Does anyone have low BP most of the time?I am taking sotalol which I think is reducing my BP, but I am concerned my vital organs are not getting the blood supply they need
My doctors don't seem to be concerned as I don't have any symptoms and my bloods are ok on last review. My doctor says I am lucky it would be worse if my BP was high.
Having said that I asked if this was why I wake continuously throughout the night so he has arranged for me to have a BP machine on for a week!
My BP hovers around the 104/65
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Karendeena
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How are you feeling with your BP at that rate and what is your heart rate? It could be the Sotalol. My systolic BP has always been in the 60's. Once when in hospital and my BP was low I was told to drink water to bring it up. Have you tried that?
I've had low normal BP all my life - around the same as yours, sometimes lower. My GP always described it as 'perfect' when I was younger.
Since start beta blockers 10 years ago, I get dips in BP (85/55) and an 'empty leg' feeling when that happens. My cardiologist told me to drink 2 litres of water (in addition to tea etc) daily and to take 3mg of salt daily as my sodium levels are lowish also.
Drinking water will slightly raise blood volume and increase BP slightly. My salt treatment shouldn't be tried without a doctor's advice.
Same. Before BBs I was often in the 90/60 range and even bought a new BP machine as I was concerned that it was unreliable. But…. same results! My sodium levels dip too so extra salt is a necessity.
What makes life more difficult regarding salt for me is the lowering of salt content in so many everyday foodstuffs - to the detriment of taste in my opinion. Bread, croissants and butter(!!) are my bugbears - unless I make my own! I bought lovely-looking fresh bread from our local family bakery - practically no salt in it at all.
It’s not always practical to make your own bread but a breadmaker is a good investment if you use it regularly. I have some issues with FODMAPs in wheat so I often make my own soda bread based recipes in the oven. I have a good oat bread recipe but my current favourite is made with buckwheat. The bicarbonate and the baking powder add a saltiness In addition to the salt. Nothing ever tastes as good as my mum’s soda bread which she only ever made during the bread strikes or when the Co-op had sold out of bread, but a slice of that with butter and jam was delicious.
So true - my sister and I used to stuff ourselves as children with my mother's warm soda bread made on a griddle and slathered with home-churned butter - which was salty with added salt! I have a bread machine as I'm useless at all the kneading required for good dough.
Oh lovely. I’ve never been able to replicate my mum’s soda bread. My dad used to swig the buttermilk from the carton too, he was brought up on a farm and buttermilk was considered a treat! Could you imagine giving buttermilk to kids these days? They’d run a mile!
That is not low it is good and what my wife has had all her life. I don't know why you think your organs would suffer though. The body is very clever and always looks after its internals long before it deals with unimportant things like feet, hands ,arms and legs. You never hear of people having frost bitten liver!
HI Karen Donald.Your BP is the same as mine. My resting pulse is usually in the low 50s and I feel fine. I really would not worry about the blood supply to your viscera.
I would ne more alert to the possibility of fainting or postural hypotension. I have expienced both.
I think it can be pertinent to note your pulse pressure. Yours is about 40 which I believe is deemed to be very healthy. My understanding is that pulse pressure can widen or narrow with age.
Low BP is when either number is below 90/60. My BP can dip as low as 80/56 but is typical 90-something over 60-something. It was 99/63 last time I checked ie in the normal range. So I wouldn’t worry. I do have symptoms of orthostatic intolerance when I’ve been sitting for too long but I can help that a bit by getting my feet and legs moving before standing up. Other than that, keep well hydrated at all times and a little twist of salt on your food might help a bit too.
The latest blood pressure charts indicate your BP is ideal, but BP can vary significantly during the day and so you are only getting a snapshot. If your doctor is happy with it, I wouldn’t worry. My BP is quite often that low ( I’m on Bisoprolol ), diastolic often lower, but then an hour later it might be 128/58. You will get a better idea of your situation after using the blood pressure machine.
hello Karendeena, I am not on solatol but do take meds that lower even further my normally low BP . My BP can be as low as 86/54 but on average around 90 systolic. Neither my GP or my most recent NHS consultant seem bothered, with the latter wanting to increase meds dosage even more !
I also worry about the effect on other organs but I seem to cope okay with low BP other than the normal tiredness that comes with the meds anyway and so far no other adverse affects.
If you are worried always worthwhile speaking to your GP or Consultant if you feel your low BP is causing you problems.
Both my wife and daughter in law have natural blood pressures in that same range. Yours will be a little lower because of the beta-blocker, but those drugs don’t have a major effect on blood pressure, I gather.
You can be sure that your organs are perfused well and, if you have no symptoms, then I’d say it was a good thing for your heart and general health.
Waking frequently might be sleep apnoea? That is a major cause of AF, apparently and might be worth looking out for.
I wake often, too, and I do wish it were otherwise as I’m so often tired from it but that is insomnia.
Hi Steve, thank you. I have been tested for sleep apneoa, but apparently I don't have it (well at least I didn't a couple of years ago).I never used to have sleep problems now I am paranoid about going to bed. I think stress overload is the main issue as my mum is 95 and seems to have turned on me in a nasty way. We have awful battles which I am not proud of as she used to be my best friend
I suspect that relationship is not helping your health all. Bad luck and what a terrible shame for you with your mum at that age and your having been so close. I find times and people are a-changing, myself, too. I doubt it's the cause of your mum's unfriendliness, but Facebook has affected some in my family, reinforcing some very strange beliefs. I hadn't realised the power of finding others who share your weird beliefs! My brother is now a died-in-the-wool nationalistic conspiracy believer and his wife and daughters' beliefs in guardian angels is now just the tip of an iceberg with them sharing spiritual stuff and similar. My own mother and father would be turning in their graves.
That is excellent BP according to the american heart association. Mine is usually around that and every Dr. I have seen says that it is very good BP, like yours says its better low than high. As long as no dizziness, passing out, breathlessness or dis-orientation you should be fine. Just this morning my BP was 89/67 a little low on the systolic but no big deal. In afib a couple days ago and it was 137/90, which would you rather have. Don't stress about it because that can cause BP to shoot up. Have a Blessed Day
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