Is there a correlation or causation or no link between Afib and high blood pressure? I had sudden occurrence of persistent AF and high BP. My BP had always been well within the normal range. Thank you for any info you can provide. I know it will be thoughtful and I understand you are not physicians.
AFib and Blood Pressure: Is there a... - Atrial Fibrillati...
AFib and Blood Pressure
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Cholla3
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My BP goes up if I'm under any stress. When AF used to strike it would always go up, just because an attack would worry me.
Now if I hear a noise at night it sets my heart off racing, but once calmed I'm fine again. I swear that if anyone did break into my house, the shock and my BP would kill me.
Jean
Have you tried deep breathing, yoga, meditation? Deep breathing brings my BP down--temporarily. But that temporary decline might serve you well!
Yes, deep breathing brings my BP down quite quickly.
Do you have an estimate for how long and how much it stays down? I only checked once and my BP went down 10 points at the top number but only lasted minutes.
No, after 18 years with AF I've learnt that the quickest cure is to do the deep breathing, get BP down and then ignore it. The more attention I give pulse or BP the worse it is.
I can understand your decision.
BobDVolunteer
High blood pressure is definitely a risk element for stroke in those with AF.
High BP is accepted as the biggest risk factor for developing AF. Which came first the high BP or the persistent AF? Did you only find out about the high BP when you discovered the AF? I thought BP went down during an AF episode because the heart was pumping less efficiently . Having looked on Dr Google American Journal of Cardiology says 60%-80% of patients with established AF have high BP
I think it moves up and down due to irregular heart beat. That's what I understood
Hmmm. Mine does seem to go up and down. I hope my cardiologist can sort out if the highs (149) warrant more meds or the lows (127) indicate I don't need more BP medication. (Losartan Potassium 100 mg/in evening because less heart events if take pm rather than am .drugs.com/medical-answers/y...
Mine goes sky high during afib.
Interesting . Mine doesn’t
Somebody told me (a medical professional)once after an echo that I had enlarged left atrium often caused by high blood pressure also enlarged left atrium is seen in AF. So I think the 2 are linked.
Same as me High blood pressure , enlarged left atrium then AFib which I probably had long before it was found by accident
I have this too and my EP said my MRI showed damage from High BP that most likely predates my AF. He therefore advised my GP to "aggressively manage my BP". I am keeping tabs on them to do this! Now on x 4 meds just for BP and I am only 58!
I’m 58 too had AF, ablation in august last year followed by CABG in feb. BP meds don’t agree with me too well I’m on 3 meds. They keep wanting to increase them but make me feel awful and my readings at home are really good but it jumps up when I go to Drs. I think they think I’m lying about my home readings
That's sad if true. Higher BP measure in a doc's office I think is so recognized that it has a name. Something like: white coat syndrome.
Defonite corelation of bp and af.
Yoube mentioned 'sudden persistent AF'. Do you mean AF came on suddenly and lasted more than 7 days? That's normally what persistent means in the context of AF. It'd be unusual to develop persistent AF suddenly is what I mean. Maybe you've had the AF on and off for a while and have only just found out about the higher BP? Hypertension is one of the many 'friends' that AF travels with. Its very common to have both. That said, some People have 'lone AF' without other conditions.
Hi Singwell, my AF usually comes on suddenly and is then persistent , which is why it’s such a bugger !!
Gotcha. So weird isn't it the use of the label persistent! You'd think we have it all the time But then again, to persistent mean to come again and again...
That's why I say I have constant AF - makes it clearer that I have it all the time
Excellent distinction. I thought "persistent" meant "constant." Now I am much better informed. A distinction that makes a difference.
Bingo! In support of your suggestion, I do remember over time becoming more and more tired around 6 pm...and asked hubby to cook evening meals! Probably that was afib undiagnosed. I no longer crash now that I am on meds. So the question may be can high BP come on suddenly? (It was linked to within days having gall bladder stones removed which had led to very severe, painful episodes.)
I don't know the answer re the gall bladder but I can tell you that my own BP always goes up if I'm unwell in any way. Cold, stomach upset, even with allergies. And having a gall bladder procedure is a big deal u believe. Hopefully your body will readjust in time.
Good info to have. Off topic: I had two surgeries: one to remove the stones. The other to remove the gall bladder--but it had atrophied and was not considered in need of removal. I had NO PAIN whatsoever before or after either procedure. And the very painful episodes ended with the surgery.
When wife diagnosed with paroxymal AF consultant suggested her slightly high BP might be a trigger. She was put on BP medication which keeps BP in normal range but AF episodes continued. 5 years later she's in persistent AF but BP still normal.
I have persistent AF, heart rate in range (no tachycardia) and I had low blood pressure all my life. Last reading was 100/70, consistent with what I always have. My understanding is that if my BP one day will go up, I may start to experience fast heart beat and AF symptoms.
I have had high blood pressure for some years and presumably this caused eventually persistent AF. Following a recent ablation my BP has lowered considerably and I have drastically reduced my BP medication so clearly there is a correlation.
You likely know all this but if not…
Blood pressure has two values, pumped pressure (when systole occurs, so “systolic”). and resting pressure (“diastolic”). In the past, it was only the lower value that was considered as important. Now, both are. Over 140 or over 90 seem to be the figures that matter.
When AF occurs, the blood pressure cannot be measured with useful accuracy digitally only with a traditional cuff type sphygmomanometer which most surgeries have (and even those are variable during AF).
What pressures did yours go to?
Steve
Quardio results for July
Blood Pressure (mmHg) Avg: 132SYS
Max: 145 SYS 07/01 09:46
Min: 110 SYS 07/03 06:50
DIA
87 DIA 07/01 09:50
70 DIA 07/30 09:45
From comment in this thread:
I think it moves up and down due to irregular heart beat. That's what I understood.
From me: Wow. Big fluctuation within two days. I hadn't noticed quick fluctuations before.
At least all of those are within a fairly normal range. I find home measurements are not always straightforward to do. My first morning measurements, as my wife’s, are always high (for me), maybe 145/88; after three more readings, however, it invariably falls to normal, around 122/70. This is with an Omron Evolv but I’ve found the same with others. My AF is paroxysmal and infrequent so I have never taken my BP with it.
This link is to a very useful study on measuring BP with AF:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
A nurse practitioner who is part of my cardiologist's team said to take my BP when I got up in the morning, Like you and your wife's, it is higher in am than later. I am good at staying hydrated but am less hydrated when I get up than after I start my day. I try to drink water if I wake up at night and have just now decided to add chia to my evening last drink. It is supposed to permit hydration over a longer period of time. Hey, I don't think this try can hurt. Will check out your link. I love data!!! The more info I have even if it is not encouraging, the more centered I am. But here again, people differ.
I am saving your comment about 140 and 90. Seems to square with what a nurse friend told me.
I find that the top measurement fluctuates a great deal according to state of mind, stress and so on, whereas the lower one is much less variable.
I’ve never become a convert to the cult of hydration, but if it works, then, within reason, it’s harmless. It certainly keeps the kidneys busy! I can only imagine that it works for many people given its popularity.
Steve
Did I say something that led you to think my try at chia was influenced by a cult?
cult | kəlt |
noun
a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object: the cult of St. Olaf.
• a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister: a network of Satan-worshiping cults.
• a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing: a cult of personality surrounding the leaders.cult | kəlt |
Oh no - sorry. You misread my meaning but I can see why. Whoops. And I don't mean Chia, which sounds lovely.
On the forum here there is so much said about "hydration" that it seems to be cult-like in the veneration it often receives.
I have a belief that the body, except in extremes, sickness and old age, is finely tuned and able to maintain its fluid and electrolyte balance through homeostasis far more than the internet promotes. It's just me - I know it's popular, and perhaps for a reason I can't yet see.
I'm an English teacher so ought to know what "cult" means, but, to be fair, it's commonly used as a figure of speech, hyperbolically, which is how I used it.
Steve
I have very much benefitted from your other comments and very much understand your reasoning here. ( I'm sensitive to the use of "cult" because, in my opinion, we have a frightening one going on in the democracy I love. ). I agree with you about the body's balance. In terms of the acid-alkaline balance, an informed scientist told me it is very difficult to change a balance and one wouldn't want to. So, off topic and not personally well informed about biological balance, I tend to agree with you. By the way, I don't even measure the amount I drink. I do try not to become thirsty because I read that is a sign of dehydration. Words matter as does open, respectful communication. Thank you.
What a lovely reply for me to receive. Thank you. I hadn’t realised you were from the USA. What a wonderful country but, as you say, it’s experiencing some extremes of its own aside from the climatic ones! I hope for peace once the current rhetoric calms.
Steve
Hi
Remember though, we awake dehydrated so our journey to 'cultivate' our
journey to hydrate.
ha ha I use 'cultivate'. My head says it means 'to reap.' Further "to change'.
cheri jOY. 74. (NZ)
I wonder which part of us wakes up dehydrated, though? No part that matters much, I think the scientist would say.
I blame the “science” of nutrition. It has much to answer for. 😉
Steve
Hi
I can guarantee it's my mouth and thirst (physical) and emotion urges me out of bed for a drink of water, then the two thyroxine pills 100mg and 25mg.
Thinking about the overall picture we have fasted water for many hours! But we have been busy thinking about what we should do tomorrow, say our prayers for everyone in 'need' plus ourselves before switching off for our brains to rest.
I have 7-8 hours sleep plus daily and the odd tired day where after done breakfast or brunch find its 5pm and the 'CHASE' to absorb.
cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)
Those sound like good days! I wish I could switch off to sleep, but that switch seems to have become irreparably faulty!
Steve ye
Oh Steve
We need our sleep to rest our brain.
I've never had trouble .. um yes I did waking up at 2am during one period of my life but I always waited for the feeling tired part.
Within 18 months I took away the 1 pill (I could have up to 5 and they were addicted) whilst on holiday in delightful Italy, and never looked back.
If you are in a bind I suggest you break the cycle to get back a normal pattern.
cheri JOY
Am l broken😄 My blood pressure always goes very low when my pulse rate is very high with afib.
You are not alone, maybe we are the exceptions to prove the rule! My blood pressure has always been on the low side of normal. Now in persistent AFib and it remains rather low.
Did you notice this posting above? Having looked on Dr Google American Journal of Cardiology says 60%-80% of patients with established AF have high BP
I sometimes think that the lack of other risk factors delayed my diagnosis. Correlations are all very well, but it needs to be recognised that not everyone fits the picture. The other 20 -40% in this case.
Nope, mine too!
Nope, not broken. It typically varies a lot during AF amd may plummet afterwards. Mine used to do that.
Mine too, although I do tend to have low BP. My GP and EP are not concerned as they said it's better to be low than high
That made me smile. I think arrhythmias can do just that as I gather the heart pumps much less efficiently while they’re going on.
Steve
I'm glad l made you smile. My good deed for the day among all this gloom.
Yep - plenty of that about with this condition! Watching the latest Master Chef isn't helping all that much either! 
Steve
😄😄
Hi
Well, you are different.
And you collect lovely dolls.
At aged 4 years I selected my walkie-talkie plastic doll. A black doll male with a stripey shirt and blue trousers. He was lovely.
My younger sister chose a fair hair fair skin girl doll.
I passed on my doll when I was 17 years to the family of girls next door. I went off nursing aged 16.
I have made a point of buying dolls for my grandgirls and great grand but the latter gave in to her younger by a year so he takes the baby to bed.
I've bought an older doll baby for her.
As the family grows the playing with dolls takes on a different event.
I have at the back of my camper a friendly clown. He will get this tall clown when I've grown out of him but the honking tells a story of others enjoying it meanwhile.
Very knitted in bright colours.
cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)
I started collecting only antique dolls. They are very interesting bisque heads and fabulous clothes. Then l thought for sentimental reasons l would like some composite dolls the same as the ones l had in the war. After that l bought 60s to 80s dolls like the ones my children used to have. By now it was becoming a bit of an obsession and l had to have the reborn babies and toddlers that are made today. So now l have dolls from the 1880s to the 2020s. My partner built me a log cabin in the garden and they all live there. They don't encroach on the house ......much😄 l see you have a campervan . We have just bought a motorhome. I am 87 and my partner is 85. I thought my children would think we were mad so we have called her Maddie short for Madeleine x
Hi
Lovely man to get to put all your dolls in a cabin.
I have lived in timber homes (Lockwood and Frahmos all my married life).
My camper is my 2nd home. I have just been down to Auckland some 3-400 kms. It wasn't cold freezing. We have had the warmest July for years.
It's nice to go to them - kids, grandkids and great grandkiddies.
Wow I hope that I will be using my camper at your age! With my min schnauzer in her kennel beside me in passenger seat, we love to explore.
One Birthday I went to a place several kms up from New Plymouth. I rushed across the road to see Mt Taranaki in the distance. Unfortunately it was the only day clear. The museum was a real asset and the 3 pinnacles in the shallows was breathtaking.
In UK (I spent 6 years working temporary jobs) loved the walking - Exeter Walking YHA Group. I walked all over the place.
You enjoy your Motorhome life, exploring and learning is a must.
Both sets of grandparents all DEVON born except great grandfather was head of the British Rifleman's Brigade in Calcutta. Voluntary so Grandpa was born there.
Many memories.
cheri jOY.
You have certainly done some travelling. We have 3 little dogs to take with us; a mini dachshund, a maltipoo and a Llasa Apso. We will have to get them used to going out for the day before they sleep in it. I want them to enjoy it, not get stressed .
Hi
All my dogs wanted to be a kennel.
Sometimes I put JAZ under the dashboard. The van has no airbag for the passenger. But she cries for the first 5-10minutes.Also my Mazda had airbag replaced although didn't need to for the metal things that fly out on use.
Try a cat. Even though kennelled they cry!
How big is your motorhome?
I'm sure you will find a boxed in place for them. *** never feed them and drive them. Give it at least 1 hour before driving them otherwise they will be sick. I always travelled the pups to get them used to travel whilst from 5 weeks old. JAZ was transported the 3 hours to our Baha'i meeting and she was patted @ 5 weeks, then I carried her in a rope bag sling, then 40mins home.
Best of luck with them. But I guess they have travelled to the vet.
My first one travelled by train Devon to Bristol to be mated with top dog breeder. I picked her up 1 week later. Yes pregnant!
cheri JOY
They have travelled 4 hours before in their crates in a car. They usually go to sleep. I am not concerned about the travelling, l just want to get them used to the surroundings. I am more concerned about whether they will sleep at night as they have their own bedroom at home , with a bed each and are free to get out of bed.The motorhome is 20 feet long and quite wide but not wide enough for 3 beds when our beds are out. I am conscious that we shouldn't be using this site for these conversations. Thank you for your replies. Would you like to communicate in some other way?
I have always had normal BP but still developed AF.
Not for me. Blood pressure is about the only thing I haven't got a problem with 😁.
Hi there USA!
NZ here.
I am in persistent and at stroke time I had AF, rapid.
So I was given a Beta Blocker and anti-coagulant.
But within 4 days a scan showed thyroid cancer - shadow.
I take a Beta Blocker - changed from Metoprolol to Bisoprolol 2.5mg PM for high Systollic Level 140s-150
and
finally introduced tocCB Calcium Channel Blocker Diltiazem reduced from 180mg to 120mg PM for H/R. Now down to 60s a year on it from 88-96 but was 156 on 10mg Bisoprolol.
I'm sure that AF cause H/R remarkably and BP to rise. Last July I was diagnosed with a soft Systollic Heart Murmur as well.
Your thoughts are correct.
cheri jOY. 74. (NZ)
Hey there NZ! Thanks for the feedback. Certainly 🙏 that the thyroid cancer situation has resolved. 🌷
Hi USA
Yes the C... has but daily thyroxin pills to keep the body functioning with synthetic hormones at early times 5am-wake up and no food 1 hour I've had to get used to.
I keep my TSH @1.0 - 2.0. The surgeon and your top USA Gary Clayman (Claymore) Thyroid Surgeon Specialist and me follow his guidance.
But my AF continues too but I'm hoping to lose it. It can happen and I test 4 x month using my MicroLife monitor as it has already H/R fallen from 88-96 to 60s.
Take care and have an open mind of why you contracted AF .. family, allergy, over exercised, etc.
I'm well travelled in 90s plus, Seattle to Alaska, rental car from Boulder down to Silverton and took steam train (returned car and told off), Hawaii x 2 islands, New Yrk,Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia, booked to go to JAZZ places but I had the stroke Sept 2019, then Feb 2020 Thyroidectomy and the booking was March 2020, I had to cancel. Boo Whoo. It was part of my 70th yearish celebration. But I got in 12 day Russian Boat River Cruise! So great and St Petersburg was wonderful where we started. Train back from Moscow.
Haven't been out since but planning to do more.
Travel Insurance price ramped up because of diagnosis.
cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)
Way to go...and go and go. Travel insurance makes sense. So maybe your BP is improving because your thyroid issue is under better control? But what is most important is that BP is moving in right direction!! These minor inconveniences...having to eat on schedule with certain meds, going without food... Oh, well, we adapt. Do you take a defibrillator with you when you are far from civilization?
Hi
No.
I don't need one of those defribbrirators but in fact they are dotted around. Even our NZMCA has one.
I have a Home Alarm but never have I pushed the button. I rang then up once to ask if someone would check me over after a fall and cracked my skull. Black upper arm. Frozen beans on coccyx.
My Mum had one too (alarm), I pushed it once and she was taken to local hospital.
A possible TIA. I picked her up next day.
I have JAZ 9 my mini schnauzer. Great company. I never want to leave her so I don't want to go to hospital.
I used to wear my necklace when walking up the road but now I forget. At the top it doesn't work after that and paying the $100 monitoring alarm everywhere within NZ , I have Medic-Alert printout on my watch strap and a membership.
I shan't cover myself for anything that insurance costs too much like hypo-thryoid. That's outrageous. Because It depends on those pills to live.
AF isn't so bad. You will still live if you don't take your pills.
I've just had to find another $400 for my home insurance. A want to bridge a hole where a smaller tooth became infected after a filling, $6349. 2 crowns and a bridge in gold.
Life isn't cheap anymore. Cheri. JOY
Hospitals need to work out a way that our four-legged family members can be with us. Excellent natural "medicine." Everyone deserves affordable, excellent medical care.
Hi
I have an EPOA who gets rung and she would pick her up.
We have an advertisement running whereby the therapist said to the girl in the hospital that she wanted to try something different. In came the golden retriever.
The girl exclaimed and put her hand to pat the dog.
It would be asking too much for hospitals to cater for dogs. They make enough mistakes.
Very thoughtful Choila3
JOY
We do having visiting dogs certified to visit in hospitals---I think.
Hi
Yes Certified Dogs.
In our Retirement Villages we can take a JAZ with us.
And cats as well but they would need to be passed.
Most mini schnauzers live until 13 years. My first went blind
sadly and got sad amongst the other relationship dogs.
2 were given away at 10 years and sadly a 12 year old being
looked after by my ex was run over. (He did not close the farm gate and thought she was upstairs asleep.) Awful.
It looked like he said a driver thought she was apposum and got her near the centre of the road.
It was a sad time when I returned. She was buried in a blanket so I asked 'him' to dig her up as I was taking her back to my place.
He had formed a burial ground with a cross.
Amazingly at the vet, a representative gave me a scent, another gave me a polystyrene casket with lid.
She weighed down the boot when she weighed 6-7kg.
Devon was born in UK.
I replaced her as soon as I could with my now dog JAZ. But I had to train her as by that stage no stock.
I didn't breed from her as when I was finding her the best mate, a vet said she had grade 1 heart murmur. For this reason she may live longer. I've heard a family who had 2 mini schnauzers living until 18 years. Times it by dog years x 7 - that's a miracle.
There are a lot of 'bad' foods/medications for dogs. Give raw carrot instead of deworming - no arsenic in carrots, no bad habit feeding, dry kibble best.
Only one dog has been sick, in UK with deworming powder!
Like we need nutrition of minerals, vitamins, whole foods and some meats, vegetables we need to watch our diets for long health. Apparently virgin olive oil has lots of goodness. Have it daily.
Here's to dampen AF and strive to live long and have quality of life. Do enjoy your pet/s.
cherio JOY
Hmmm, raw carrots. Clearly you love your pets. Me, too.
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