I just spent the last four days in the hospital, due to “stroke-like symptoms” and a seizure, all caused by me not paying attention and letting my blood pressure get way out of control. I am fully aware that the problem lies with me, and that the results could have been much worse (stroke and death, for example). And, as it turns out, I have already had a couple of strokes. Fortunately they were not in critical areas of the brain and I was not even aware of them.
I should have been constantly checking it instead of assuming what it was based on my past history. It ended up quite a bit higher than I thought it was.
I should have been better about knuckling down and exercising as well.
Blood pressure is tricky because you don’t have any symptoms until you do. But I’m glad to hear that you seem fit and functional now, and that presumably your pressure has been medicated and is under better control. These things can sneak up on you slowly, so thanks for reminding others.
It’s a dramatic way to get your attention, but I’m glad to hear you’ve learned an important lesson about your health without permanent major damage! Once you get in the habit, it’s pretty easy to keep track of your blood pressure, and this kind of wakeup call really helps a person get into the habit.
Do it for your SDMB “kids,” if for no other reason!
When I met my wife she had been mostly avoiding routine medical care for several years since a very bad experience with a medical procedure. She was aware that her blood pressure was high, and her father had died of a stroke, but she was just ignoring the issue. I convinced her to get a checkup, and her blood pressure was measured at 230/125, which is a level that normally warrants an immediate trip to the ER. She was prescribed medication and has been taking it religiously, and her blood pressure is now under control. It scares me to think how things might have gone very differently if she hadn’t had that checkup.
And, I concur - walking is dangerous. Nine days ago, I was walking to the office from the train station, tripped or slipped on something, and broke my right elbow (technically, the end of my ulna).
Healing thoughts sent to @engineer_comp_geek (again) and to @What_Exit and his bride (for the first time). Please take good care of yourselves and your loved ones!
I’m in my mid 50s and take blood pressure medicine. My neighbor died after having a stroke and falling down the stairs. The one thing his wife told me after that was to watch my blood pressure.
I hope you can get yours under control. Be well.
I knew it was high, but I was expecting 160 or 170 high. It was actually something like 240 or 250. I don’t recall the exact number. My memory got rather fuzzy after the seizure.
There are easy to use wrist BP monitors, not as accurate always as arm cuff ones but easy to use in between dr office visits. This grizzled cranky old home health nurse urges you to follow the instructions of both styles to get reliable readings. Take your home BP monitor into to your dr visits to correlate with the office BP machines to keep tabs on how accurate and reliable your home BP machine is. It’s always good to do readings at various times of day and to record the readings in your phone or in a paper log for your physician.
We like our mods to be in good shape so they can 
