Daniella:

I can tell you about the blood pressure reading. 105/80 is not low.

I go to Cornell once a month. My blood pressure is around 102/59 or over 65, and everybody gives a thumbs up and says "wow, look at that blood pressure reading. I'm in a cardiovascular diabetic program that monitors both diabetes and blood pressure. It's two protocols actually!!! It seems that when you have diabetes you are at risk for getting strokes, heart attacks, etc. So this protocol (they are gathering information over 9 years), well, they want to find out what cause and effect is.

I've been on blood pressure meds since I'm 26 years old. For hypertension. I don't even remember what my blood pressure was way back then, but I was almost 300 lbs.

At Cornell, the doctors said they have changed the information on what your blood pressure should read. It should be lower than the 120/80 (as it has been believed this was normal), for the past years. Well, the guys at Cornell don't seem to think this particular number is what a person should strive for.

I actually didn't understand anything they were talking about when I joined the protocol but after almost 3 years, I get to listening and understanding a bit more. So they've changed my blood pressure meds over the past 2 years, adding a water pill and then reducing it because it dropped my pressure too much.

So when I go and they put me in this cuff attached to this computer thing,and it takes three readings, and then averages it out. (They also do the manual thing too). And when they see 100/59 (which caused me to say "oh my god, isn't this too low"??., and the doctors said "are you kidding, these numbers are perfect".

So what the heck did I know???? lol Oh, I just remembered you are way younger than I am. Maybe it's different when you're young??? I have no idea


Melody


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