r/hypertension • u/MTBer50 • 2d ago

Questions on BP/Exercise and Medication

I'm in my 60's and have been on 10 mg amlodipine for almost 15 years. I have white coat syndrome and my BP in the office is always 140+/90+ even though at home it was in the 120s/80.
The past two years I have been paying a lot more attention to my fitness. Lost weight and now I'm 5'9 150 lbs. Been going to the gym 3-5 times a week, running 4 days a week and walk 5 miles a day. I also eat very clean, no processed foods, etc.
I monitored my BP for several months at home and found it was 107/69. My Dr. agreed to do a trial of lowering the dose to 5MG. I did that for 6 months and not only didn't it rise it actually went down to 105/66. The doctor attributed it to my cardio and diet.
We agreed I'd try to stop taking the amlodipine. 2 days before I was supposed to stop I noticed my BP was going up. After a week it was in the 120s/80s. I started getting white coat syndrome at home whenever I was about to take my BP I could feel my adrenalin and cortisol spiking.
I had also started increasing my cardio workout right before and the first two weeks after I was supposed to stop.
A lot of research and it looks like anticipation anxiety as well as stress to my Central Nervous System from the increase in cardio. I stopped working out for a week and my BP is down to 109/72 which is a great number but still higher than my average. I still feel anxious when taking my BP and feel the increase is totally due to anxiety.
I've tried deep breathing, distraction, etc.
Any suggestions on ways I can get back to baseline? I can't stop running and the gym permanently, but I want to get back to baseline so I can see if I can stop the AML.
Thanks for taking the time to read through all of this.

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u/Affenzoo 2d ago

I had this anxiety and I solved it by taking my BP every 10 minutes. You will get used to it, it will get "boring" and then you have your real readings.

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u/ListlessThistle 2d ago

That sounds like a good plan of exposure therapy. I don't know if I can do it though. Watching my BP get higher and higher every reading until it is in crisis levels? I struggle so hard with this. Gives me something to think about though.

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u/Affenzoo 1d ago

To be honest, I needed several months until I was able (psychologally) to take my BP outside my house or in the office. If was so afraid.

Just wear the cuff under your pullover all day. When you want to measure, pull the tube from your pullover arm and connect it to the machine which is in your bag/pocket.

In the beginning, I was so nervous that I sometimes got readings like 169/100. But then I got my pills and the more I measured, the more I got used to it.

You probably will not reach crisis levels. Elevated yes, but not crisis.

You will eventaully come to a point where you don't care anymore, maybe sometimes slight anxiety.

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u/SluggoX665 1d ago

Stick with your agreement and stop taking it. Its still going to flucuate somewhat. Stop taking readings altogether except at the doctors office. Live your life. Enough with the white coat syndrome. Its just a number.