High blood pressure - need advice, please

Hi everyone -

I know it's kind of desperate to do this, but talking to doctors at school at my university has not helped.

My husband is in Egypt and starting having chest pains. He got his blood pressure checked and it was 145/90 yesterday and 135/100 today. He has a history of LOW blood pressure, is not overweight in the least, and prior to going there exercised regularly. He doesn't smoke or drink heavily. He drinks once a week with friends there. He insists he doesn't feel stressed other than feeling stressed out about this. He does eat a higher sodium diet than usual because those are his choices right now. He's only been there for 3 months!

They are sending him to the hospital to get blood work to make sure his kidneys aren't damaged.

What on earth could have brought this on? Any doctors or people that have experienced this that have advice? I'm ready to get on a plane and go over there so he doesn't have to be alone right now.

Thanks.

 You can get what they call 'white coat syndrome' where the anticipation of getting your blood pressure tested makes the reading higher...  High temperatures can affect it possibly.  Lack of exercise will put it up.  If he's even slightly overweight that'll have an impact.   He should cut out the once a week drink (that's the miserable advice I was given!).  And if he can get the salty foods out of his diet and drink a lot more water that's going to help considerably.   Eating more potassium-rich foods e.g. bananas could help a little.

I'm sure they're looking after him.  Try to stay calm.

Ive been through this. Now it may not be whats going on with your husband but i was having bad chest pains and went into the er. Thought i was having a heart attack at 32. They ran some test and come to find out that my potassium was very low which will cause chest pains and my blood pressure was way up due to the pain and being scared. When having chest pains they usually check the kidneys because high bood pressure is hard on the kidneys. He may say he is not stressed but Im sure being away from you for 3 months is stressful in its self and that is very hard on the body..

As gi-jane said im sure he is in good hands. Try not to stress your self out to much till you know something(I know better said then done)

Thank you both.

He did go to the hospital and got an electrocardiogram and some other things run on his heart and that's fine. His blood pressure actually went down to 100/70 while he was there. They think the chest pain was making his blood pressure rise, and that the pain (which is also in his wrist and elbow) is a pinched nerve.

Thankfully he did not have to get bloodwork done or take bp meds, both of which he was really unhappy about.

Thanks for the replies!

Glad to hear it had nothing to do with his heart..