High blood pressure

[Swimsyroke]

Hi there everyoneI just wondered if any of you persistent afibbers also had a high diastolic reading. My systolic reading is usually fine but scarily the diastolic can vary between late 80s and 110. I usually take readings early in the morning and late in the evening.

I need to see my GP about this but would be glad of any feedback from anyone who is in this situation as to what medication works for them as I have never been told before that I have high blood pressure so it is a new situation for me

I am on 1.25 bisopropol and 30mg Edoxaban.

[Orbitpluto]

Hi there, I'm very new to this, only diagnosed last month and still trying to find an anti coagulant that doesn't upset my stomach. But yes my BP is also the same, Systolic around 120 but Diastolic always 89 -95. Keeping a record to take to my GP, don't really want to take any more tablets...

[BobD Volunteer]

Are you in AF when taking the BP? Many machines can be widely inaccurate if you are.

[Orbitpluto in reply to BobD]

My AF is highly irregular, can go months with nothing, I've been taking my BP readings every day for the last 2 weeks, no AF episodes.I did a BP reading last year during an AF episode, my BP was the same, raised Diastolic but my pulse was up from 70 to 144.

[Swimsyroke in reply to BobD]

Yes. I'm in persistent afib. My plan is to take my BP machine and test it at the GPS surgery when I go for my blood test next week

[Buffafly]

Is that bad? My diastolic pressure is below 60 which I believe is bad but can’t be treated unfortunately.

[Buffafly in reply to Buffafly]

PS NHS says target blood pressure for an 80 year old is 145/85 if taken at home.

[pusillanimous in reply to Buffafly]

Gosh, I think American Cardiologists (and American members can confirm or deny this) believe that any reading above 120 over 80, is hypertension !!!!!!!

[Buffafly in reply to pusillanimous]

My GP says she prefers older patients to have higher BP because they are less likely to fall.

[pusillanimous in reply to Buffafly]

But then there's the awful things that hypertension does to your heart, kidneys and brain - just shows the difference in criteria between various organisations, and I quote;' However, the American Heart Association (AHA) suggest that hypertension occurs when a person has a systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg. The old theory, long ago dispelled, was that your systolic pressure should be your age plus 100 !

[Buffafly in reply to pusillanimous]

If we’re talking about an 80 year old maybe it’s a bit late? Falls can cause brain damage, require full joint replacements, punctured lungs from broken ribs, pneumonia as a result of being ‘on the floor all night’ - I could go on for several more lines but you get the picture - if a fall at 80+ doesn’t kill you it’s quite likely to cause a life changing injury. So GPs would rather you didn’t!

[Swimsyroke in reply to Buffafly]

Wow that's interesting. Can't say I've ever heard that but my dodgy knees if anything would cause me to fall!!!

[Swimsyroke in reply to Buffafly]

I believe so. There is a name for a consistently high diastolic rate and you are supposed to get checked out. I'm abroad at the moment so will check with GP on my return but was more interested in what BP medication people find agrees with them so I have some information when I go there

[Buffafly in reply to Swimsyroke]

My experience was prescription of Losartan which made me cough followed by Candesartan which was OK until my BP suddenly dropped naturally. I think that’s the GPs go to plan, a bit like starting with bisoprolol for AF. Best wishes, hope you find something suitable.

[Swimsyroke in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks for the information Buffafly

[Omniscient1]

How's your coffee/caffeine intake? It can artificially raise your BP for quite a while after drinking.

[Swimsyroke in reply to Omniscient1]

I only have 1 flat white a day but I am a shallow breather and anxious type though I am slim and keep fit with yoga golf swimming and walking. Unfortunately I have so many food intolerances I just live with it now ( I'm 78). None of which helps.Have a migraine now and BP is 140/110!!!

[Omniscient1 in reply to Swimsyroke]

So please verify this but I think if you take your BP 2-3 hrs after your flat white it will have an elevated BP reading.

[Omniscient1 in reply to Omniscient1]

Dreadful spelling goof now corrected - sorry all

[Popepaul]

To my mind a consistently raised diastolic may indicate a narrowing of pulse pressure. This could be due to a reduction in ef/stroke volume or a reduced filling time for the left ventricle.

[Swimsyroke in reply to Popepaul]

Is that something I should try to discuss with the GP. I don't really understand what you are saying but I rarely find a pulse in my wrist and it is very faint elsewhere. I do feel pretty fit though.

[Popepaul in reply to Swimsyroke]

If you subtract the diastolic from the systolic you have the pulse pressure. A BP of 120/80gives a pulse pressure of 40. This is reported to be a healthy figure. Age and ill health can narrow or widen this figure. A wider figure can be indicative of say valve problems, a narrow figure may be indicative of poor stroke volume etc. My pulse pressure narrowed post afib diagnosis, it went down to about 32, more recently it is about 45 to 50. I used to feel a little light headed when my pulse was narrow.

I Think that you have to be careful not to over interpret fluctuations in BP.

[Swimsyroke in reply to Popepaul]

Thanks for the explanation. There is so much to learn!!! I guess mine is usually in the early 30s

[Popepaul in reply to Swimsyroke]

Like you I am just trying to make of my heart health. Many forum members are very knowledgeable (not me) and provide very helpful posts. I sometimes look into the information given within the posts. Regards

[Swimsyroke in reply to Popepaul]

Just interested in how you raised your pulse pressure from 32 to 45ish. Was this medication, medical intervention or lifestyle change?

[Popepaul in reply to Swimsyroke]

I cannot say for sure. Initially my BP was labile because of the afib. Post diagnosis I was prescribed bisoprolol 2.5 mgs. This brought my pulse down by about 12 bpm, technically bradycardia but I felt comfortable. It was about this time that my pulse pressure narrowed. I reduced bisoprolol to 1.25 mgs and did more exercise, strength/hit type training. Resting pulese went up by about 6 to 8 bpm and the pulse pressure widened.I was then in NSR for about 7 months. More recently I have had several episodes of af so I have increased my dosage of bisoprolol back to 2.5 mgs. Pulse and pulse pressure are both reasonable.

The lability of my pulse pressure may have been a reflection of me learning to tolerate the beta blockers.