Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)?

[45sue]

Hi All

On finding I had low bp in my left arm ( 80/60) the practice nurse took a reading on my right arm which was 130/72. The difference was not picked up in 3 days on a cardiac ward where my bp was usually taken in the same arm. She said a discrepancy is not unusual per se but questioned why I am on Ramipril. On looking it up I find a discrepancy in bp of this degree may be a sign of PAD. I am waiting to see my GP following a HA 10 days ago so this is another shot across my bows . Should I expect/ask for further investigation of this ?

[Hidden]

There should only be a discrepancy of 10 between both arms, a difference of this amount should prompt investigation. There are a number of causes of differing BP’s including large vessel Vasculitis which is an aut9 immune disease.

Are your pulses equal in both wrists?

[45sue in reply to Hidden]

Yes- pulses equal in both wrists but discrepancy much bigger than 10

[Hidden in reply to 45sue]

I would insist on investigation and don’t be fobbed off!

Out of interest do you get symptoms of claudication in the arm ( pain when using, difficulty washing hair etc )? Did you feel well before your heart attack, any joint pain, fever, weight loss etc?

[45sue in reply to Hidden]

Hi - I felt well before my HA & feel well now . In hindsight, my symptoms were what I took to be episodes of severe heartburn on waking but never after exertion. I will let you know how I get on when I see my GP.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

This needs investigating. Whilst PAD is common in the legs, often caused by smoking and/or diabetes, it is extremely rare in the arms. When present BP measured at the wrist would be lower than the upper arm. Something else may be going on and it needs investigation. Ideally BP on each arm should be measured at the same time as BP can vary significantly over a few minutes as the patient relaxes or gets stressed. Good luck with the GP.