Health anxiety and blood pressure

[Smiekie_t]

Hi there! Long story short; I've been suffering from health anxiety for two years or so since my first health scare. Since three months or so I've been feeling very strange. I can feel my heart beat in my chest, my face flushes, I wake up every morning around the same time (4AM) and can't go back to sleep. My dr says it's all stress, but I haven't been feeling particularly stressed. I'm wondering if it isn't anything in my body causing these symptoms. I've read things about hormones, adrenal fatigue, vitamin deficiencies etc. Also, my blood pressure fluctuates extremely throughout the day. It's generally quite low (106/72) but when I feel one of the "attacks" coming on with the hot face and palpitations, my heartbeat goes up to 140/95. My doctor already thinks it's all in my head. Could anxiety cause my blood pressure to fluctuate so much throughout the day?

[Petrina_gmfc]

Sorry to hear that

[Fearoffear]

Not sure your age or anything but you have all my perimenopause symptoms like we are twins, right down to the wake-up time. Hot flashes will raise blood pressure and heart rate it's your body's way of cooling down. Try a fan in your room or a window cracked. Hormones are mostly to blame for me. Hope this helped a little. Gentle hugs 🤗🤗

[Smiekie_t in reply to Fearoffear]

Thank you! I've been wondering about peri. I'm almost 38, which is pretty young, but not impossible I suppose. It's just so hard getting stuff ruled out. How was your peri diagnosed?

[Fearoffear in reply to Smiekie_t]

Took me 13 years to work up the courage to see the gyno. That was 2 years ago scheduled a woman visit right down to mamo I had never had. Everything came back 💯 great and when I told her my symptoms she said that's to be expected as you age I was 45 at the time and had just had a 64 day cycle. I said but I started hot flashes and hormone fluctuations at 36 after my mom died and she said stress induced perimenopause. So yes but now the fun has been ongoing and more missing and hormone fluctuations. She offered me birth control which I said no I tied my tubes so I didn't have to worry about that. She said I can give you a referral for antidepressants from a psychiatrist. Nevermind I'll fumble through and using coping skills. It's very rough but I'm tired of medication running my life on autopilot. Ask for a hormone blood test to see where you are ask them to do it on day 10 and repeat day 21 for one cycle and try to take the bloods about the same time of day as they fluctuate throughout the day. Sorry so long just tired of what was going on with me I did a lot of research into peri and hormones as my hormonology app was where I realized I was off. Good luck!!

[b1b1b1]

It sounds to me as if you are overly focused on your heart rate and blood pressure. Unless a doctor tells you to do so, I don't think it is a good idea to keep checking them during the day. This leads to an obsession and then more anxiety. Stop checking them.

[Rangie001]

Hi there! I just went thru everything you've stated and had all kinds of heart exams, pulmonary exams, bloodwork..... I have been like this for 2 years. I can tell you, you are okay. It is partly peri and it is stress. Watch your menstrual cycle as that will tell you if you might need estrogen. That's my next treatment. On my end we had to make sure my heart was okay. I was getting pain and spasms, in the chest cavity and towards my left breast. It hurt pretty bad, labored breathing. Ugh... I was so scared. Waking up with my heart racing 2 or 3 or 4 am. Horrible! It is anxiety among other things. We may be stressed and not even know it!! ... I couldn't believe it. So my heart and internist told me. Start walking, Regularly. No carbs, no sodium, no beans, reduce dairy and only 300 mg of sodium a day. It worked wonders!!! My heart rate was at 167/92!! Im at 127. It's been 6 weeks and my heart still goes up but I know it's my body changing. And this guy has saved me. If I wake up I go right into his breathing. Exercises by Patrick McKeown" on YouTube

youtu.be/AiwrtgWQeDc(Not working as expected?)

It is amazing how breath helps. You are going to be okay. If you have questions let me know. Im happy to share all the details. I know it can feel scary. But you are okay. ❤❤

[Smiekie_t in reply to Rangie001]

Thank you! Tbh I hope it's perimenopause, but I'll have to go through some exams first I suppose. I'll take a look at the link and try to relax as much as possible. It is reassuring to hear others with similar issues.

[Rangie001]

A good thing to note is that if they test your hormones for peri, hormones may come back normal. But my internist said, if you are between 35 and 45 and your menstrual cycle skips or is irregular, you are in peri. I kept getting told that I was fine, when in fact I was in peri. Keep in touch...! 🌷🌷