You want to deal with a doctor who subscribes to this latest thinking and who will sample your husband with some Hydrochlorothiazide which is a diuretic. That will eliminate excess water and edema from his system and is very inexpensive. If that does not work, you will want to try a combination drug that includes a diuretic component. Don’t let any doctor get you started on some expensive drug without looking hard at the diuretic.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertension
“Blood pressure is a continuously distributed variable and the risk of associated cardiovascular disease likewise rises continuously. The point at which blood pressure is defined as hypertension is therefore somewhat arbitrary. Presently finding sustained blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or above, measured on both arms is generally regarded as diagnostic. Because blood pressure readings in many individuals are highly variable — especially in the office setting — the diagnosis of hypertension should be made only after noting a mean elevation on two or more readings on two or more office visits, unless the elevations are severe or associated with compelling indications such as diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, post-myocardial infarction, stroke, and high coronary disease risk.”

It is possible to have the lower value be too high, as in my case, or for the more common cases to have both or just the higher value be too high. What blood pressures is really reading is the strenght of the lub over the dub of your heart. When the heart beats it creates the first number, when it relaxes the blood presssure of the entire system is the second value. The pulse tells you the time interval between each beat.

The doctor should have prescribed medication, but they may be waiting to find out the cause first. Once, after being diagnosed, I ran out of my high blood pressure medication for a few days. I felt a tiny bit more nervous; if I hadn’t known my medical condition I wouldn’t have known what was going on. This is why high blood pressure is called the SILENT killer. To experience the symptoms your husband is feeling makes me think that something more is going on, of course that is why he is seeing a doctor not me. These symptoms are serious and high blood pressure is probably just one factor in a health problem, so be prepared for a little bad news, the stumbling and shaking hands is what concerns me the most. Dizziness and feeling sick are symptoms of serious high blood pressure, but again I am NOT a doctor, only a patient who has felt this first hand.

High blood pressure can be caused by many things. In the case of my mother she was under a lot of stress at work, and now that she has retired her blood pressure has slipped back into the normal range. In my case the problems are more complicated by the disease Fibromyalgia. A complicating factor is always your cholesterol level. Bad cholesterol is a fatty like substance that deposits itself in blood vessels constricting the flow thus increasing the pressure in the blood stream. So a low cholesterol diet is a good place to start. Your hubby needs to undergo a cholesterol test, a simple blood test, but he must not eat anything between midnight and the time of the test, or it will read too high. The body needs cholesterol to build key parts, but most of that is the good cholesterol. You doctor or a dietician can give you more advice in this area on what to eat and what to avoid. There are also cholesterol lowing medications (I take one).

High blood pressure can be a sign of diabetes. It can be caused by damage to the pancreas, genetic tendicies, the over use of sugar in the diet, or being too fat. It can be treated with medication to stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin or with insulin injections. If he has diabetes then usually a member of his family will as well or he will be overweight.

In the case of diabetes the pancreas stops producing the hormone insulin, but there are other treatments than having to take insulin shots and the technology is improving to make the isnsulin doses and testing easier and less painful.

Kidney damage can also create hight blood pressure, when the kidneys stop producing enough of the enzyme Renin. Which is also related to the salt content in his blood stream. Thanks to Kidney Stones and other factors I have some kidney damage so I take Potassium Citrate to help it. The best natural source of potassium is in bannanas, but again a dietican will be the best source of advice on this.

High Blood Pressure can also be caused by stress, genetics, excessive noise or the conditions on the job. It is a highly complex issue and usually and indicator of another medical problem. Like kidney damage, too much stress, diabetes, heart problems etc. You doctor is going to have to determine which factors and which medical conditions are involved.

High Blood Pressure can also be caused by White Coat Tension (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_coat_hypertension) when just seeing a doctor can increase a person’s blood pressure so his problem can be a minor or major one, only his doctor will know for sure.

The danger of untreated High Blood Pressure is pretty clear. He can pop a blood vessel, have a stroke, or develop an over enlarged heart. A popped or broken minor blood vessel creates a bruise. A poped blood vessel in a the brain is called a stroke. Part of the brain is deprived of blood and this usually causes brain damage so it is a serious problem. A broken blood vessel in the heart can cause it to studder or fail by depriving the muscle of much needed blood. Obesity almost always causes the heart muscle to work harder and so expand. This means it needs more blood, its walls becomes thiner and it has to work harder. Just because the belly and the heart are increasing in size doesn’t mean the chest cavity and the rib cage are getting any larger so an enlarged heart is always a problem. However, you say he is pretty healthy so if he is not obese then this may not be his problem. Again only a doctor can make a determination.

Cheerios claims to reduce cholesterol, and despite my use of them, I don’t know how much. However, they could not make the claim on TV and their box unless it is true so you might want to consider adding some cereal to his diet. Your biggest source of cholesterol comes from red meat, so I tend to favor more chicken, your husband AND you should do the same; if you both are on the diet then he won’t resent you for getting the “good tasting” food and try to cheat. Another good thing to do is to cut down on what snacks you eat; if you don’t buy it you don’t eat it. You are eating healthy so you may know what I mean. Check on what he eats for lunch, and if he visits the vending machine. He doesn’t have to cut out the visits entirely, but it would be best if he could reduce them. Fruits and Vegetables have very small to no cholesterol so he should take some fruit to work for a snack. Nuts do have a lot of cholesterol so you should cut them totally out of his diet. Vegetarians usually don’t have cholesterol problems because most cholesterol is found in animal fat such as in red meat or in dairy products. Salt has long been considered to be a source of blood pressure problems, but it is still arguable. The idea is that the extra salt will dehydrate the blood stream making it thick and so affecting the blood pressure.

Exercise is great, and as long as he gets his heart rate (and blood pressure) up above 120/80 (Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_pressure) for 40 minutes then he is doing a good job. The bike riding should do this, if he is working on the entire ride, but the dog walks are probably too short. Walking is a good exercise but it has to be done for at least 40 minutes in each session to do any good for him.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertension
“Blood pressure is a continuously distributed variable and the risk of associated cardiovascular disease likewise rises continuously. The point at which blood pressure is defined as hypertension is therefore somewhat arbitrary. Presently finding sustained blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or above, measured on both arms is generally regarded as diagnostic. Because blood pressure readings in many individuals are highly variable — especially in the office setting — the diagnosis of hypertension should be made only after noting a mean elevation on two or more readings on two or more office visits, unless the elevations are severe or associated with compelling indications such as diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, post-myocardial infarction, stroke, and high coronary disease risk.”

I have tried two different medications to help my blood pressure, the first one didn’t work as well and had some side effects I didn’t’ like (my ankles swelled with water weight), the second one is working and doing a better job than the first medication every did with fewer side effects. So if your husband gets prescribed medication then don’t think that there is only one drug that will help him. Have him watch out for the side effects and any problems that the medication may cause. The pharmacy that fills the prescription will give him a complete description and list of side effects if you ask them to (normally they provide it when the prescription is first filled, but ask for it to make sure). If there is a problem or something that he doesn’t like then tell the doctor, but wait a little first. Most side effects improve with time (weeks to a month), but any problems after that have to be addressed. If you can live with a side effect and it is not worse than the medical problem then stay with that drug. If your husband has a serious problem then he will be the first to know and he will have to tell his doctor.

No one knows more about how your husband is feeling then him. He needs to take an active role in his treatment. Over my long struggle with my disease (since 1989) I have learned this. I have also found out that if I take an active role in my treatment then the doctors appreciate it. When I go to a doctor I write a 1/2 page essay on how I feel, what I think is wrong, and what I want to do about it. I have researched and suggested medications to my doctors and asked to be taken off them. I have also told them about side effects and other problems that I might be having. Every doctor I have seen accepts these small reports and appreciates them. They have a written record, and I keep one on file on my computer. I never walk away from the doctor saying, “I wish I had told my doctor this…” or “I forgot to talk with him about this…” I am always sure and that is a great relief to me.

People don’t like taking medication and feel that being sick means something is wrong with them, I DON’T! My medication is my ammo in my fight to get better, and if I don’t get it I get mad (of course I only take what is prescribed and clear any supplements that I buy with my doctor). I also look at my problem as a fault of my body, not of me or of my mind. I didn’t want to be sick and I hate what it does to me. I am not faking it or using it to seek attention. I have a real problem and I want to treat it. If I can’t cure myself then at least I can make things better in my life. If your husband approaches his illness in this fashion then he will do better. Doctors are only highly skilled advisors and they don’t know everything about your husband or his condition, that’s why it is called a Medical Practice. You both need to take an active role in his treatment. If he feels like his is doing something to help then he will feel better. If you are a part of it as well then you will feel better too.

Check my profile or contact me via my Avatar if you want to know more about my medical condition or want to contact me. I hope this helps you understand more about his problem, what might have caused it, and what the possible treatments for it are.

For now I wouldn’t worry about it. If you worry too much, and he knows, then it can make him tenser and so increase his blood pressure. Give him some extra slack, he isn’t feeling well and he doesn’t need any extra stress right now. But, the best thing that you can do for him is to love him and remind him that his problems are your problems. Whatever the problem is you will want to help him, even if it is only by just being there at his side. If you can, go with him to the doctor’s office. Ask him if he wants you to be in the office with him or to wait outside, and respect that decision whatever it is. He loves you and is worried about his health, he may also be embarrassed by it and think that he has failed you somehow. He has to work out his own problems on his own terms. You can’t do this for him; you can only offer him your support. If he doesn’t seem to want it or tries to close you out then be patient, be there and give him your love. He will let you in, eventually, and if you are there with him then he will never think that you don’t love him. You can show him this and make him more comfortable. For now, though take it easy; this isn’t a serious problem as long as it is treated. Many people with hypertension live normal lives; their disease doesn’t slow them down. Your husband is an active person and he can remain one.

Maybe I’m not that too professional at all. But I wish that I could help you with this.

Based on your description of his symptoms, I am wondering if he is also diabetic? Get his blood sugar checked.

Your husband’s doctor may prescribe medication, and there are many that are very effective. Good luck.