Microvascular angina and low blood pressure

[Leigh10]

Hello! I'm new to this forum -- 39 years old, female, live in the U.S. (thanks for having me!) I've just undergone a bunch of cardiac testing that's resulted in a microvascular disease/angina diagnosis. Does anyone else have microvascular disease with low blood pressure/pulse? I'm worried because so many of the medications to treat this disorder seem to focus on lowering heart rate and blood pressure, but I already struggle with low readings for both (my resting heart rate is in the 40s and my blood pressure is borderline low -- it's around 95/60 in the mornings -- this is without any medications). I'm just curious if anyone else has both these issues and what approach your doctor took to help manage your disease. Thank you and I hope everyone is staying well through this scary time.

[bantam12]

Yes I do, also have AF so I had a pacemaker which allows me to take meds without my heartrate dropping to low.

[Ansteynomad]

I have the same issues, so I rely on GTN.

[Just-Wanna-Run]

I have MVA and a naturally low pulse (resting is about 45 to 47). I was originally on beta blockers from my GP that took it into the mid 30s, which felt awful. I was taken off them y my cardiologist and now I'm just on felodipine and statins, with GTN as a preventative when I exercise. My blood pressure is normal but did go crazy high when I was having a stress ECG. I feel my condition is now nicely controlled and I can walk 10 miles or run 25 minutes without issue.

[Misstibbs]

My blood pressure is low and always has been 85/55 average and the cardiac nurse gave me the best advice and said it’s low BUT how do you feel so if you’re not dizzy or too lightheaded your body is perhaps used to it good luck 👍

[Leigh10]

Thanks so much for all your input! I actually spoke with my cardiologist and he also thinks that many of the medications available to treat this will probably make me feel worse because of my low heart rate/blood pressure. I get dizzy when I stand up and have a lot of fatigue during the day. He's having me try electrolyte/sports drinks and upping the salt in my diet a bit (fine by me! ha!) and gave me good advice about exercise. He said if that doesn't help, he has ideas for more aggressive treatment. (I'm already on a statin.)

Does anyone else feel as though they struggle more with fatigue than with the chest pain? I have both, but while the chest discomfort isn't fun, it's manageable. The fatigue is rough, though. Oof.

Take care, everyone!

[bantam12 in reply to Leigh10]

If you haven't had your cortisol level tested it would be worth doing to rule out an adrenal problem. Needs to be 9am cortisol baseline test.