I went to the doctor today voluntarily for the first time in over a decade (emergencies not included). I have a pain in my neck that has gone unabated for over a week. I decided that while finding out about the growing inconvenience evolving into sheer annoyance, I might as well use the insurance I pay for and get some of it back come tax time by doing a full physical.
Well, we are all happy to know that I am a specimen of good health except for one thing. My new doctor says I have unexplained high blood pressure - 150/100. What she actually said the first time she took my pressure reading was, “Interesting.” She did the test three more times on three more machines. It never changed. 150/100 four times in a row. She then informed me that it’s something of an anomaly given my overall health, but a trend of high blood pressure due to hypertension is something they’ve been seeing happen to younger and younger people.
But not that high.
Not in a relaxed state.
Not in such good health.
There’s no need for medication or anything like that at this point. I have to do the usual battery of blood tests and she gave me a lifestyle plan to follow over the next six weeks which includes adjusting my diet and “intake habits” during which we'll track the pressure bi-weekly.
None of this helps or affects the constant pain in my neck though. She said that is most likely due to something I am doing (unconsciously, habitually, while asleep, ??? ) and I should see a physiotherapist before doing anything else. I did get a "new" bed yesterday, and last night I did sleep better than I have in ages. So perhaps that's part of it, or hopefully solves all of the above. Lack of sleep can cause these things, right?
Oh, the best part of this is the beginning. I chose the doctor because her surname is Payne.
