This maybe a daft question, but Is there a connection between raised blood pressure and af? Is everyone with af on blood pressure medication for actual blood pressure issues? Does havingvaf in general push blood pressure up, not just the erratic pressure during an episode of af. Or does anyone have normal bp but gets af anyway?
hope that makes sense!
IMHO it is the other way round Tilly. High blood pressure causes the left atrium to expand stretching the natural pathways and causing chaos. AF can be caused by other things of course but athletes and fighter pilots both enlarge the left atrium and both categories are at higher risk of AF than others.
so it’s possible the raised bp predisposes Af condition, setting the scene so to speak. I started hibiscus tea Friday morning, and my bp readings am/pm and lovely…… they have been around the high 30’s over 70/80 ish for ages, with the odd lower one. Last 3 days reads like 112/64 … abdvi feel so much calmer. Coukd be a coincidence, but fingers crossed. Now let’s see what happens with af episodes - had one every week in March….. fingers crossed. 😊
To be honest 130/80 is hardly high BP and for many of us anything lower than 110/60 and we can't stand up ! My seven day average last month (done for my annual review ) was 128/76 and doctor was very happy.
I feel better when my bp is around the 120ish/60-70ish mark, far more relaxed and clear. My gp wasn’t concerned when it was continuously around 140’s/80’s. I don’t want more bp meds, maybe even reduce the one I have (after discussion with gp, of course) I want to start feeling more of my ‘normal’, be able to do stuff again. My energy is just draining out of me. Like I am disconnected. I don’t even think I am that ‘ill’ in relation to other peoples problems.😊 thank you for your input, always valuable.
My BP is always 135/140 over 70/80 when I go to the GP. But whenever I have been in hospital and they come round several times a day to take it it is always less - 120/70 or lower. So I reckon going go the GP puts it up a bit ( I don't like going) and he takes account of that as he always says "perfect" and has never suggested blood pressure meds.
I had high blood pressure before af but not sure that was the cause of my afib. Strangely my blood pressure lowers during afib probably due to heart not pumping properly.
my bp goes all over the place when in af, I take it ‘cos I am fascinated by what the body gets up to 🤣
could be that BP rises with the anxiety of AF?
Stop wasting your time. Few BP machines are remotely accurate when you are in AF.
I can’t really take my blood pressure these days as I’m in permanent A Fib. However, I’ve never had high BP. Perhaps one reading years ago and that was it. It tends to be on the low side now - but I’m just guessing that with light-headedness on standing.
In some ways it is annoying to have scored low on all the risk factors, as I do feel that my AFib might have been picked up earlier. It runs in my family, but I was always told that I was at low risk due to BP etc. when I voiced concerns.
Hmm, my diagnosis is permanent afib. Does that mean I have afib all the time?
I use Qardio to measure my BP. It does not always tell me I am in afib but does say BP results are unreliable when I am.
I am in A Fib all the time. The consultant didn’t actually say ‘it is permanent AF’, and I suppose it’s not been a year yet. However, they will not make further attempts to get me back into sinus rhythm due to the extent of fibrosis found at my ablation.
I do get confused by A Fib burden etc. - though my Apple Watch put mine at 100% before I switched off the alert as it was depressing. The Kardia says AF when I check.
I don’t have a very up to date BP monitor, but my understanding is that the readings are not reliable while in A Fib. I do tend to get low readings when I try it though. Such as 85/63
Hi Tilly,
I’ve got normal Blood pressure and have always been on the low side of normal, before and since AF. AF has never changed it ( apart from during an episode when it can either drop or go higher) It’s got a little lower since being on Bisoprolol, but I take 1.25 mg, so manageable.
I’ve never had high blood pressure at all.
Teresa
and just to complete the picture I have variable blood pressure in that it wanders about from low to high and sometimes in the middle! And sometimes top and bottom readings do their own thing. My EP said my AF is not related to all this mularky and my heart structure is normal. Guess img here there is more to developing AF than anyone knows; but on the plus side you do get to meet a lovely bunch of people who tussle with it daily 😀
I have AF with breadcardia my BP is completely normal occasionally I get an issue but very very rarely
I know that most of the time it’s normal verging on low but in an episode it’s all over the place.
Then when I haven’t got an episode but someone in a white coat takes it then it will be high.
….and I learned that taking my blood pressure too much increases my blood pressure so I don’t overdo it any more.
I have low BP and when in AF it used to drop further causing blackouts so no, not everyone has high BP and AF.
Bob’s 110 systolic would be high for me as my systolic rarely reached 100. Nowadays more controlled I average about 105.
Everyone is very different.
I must be an oddity!! I have paroxysmal af and low BP last night it was 98/65 with my bpm at 54!! And I'm definitely not an athlete!!
Sounds like me
thank you everyone, for all the replies. I guess, for someone with af, how the blood pressure acts is as variable and individual as the differences we all have with our af 🤣.
I believe my AF started from high BP , I’ve had it since I became hypothyroid 27 years ago . My GP couldn’t control it , I’ve spent many trips to A and E as it was so high . When visiting my husband in hospital , a nurse took my BP as I felt light headed and unwell , I had to lay on hubby’s bed for a while 😊.
I reckon I have had af for years, and my bp always used to be on the low side. I just put it down to what I had eaten etc - although I was no where near as aware health wise in my 20’s - you think you are invincible then! X
I agree , re the 20s and health . I’m sure I’ve had AF a lot longer too , going by some of the symptoms I get are so similar to what I thought was low blood sugars , I even began monitoring my sugar levels , all fine . It’s all confusing.
me too re blood sugar, but never anything wrong with it x
You can get symptoms of low blood sugar - jitteryness, weakness nausea, palps without the actual reading being very low. I get this sometimes and have taken a reading just to see. The symptoms go away with food intake .But other than the palps I do not get the same symptoms when in afib and eating does not change anything!
With myself my blood pressure varies, I'm on blood pressure medication, but for my Diastolic pressure, as it stays in 90's and early 100's, my systolic only goes up to 150 to 160.
Hi
That's high - I hope before your med.
Should be controlled 123/80. with H/R below at rest under 100 but 80 is better.
cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)
I wish, I have meds twice a day, 21 tablets per day, they are still working on it, as lungs not filling fully either and SpO2 goes down to 89 during the day, lower at night
Hi
I wonder if you have Sleep Apnea which causes AF.
21 pills!!!!!
I thought I had enough. 2 = 125 thyroxin. Had Thyroid cancer ow out.
2 for heart 120mg Diltiazem a CCB AM and 2.5mg Bisoprolol PM.
Twice day PRADAXA 110mg a anti-co-agulant.
Equals 6 a day. I cant get a 125mg Synthoid.
cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)
I sadly have a couple of other factors playing, with my respiratory system and lungs, awaiting results on SA tests
My 21 year old daughter has something called HS (Hidradenitis suppurativa), they have her on something like 40 tablets and weekly injections
I have AF and my blood pressure is always on the low side. Not very helpful 😆
I have low BP, always have, my problem is the other way
HI Tilly, I've always had low blood pressure (inherited from father), usually around 110/63, and I've had paroxysmal afib (also inherited) for 12-13 yrs. We've discovered, however, that my AF episodes are triggered primarily by bowel issues from ulcerative colitis (have to stay "regular" to avoid AF); and the UC doesn't seem to affect my BP.
You may be interested in this article by The Skeptical Cardiologist that the BP guideline of 120/80 has proven to be far better for health outcomes than the higher levels (130 & up) that were previously recommended as a change from the 120 guideline. "The SPRINT trial found that cardiovascular events like stroke and heart attack and death from these cardiovascular causes was lower by 25% in those patients treated intensively (ie., to keep BP at 120). Overall death was lower by 27%."
theskepticalcardiologist.co...
Easter blessings and lower BP to everyone! Diane S.
thank you! Exactly what I feel is better re the bp levels gp’s are happy with. I feel out of sorts when it’s up there in the 130’ etc. I have just started hibiscus tea and am going to get some beetroot powder (the capsules have too many additives for me)
I will make time to look at the link later today - heading into garden to sort my veg patch before it rains again! 😊
In my many afib episodes, heart rate was elevated, 140+, and blood pressure was lower than normal.
So reading the earlier replies Tilly, Im the odd duck. My BPs been high & Ive been on meds for like 30 years. (Im in my mid 60s age now). BP Averages 140/80 but spikes as high as 170/ 100 when I go to The GP or I am stressed. Invariably it is during one of these spikes I go into (paroxsysmal)afib. I am much improved now though as I just had the Mini Maze 3 weeks ago. Now BP 125/70 & no terrible spikes (so far so good). Hope this helps.
A 2021 Study, published by the European Society of Cardiology, reports that high blood pressure is associated with the development of Afib. It claims that keeping blood pressure under control can be a factor in preventing Afib.
We all know it is much more complicated than that. My BP had been controlled for years, but I still developed Afb. Isolating cause and effect is very difficult because there are some many interconnected physical and emotional factors with us humans. Once Afib sets in, it is hard to know what pressures the erratic pumping will produce. It often can produce a dangerously low blood pressure. It depends on what the heart is doing during Afib -very fast beats vs uneven, erratic beating, for example. I monitor my BP and HR periodically throughout each episode, but most importantly try to watch for any breathing problems, light-headedness, or chest pain that might require a call for help.
I always had really low BP, but was diagnosed with a Mitrovalve prolapse and was put on a BP medicine was made my BP too low. But had a horrible episode of AF anyway. So in my case I think it was more related to stress. I had a lot going on at the time. Fast forward after many years of changing lifestyle etc I rarely had any episodes and took myself off the BP meds, very slowly and I was fine for a long time. Then as I aged my BP seemed to go higher and higher and I started having more episodes of Afib. I am now once again on a BP med and Afib seems to have tapper off.
The answer to your question could be yes and no.
Hypertension is a known risk factor for developing AFib. Hypertension-related structural, autonomic, and electrical atrial remodeling all contribute to the risk, as do the neurohormonal changes underlying hypertension.
For some, systemic blood pressure may fall a bit during AFib due to the loss of the atrial kick.
Hi
As I have learnt with AF without drugs to CONTROL HEART RATE can have hypertension hence Beta Blockers for that as H/R high at rest (over 120 BPM at rest) has CCB a Calcium Channel Blocker added.
But some have normal to low BP with AF.
My night rate with AF is only 47 beats per minute. Normally. It hasn't changed with a low BB at night. And the AM Diltiazem CCB does not cause it to go lower. Dr says that although it is a 24-hr cover with me it is not.
So 120mg Diltiazem AM and 2.5mg Bisoprolol PM keeps my AF rapid, persistent CONTROLLED.
My AF was caused by Papillary Thyroid Cancer undiagnosed and caused an ischaemic (embollic) stroke in Sept 2019. Thyroid and 12 right lymph nodes removed Feb 2020. 2 lymph infected and thyroid had a right carcinoma and 1 surgeon in my team noted a tiny amount in left. It is never the best idea to only remove 1/2 is one side is infected. I refused RAI Radio Active Iodine and being down in suppression with TSH level.
Good news I have had 3 yearly clear neck scans.
A good question. Any question is good on this forum.
We ask questions as we are seeking reassurance and understanding.
cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)
Mine personally, is a combination of AF and something else they are trying to workout on my respiratory system
Slow AF, raised BP
Low BP in patients with AF may be harmful
Any recommendations for a BP monitor that is accurate when in AF.
BP Monitors and AF
