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Suggest Treatment For Severe Headache
Question: I have had high be lately but it's the highest it's ever been today. I had a very severe headache all day yesterday and woke up today with a mild one. But I started to feel very shaky so I checked my bp and its 159/114. Should I schedule an appt with doctor or go to ER
Brief Answer:
Wait for schedule appointment, diet lifestyle adjustment
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. High blood pressure of 159/114 at age of 43 with history of hepatitis c and atrial enlargement , is high and needs management. Its not a medical emergency and you can wait for scheduled appointment with your doctor. Its a misnomer that headache is associated with hypertension, it could be stress, anxiety or any other cause for headache. You should give diet and lifestyle adjustment a trial before considering antihypertensives. Losing weight and keeping BMI below 25 , reducing salt intake to minimum and not exceeding 6 gm at any cost in a single day, exercise daily, brisk walk for 45 minutes a day for 5 days at least in a week, use DASH diet for hypertension control, diets rich in potassium like banana, avocado, yogurt, coconut juices etc also help lower blood pressure. Your doctor will run some labs to rule out any secondary cause of hypertension and if its primary essential one, diet lifestyle adjustments alone will bring it to 140 systolic and 90 diastolic, if still high then medicine should be considered.
Let your doctor decide what is best for you. I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
Wait for schedule appointment, diet lifestyle adjustment
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. High blood pressure of 159/114 at age of 43 with history of hepatitis c and atrial enlargement , is high and needs management. Its not a medical emergency and you can wait for scheduled appointment with your doctor. Its a misnomer that headache is associated with hypertension, it could be stress, anxiety or any other cause for headache. You should give diet and lifestyle adjustment a trial before considering antihypertensives. Losing weight and keeping BMI below 25 , reducing salt intake to minimum and not exceeding 6 gm at any cost in a single day, exercise daily, brisk walk for 45 minutes a day for 5 days at least in a week, use DASH diet for hypertension control, diets rich in potassium like banana, avocado, yogurt, coconut juices etc also help lower blood pressure. Your doctor will run some labs to rule out any secondary cause of hypertension and if its primary essential one, diet lifestyle adjustments alone will bring it to 140 systolic and 90 diastolic, if still high then medicine should be considered.
Let your doctor decide what is best for you. I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards
Khan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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