friend to get 2-3 sequential readings, either via a home machine, drugstore, or office visit. If the diastolic is consistently greater than 90, then treatment is definitely indicated.

 

[Disney Doll]

The bottom number is never higher than the top number.If your friend's BP is 154/98, it's not an emergency, but I would have him/her call the doctor and make an appointment for SOON.

If your friend's blood pressure is something over 154, then that is a true emergency and he/she should go to the ER immediately.

Rule of thumb for BPs: The top number they like between 100-140. The bottom number they like between 60-90. Obviously, they like the top number closer to 100 than 140 and they like the bottom number closer to 60 than 90.

 

[BethR]

Glo - those numbers (almost exactly if you really meant 154/98) were bad enough to get me put on BP meds a few weeks ago.

I don't believe that they are bad enough to have to go to the ER or anything. But I would make an appt to see the Dr. for sometime in the near future. They will probably want to get a series of BP readings over a period of time. Many things can influence your BP readings.

But I still would suggest that see a Dr. sometime soon. It is not healthy to have a BP over 140/90 for any extended period of time.

 

[Serena]

LOL, never higher?? Well that tells you how much I don't know about that.

 

[BethR]

EROS must have been posting at the same time that I was. I would follow his suggestions. (Which COINCIDENTALLY seem to be the same as mine. )

 

[Kermit]

Lying on your left side increases the body's ability to transport blood around your body, regardless of if you're pregnant or not. It's called recovery position in CPR because you lie the victim on his/her left after they're breathing again. In pregnancy, it's more important because lying on your back really cuts off your circulation since you have a major artery there and the baby puts too much weight on it. I get dizzy any time I lie on my back for more than just a few minutes now.

 

[TheLionKing]

Actually, laying on the left side for pregnant women takes pressure of the inferior vena cava which promotes better blood flow return to the heart which in turn helps the heart pump more blood.

 

[Judy from Boise]

yup what he said ! I call the position of lying on your left side with your right leg bent at 90 degrees " left lateral Simms ". It is one of the positions we teach nurses to place clients into, supported by pillows at every joint and behind the back......very comfortable

 

[Serena]

I had to stay that way for 3 days. I wanted to move so badly.

 

[fkj2]

There is a large vein positioned toward the right side of the body called the vena cava. It is divided, so to speak, into the superior vena cava, which returns blood to the heart from the upper half of the body and the inferior vena cava, which returns blood from the abdomen and lower extremities.

Laying on your left side allows the baby to lay away from the inferior vena cava, allowing the blood to flow more easily back to the heart, lessening the heart's workload.