I've been down lots of roads to try and beat high blood pressure, and now I seem to be right back where I started. My readings always tended to be all over the place depending on time of day/state of relaxation etc. but were averaging around 150/95. I was prescribed Ramipril one a day, but it did nothing. I don't have high cholersterol but I do have a high haemoglobin count. I follow a mediterranean type diet, eat very little salt and have virtually no alcohol or coffee, and I drink green tea. I have been taking some recommended supplements: L-Argenine (sustained release), pine nut, grape seed, some tomato-based stuff, also garlic and a regular cup of cocoa (no sugar). All that had very little effect despite the write-ups. Then I focussed on getting fit and started with Resperate about 10 weeks ago. I was making slow progress and had got my reading down to between 130-140/85-90, when 3 weeks ago I had a back problem and could not carry on my fitness regime, but I did continue with Resperate. I didn't keep monitoring my BP but when I retested 3 days ago it was 175/115. Since then I haven't been able to get a systolic reading lower than 170 or a diastolic lower than 110. The only thing I've done different is not running/going on long walks. My Resperate stats are I believe OK:
Stat #1 1, 6, 51
Stat #2 14, 86, 84
Stat #3 12, 11, 11
Stat #4 4.6, 4.8, 5.2
Stat #5 96, 82, 85
Stat #6 98, 91, 90

I don't want to go back to the doctor and go onto alpha blockers, beta blockers etc. if I can help it. Please help me. What can I do now?

It's hard to offer advice when the stats look this good. The Resperate will always try to guide you down to a lower breathing rate. Based on your synch rate, I see that you are following the tones, which the machine senses and brings your rate lower. With that said, my sight concern is your final breathing rate. I have to ask if you are truly comfortable breathing at that low of a pace? The reason I ask is because most people are most comfortable at a rate of 6-8 BPM. I see you're starting between 11-12 BPM which is good. I think that in your specific case, I might recommend that you extend the duration of the breathing exercise from the default of 15 minutes to 20-25 minutes. I would also like to have you use it in the evening right before you go to sleep. Perhaps even try using it in bed. This way it creates a relaxing ambiance with fewer distractions and you'll already be naturally more relaxed. (you may even fall asleep during your session, which is OK!)
It's also important to understand that I am not a doctor but there could possibly be an underlining medical condition that you have but are not aware of, so don't be afraid of your doctor.
Good luck!
Breathe Easy!
Marguerite (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Thank you Marguerite. I think I have not been getting into as relaxed a state as I could, and possibly also suffering self-induced "white coat syndrome". I'm now running 148/90, so while not there yet, it is improving.
Is there any way of getting the machine to not take me below 5 bpm, other than to take off the earphones and wait a couple of minutes for it to adjust? I also find the moment I start drifting off there's a loud voice telling me to "breathe in....breathe out."

I have a similar question about the bpm getting lower than 6 bpm.

I am having success both with keeping my blood pressure down with a variety of approaches in combination (exercise, diet/weight loss, etc.) and with daily use of Resperate.

As I've had success with using the Resperate, it now often slips down into 4 or 5 bpm range. It's difficult and disconcerting to break out of it and often jumps up above 10. I am fairly content over all, but I am suggesting that a future update of the software automatically adjust the tones if the breathing goes below a certain rate.

I agree with the above comment regarding future updates of the Resperate. I think it would be very helpful to be able to push a button when you have reached a comfortable bpm. It is very distracting to try to raise the bpm, only to have "the voice" continuing to tell you to breathe in and out with the slowing musical tones.

Stan01 - I am delighted to hear that you are sticking with the Resperate. As a Resperate user myself for over 4 years now, I know what you are talking about. I can say that as you progress all those things become less relevent. What I mean is that I do my sessions in the evening while in bed right before I turn out the lights. I am most comfortable when I am around 5-6 BPM, so when it brings me down to a lower breathing rate, I just breathe. It's difficult to explain. I don't make it a point to follow those tones any longer, if that makes sense. I'm at a complete relaxed state that I don't want to be bothered with looking at the screen or wondering how this is going to affect my stats. As long as my BP is under control then I'm happy!

Skahn - I would say the same as I said to Stan01. As far as having a way to "freeze" you at a particular breathing rate this does come up often. They have adjusted the algorithm on later models making it more difficult to get to a lower breathing rate, but if you are consistently breathing at let's say, 5 BPM, then it will be recognized and it will try to bring you down lower. When that happens, just breath normally. You don't even have to take quick breaths, which will make the rate jump, as you've experienced.

Srm - Point taken. I see this concern from many new users in the forum. As far as the voice, you can and probably should MUTE him. The Resperate comes with many features that are meant to help first time users, but once a person becomes comfortable with using their Resperate then a lot of those features become irrelevent.

Keep at it guys!

Breathe Easy!
Marguerite (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)