I'm no spring chicken
but I historically had low normal blood pressure until 2018, when it hit the high range and I had to go on blood pressure medication. Naturally, I blamed it on Trump. Recently, however, I began experiencing an unpleasant symptom that was possibly a side effect of the medication. I was instructed to stop taking it for two weeks, record my blood pressure readings daily (which I know how do, and do much better than it’s done at my clinic), and to schedule an in person doctor’s appointment. Now, after more than a week of readings, my blood pressure is back in the low normal range and I have to wonder if my body knows something that my conscious mind does not.
Dare I hope that our 8 year national nightmare may soon FINALLY be over?
= new reply since forum marked as read
my cardiologist office had just started a healthy hearts program, they already had a large facility for cardiac rehab, so I guess it was a natural progression for them. He did not suggest it, I saw the flyer at the check out desk. Bottom line I was just looking to drop/decrease some meds, but I got more in return. Lost weight and decreased meds. it feels good to be able to walk straight on to the bathroom on a flight instead of turning sideways.
There are side effects to almost all meds, so I was hoping to diminish the meds and their side effects.
Diets do not work IMO, it is a lifestyle change, cheese was the hardest to give up. I have that when having company or a guest at someone else's home ... where I might half the brie cheese.
Exercise and diet can make a big difference, I need to work on stress relief! Not easy with the election!
Taking your BP too often can cause stress according to my cardiologist, unless there is a reason. Possibly changed your diet and are/or tapering off a med. Sometimes when traveling I'll take my BP in the late afternoon to see if it consistently too high and take another med as my diet at home is more resisted. Maybe not needed, as it will only be elevated while away for a couple of weeks.
The gut plays a big role, whether it be for your immune system, the gut brain connection etc. My daughter is an internal med physician, trained in the traditional methods as most physicians are in the US. I remember posting here when she was in med school and I was in favor of a national HC system and 'worried' about her salary, but she paid off her med school recently and moving back north with climate change 
I'm in the middle of the boomer generation and remember the phrase "You are what you eat"
We can do better as a society to focus more on eating a healthy diet etc. The healthy hearts program did recommend looking at the ingredients and hope for less than 5 ingredients and nothing you cannot pronounce.
I'm still working on lots of things and do not mean to preach, but we can do better to make our nation more healthy and support one another, and more educated ... just look at how the tight race is, it is incomprehensible.
Happy to hear your BP has dropped and I agree our body knows!
We have a few stressful days coming up, I need to reminder my self to take a walk outside
My housemate is a wonderful cook who makes heart healthy meals for us. And when I make the occasional vat of chicken soup I let him add the salt. As for exercise, I love walking in my neighborhood and listening to my current audiobook while managing to avoid the sidewalk cracks and doing a bellyflop on the concrete. 
I was happy to see the drop in BP, weight and cholesterol levels it made for me. Haha about being careful not to trip, we need to be a little more careful, at least I do, getting up in age.