How long can you live with high blood pressure?

No-one has mentioned stress causing high blood pressure. I don't use salt, eat out or eat junk and cook from scratch. I went to the doc at the beginning of September to see about getting my carpal tunnel hands fixed. My BP was 160 and I was to go back for a recheck.

At the time Mommie Dearest had driven me to the edge of a nervous breakdown, always on edge, fearful, stomach churning, jumping out of my skin when the phone rang ... many of you know how that goes.

Mommie Dearest passed September 12 and I decided to give myself the winter months to recover myself. I'm feeling much better by now and will go for a recheck shortly.

Corporate greed is the main cause of high B/P. i will just leave it at that.

There is no need to worry.If you take medicine regulary of high BP than its good for you.

Fluctuating blood pressure is not that abnormal. Take it early in the morning and it will be lower than in the afternoon.Also as bp goes uncontrolled it more easily fluctuates from the wear on the veins. Also a large dose of salt from salty foods, nitrates or processed foods can make it go up. Standing vs sitting, white coat syndrom, stress, poor diet can affect one reading to the next. High BP is the largest killer risk factor for death in the world. It's called a silent killer because most people don't know it's high. It's a risk factor. Not the direct cause of death. So regardless of how long a person lives with high bp, they could live longer without it. To lower bp, cut out salt and increase green veggies, fruit, nuts and seeds, exercise and lose weight.

My mom was 86 and had terrible blood pressure for as long as I can remember. She was on 4 BP meds. My 85 year old dad also has it, as well as my brother (61) and my sister died of congenital heart disease at 6 years old so heart issues run rampant in my family. I have been cutting back more on salt, cooking myself and exercising which I've always done. It's the diet piece I have to improve.

I agree stress is a big factor and I can definitely get that white coat syndrome thing going. I don't know why I get so nervous. A year ago I started taking my own BP everyday, twice a day and log my numbers. I take it when I go in for my check-ups. It was a lot better when I went in last time and my doc said keep at it but you must take more time to relax despite what your parents need. You better start looking out for yourself more given the history. I think it was better, in part, b/c I was in the habit of taking it myself (using the cuff just like they do) and I was able to relax more. Maybe some Pavlov's dog action going on, but it worked.

I am 62 and have had high blood pressure readings of 190/115 for  over 8 years. I feel fine, as though my body has become used to the pressures. I check my BP daily with a wrist type device. My lowest readings are about 140/90 after a good long 2 hour walk, which isn't often these days. I am house bound most of the time taking care of my 92yo mom. Her BP is the same as mines and she is still alive and walking. I am trying to reduce my BP without medications by drinking more tea type drinks.

Hi, are you on meds for your elevated BP?

No, I am not on any meds. My friends tell me BP meds are a spiral toward worse conditions. Some have died on meds. Other folks who are living with high BP tell me it will not go down, so live with it. If you believe in meds, then take it.

I am new here. Just thought I'd get something that has been bothering me. I was told by doctors who treated me for allergies 20 years ago that I had hypertension. At the time I didn't know the meaning of it. They didn't give me any BP numbers, or tell me what to do about it. Seems all doctors are like this from what I have heard from friends. It would have helped me if they explained to me at what levels heart attacks and stroke can happen. I maybe would have watched my BP more carefully then.

In my experience the wrist cuff is the least accurate of  home blood pressure monitors. They were never accurate when I was in the field as a practicing Home Care nurse. If you have access to a blood pressure machine with a cuff do a spot comparison with both or do a mini study comparing the results with each. Just thinking you may already have another BP machine at home already. 
A person can live for many years with high blood pressure. It is after all considered the "Silent Killer" due to the fact that while you have it and if it's untreated you can suffer a milieu of adverse events years later from untreated high BP. 
There are many factors to taking a blood pressure reading accurately. I really like the BP machines sold at most drug stores for simple daily use and monitoring. Make sure you use the cuff that is appropriate for your weight- many people use an incorrect cuff thus the fit, and the reading, may be inaccurate.  When the cuff is placed before inflation you should be able to comfortably fit two fingers between the cuff and skin. 
It's all good cause you are monitoring yourself regularly but please consider getting another blood pressure machine to use at home and/or compare readings between the wrist cuff and store bought or home care basic blood pressure measuring devices.