As many of you’d know I had to attach a 24-hour blood pressure monitor to my body recently. It was uncomfortable, annoying and not fashion forward, but it was a necessary step for me to take. You see my blood pressure readings have been high the last few times I’ve been to the doctors. My doctor needed to find out if I had to start taking some form of medication or if I had something called “White Coat Syndrome”. This means my blood pressure goes up because I’m nervous and anxious about the doctor taking my blood pressure. Crazy I know.
With high blood pressure in my family I was quite resigned to the fact I’d be taking tablets. I also have a tendency to over think everything and worry about all of the things. White Coat Syndrome also didn’t seem that far fetched either.
The whole issue of blood pressure and making sure you get regular checks is really important to me. My friend recently wrote about her own family’s story. What an ordeal. They are amazing.
So as you can understand I was nervous and keen to get my results so I could get treatment if needed. And you know what? I got my test results back and it was good news. It seems my blood pressure is all ok. Instead what was confirmed is I make myself stressed, anxious and nervous which pushes up my blood pressure temporarily. Yes, I am a worrier, which to me is unsurprisingly to say the least. I am so relieved though.
It seems cutting back on the caffeine also helped a little. For someone so nervy as me, stimulants are probably not required. This fact is also not surprising. One thing I have noticed since cutting out the coffee is my heart doesn’t race anymore, I feel a lot calmer, I’m sleeping better and I’m not getting up to go the loo as much. I wasn’t even drinking that much of it. A simple switch to decaf has been really good for me.
This whole process has reinforced to me that what might seem like small changes can in fact have a big impact on your health. It’s also given me renewed determination to get healthier.
Someone recently told me that it’s about focusing on the good you are doing for your body, rather than getting upset about the things you can’t have. I don’t want to deprive myself, that won’t make me happy, but good health will.
Little-by-little can go a long way.
Bianca Wordley x
Hi, I'm Bianca Wordley, I write about life.
Wonderful news! I’m very happy for you.
Thanks so much dude xx
Isn’t it amazing what focussing on the positive rather than the deprivation side of things does! I am part of a clinical trial for pregnant women who are overweight or obese (or as I like to say, “Fat chicks up the duff!”). I had a session with a dietician the other day and I confessed all my dark, deep fried indiscretions to her. There was no flinching, no tsking or head shaking. She focussed instead on what I CAN eat and what I need to eat more of. By eating more of the good stuff, I am too full for the other stuff.
We also had an interesting tete a tete about the difference between “spoiling” yourself and “treating” yourself. The dictionary definition of “spoil” ain’t something I am keen to do to myself!!
Yes, I’m really going to try focusing on the positives a bit more. I hope you’re feeling better soon x
That’s excellent news. I’ve had the old BP monitor attached and it’s not pleasant. I had severe pre-eclampsia in my last pregnancy so chronic hypertension is a matter of when not if for me. Fortunately, I’m incredibly lucky not to be on any medication now (I was taking 27 tablets of 5 different medications every day after the birth of number 3) as the doctors thought it highly unlikely that I would be able to go off meds. Three years on, so far so good.
It’s definitely made me think about my health and make better choices as I don’t want to take meds for as long as I can. As you said it’s the little things that make the difference. Deprivation won’t work in the long run.
xx
Thanks so much Corrine. So glad you have it all under control now x
Well done B! That’s amazing isn’t it about the caffeine. I know that if I have more than 1 a day I feel very edgy, so it doesn’t surprise me. Keep up the good work! woooo xxxx
Thanks so much honey. I watch your exercise progress with much interest x
That’s great news about your blood pressure! Mine is actually on the lower side, so I have to be careful about that too. I limit myself to one coffee per day and make sure I don’t gulp it down. I take an extra 10 minutes to savour and enjoy it. I’m really looking forward to our weekly walks – I think our mouths and lungs will be getting as good a workout as the rest of our body, just quietly…!
Can’t wait to walk with you xx
Great news re your blood pressure. Very inspiring about small changes leading to good results. I really like the idea of focusing on the good you are doing your body, instead of thinking about what you can’t have! ( something I am guilty of!) I am one of those nervy caffeinated people – I might try cutting down to 1 a day and see how we go. My blood pressure (and weight) was up last GP visit, so need to make changes of my own!
Thanks so much. Small changes end up being bigger than you think x