Got some good news!

anti-bonk · 11-12-2008, 10:35 AM

Recently I got some really good news and I feel like I had to post a thread about it since it somewhat relates to bodybuilding. I'm not posting to brag, but I am just so happy about it and am feeling such a sense of relief that I've been annoying everyone with it.

A few years ago I started having my blood pressure checked at my fitness center. It always read dangerously high and would average anywhere from 145/105 to 167/125. So, every single day for the past few years I have been very paranoid about my health. I constantly worry about my blood pressure and how my arteries are probably hardening and possibly getting an enlarged heart. Instead of going to a doctor for a checkup, I decided to just try to get my health in check on my own.

Two years ago I began to take it more seriously and started my "challenge" by eating mostly clean and began more intensely exercising in an effort to drop weight and bring my blood pressure down so that I would not have to go on medication at the age of 40 or 41. Despite all this I was consistently told my blood pressure is 152/115 or 167/125 or 145/105.

I cannot express just how much I've worried about this. I have been scared that when I am lifting heavier weights I'll have an aneurism or while riding mountain bike 5 miles out in the forest I could collapse with no access to an ambulance. And I'm only 41!

So, I finally broke down and scheduled my first check up in 13 years. I figured more than likely the doctor would scold me and put me on blood pressure medication. I went in expecting the worse. The assistant took my stats. Resting heart rate was 67 beats per minute. Well that sounds good. I guess the biking is paying off some. She took my blood pressure and said 119/80. I said, "what"? She said, "Your blood pressure is 119/80".

I was then told to take my clothes off and get in the little blue robe. (Now we are talkin!) When the doctor came in I explained I was puzzled by my blood pressure results and the doctor then took my blood pressure as well. She said, "120/80- your blood pressure is fine". She told me that whoever took my blood pressure before was probably using a pressure cuff for regular size arms. She needed to use a pressure cuff on me for larger arms. Since the pressure cuff used before was too small it gave a false reading of high blood pressure. She assured me that my blood pressure was absolutely fine.

Not only is my blood pressure fine, but the nurse called me yesterday with the results of my blood test. She said:

A healthy total cholestorol levels should be below 200- mine is 132.
Healthy levels of HDL (good cholestorol) should be above 40- mine is 62.
Healthy LDL (bad cholestorol) levels should be below 100- mine is 60.
Helathy levels of triglicerides should be below 150- mine is 52.
Healthy sugar levels should be below 99- mine is 90.
Healthy HDL ratio which indicates risk of coronary disease
should be below 5- mine is 2.5.
The nurse said my test results were the best she has seen in awhile.

Maybe the paranoia I have felt has motivated me to get my nutrtion and exercise on track, and I know just because I got some good results now isn't a guarantee for the future. But today I am just really happy and feel like telling everyone.

Guff · 11-12-2008, 10:43 AM

Rock on!

StressMonkey · 11-12-2008, 11:12 AM

That's awesome and now you don't have to worry anymore!

BuckSpin · 11-12-2008, 11:22 AM

I know that feeling of seeing a doctor for the 1st time in a generation and getting bad news, then getting my $#@! together and gettin' smokin' numbers like yours. Congratulations!

GuzzleFish · 11-12-2008, 12:56 PM

jtroster · 11-12-2008, 01:14 PM

Great news. Last year my doctor had to use the large cuff. That now becomes a badge of honour for us older folks

TulsaCoker · 11-12-2008, 01:19 PM

Good Going, I've had high blood pressure for the past nine years. This past January I began eatting healthy, running and lifting weights. I'm going in for my yearly check-up this monday (11-17) and one of my goals is to get off the blood pressure med. I have since two month ago cut my pill in half to try and wheen myself off. We'll see.