[flamesfever]

I’m not a doctor but I've lived with a labile (unstable) blood pressure since university. I inherited it from my mother. Without medication, it can vary by huge amounts throughout the day. I had to control it with pills when I turned 40.

It’s important to get it checked out by a doctor. While I believe in most cases the exact cause is unknown, things like smoking, drinking, coffee, various stressors, etc . can exacerbate the problem.

Quite often a person will develop “whitecoat syndrome” i.e. bood pressure will be elevated in the presence of the doctor. You may be advised to purchase a blood pressure cuff and take it at home during various times of the day. I believe doctors will usually accept home readings.

There are usually no symptoms with high blood pressure, and annual checkups are important to identify any problems. Of all the major health problems, blood pressure is one of the most important things that medical science has been able to control. Unfortunately there are a still a great many people walking around with high blood pressure and don’t know it.