Blood pressure readings.

UPDATED!!!

Also just noticed my left arm reads 121/82 but my right arm says 144/92 at present so which readings do I believe?

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Morning all, For the past few days I've not been feeling very well, my HR has been going higher than my normal 40-50 bpm to 90-120bpm while up and about and I've had some banging headaches. I don't suffer with hypertension and I'm currently not on any medication since the bisoprolol was stopped in April last year. My chest has felt uncomfortable with an erratic HR and I've been feeling very lightheaded too so over the past 3 days 've been checking my BP and I'm not sure if the readings of 145/97 are high or within normal range, Should I contact my gp?

I've previously been diagnosed with mild left ventricular hypertrophy a leaking mitral valve, bradycardia and i also have an implant loop recorder fitted to see if I need a pacemaker.

Any advice please.

[meadfoot]

I think you should see your GP and get this checked out. Best wishes.

[Hidden in reply to meadfoot]

Thanks for your advice, I will speak to my gp about it ASAP. Thanks

Taz.

[Norton]

Morning Taz70

Sorry you haven’t been feeling too well. Any uncomfortable pain in chest needs to be reviewed urgently 999 you already have existing cardiac problems

Don’t be a hero

Let us know how you get on

[Hidden in reply to Norton]

Hi Norton, I sometimes feel like it's that fine line from over reacting to being too cautious . Ive been to A&E on two occasions, once blue lighted from work with a HR of 30 then another time from my gp and discharged after 8 hours all being ok and feeling stupid. But yes it needs looking into so I will see my doctor again about it.Thanks

Taz.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

I have a loop recorder where I can download an episode. Did you do that, when your ‘chest has felt uncomfortable with an erratic HR and I've been feeling very lightheaded too’.?

I agree with others, do speak to your GP.

[Hidden in reply to Kristin1812]

Hi Kristin, I have a base unit and a key fob activator which I do use when episodes happen. I have used them both over the last few days to highlight it with the pacing team. Also I was bad with bradycardia a few weeks ago so i called the pacing who requested I do a manual download to get it checked over by a doctor but I've not heard anything back yet. Unfortunately its just a waiting game.Regards

Taz.

[Hidden in reply to Kristin1812]

Hi Kristin, I see you have a loop recorder too and was wondering every time your feeling unwell do you perform a download from the base unit or just press the key fob to highlight it? I've had mine just over 6 months now with many episodes of feeling lightheaded with a low HR around 40 but I've heard nothing from the pacing team surely if I'm symptomatic they would act on it. Has the loop recorder helped you get diagnosed with anything.?

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

Mines over 3 years old. I’m afraid I don’t entirely recognise your question, so I’m thinking it might be a different, older model? ….. . In principal, I try to download with the handset as soon after an episode as possible. If I’m really worried, and want to be sure they see it, I leave the tec a message with the rough time it happened. The only time they contacted me was when I left my base set behind, for a week and they wondered if I’d died!

Not sure it’s ever identified a problem. But it may have excluded.

[Hidden in reply to Kristin1812]

Thanks for the reply, mine may be a newer version as it comes with a base unit that has a hand held device I can place over my heart to do a full download of data to the pacing team if required. I also have a small key fob which I press to highlight episodes as they happen which acts like a time stamp for them to be able to spot it more easily when they analyse the data.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

ah! Thats interesting. It sounds the same but just the addition of a key fob, to make it easy to mark the time of episodes. Useful!

[Ageingfast]

Dear Taz

I have been advised to take three readings and to record the best of the three. Down here in deepest rural Essex the GPs suggest that systolic of under 140 is fine. Now I also live in the London suburbs and the medics there say systolic of under 130 is fine.

I have also found that taking the readings is slightly stressful. And white coat syndrome is slightly more stressful.

My point is that I shouldn’t be too fussy over readings.

If I am genuinely concerned I will ring 111 for immediate advice.

Best wishes

Sooty

[Hrty in reply to Ageingfast]

It's interesting what some Drs and Nurses consider fine. I often have higher readings at the hospital, usually over 140/90, but no-one seems overly bothered. At home I tend to hover around 120/70 when I take readings (usually an average of 3-4).

[Ageingfast in reply to Hrty]

Yes the variations are odd. My systolic is horrid and at hospital or even surgery it can reach 200. But I don’t know much about diastolic.

I go to relaxation classes which helps edge the BP down.

[Hidden in reply to Ageingfast]

Thanks, like you say there are different guide lines depending on who you see or live. I don't think I worry about it too much but who knows.Thanks again

Taz

[Hrty]

145/97 is on the high side but, and I'm no professional but someone who has had treatment for high BP, there are a number of factors that could affect the reading.. anxiety, stress, recent activity, etc. I would definitely seek medical advice and any chest discomfort needs investigating and by calling 999 or going to A&E if necessary. Better to be safe, I had very little pain with my HA. All the best

[Hidden in reply to Hrty]

Hi Hrty, thanks for the advice I will keep a check on how things go and see my gp too.Regards

Taz.

[Hidden]

Hi, thanks for your reply, like you I rest for about 5 minutes or so prior to taking my BP to try and get a more accurate reading and yes I will speak to my doctor about it too.Thanks

Taz

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

What a good definition of BP to aim for.

[Jack2019]

I would say that reading is significantly high compared to your normal pressure ; and, if it continues, say for a week, I would definitely head to the doctor. My spouse was getting very high readings for a few days and then it went back to his normal.

[Hidden in reply to Jack2019]

Thanks for the advice I will keep a check on it and see how it goes.

[Hidden]

This is a bit of advice from personel experience. The figures you are showing are high, however the medical profession prefer lower than 140/90. Now iam on blood pressure medication and it has managed to bring it down. But this is the thing. I can do home checks and can get below the recommended 120/80. But I was a bit naughty and took some ibuprofen for a migrain. Because personally paracetamol is rubbish. Went to the pharmacist yesterday to have a blood pressure check just as a bit of curiosity and my figures where similar to yours. Bit lower on the bottom figure. He was not to phased with the figures but I did explain my heart issues and current medication and he said that he can do me a 24 hr blood pressure check, so iam going take up his offer. But what I will say is that once I really relaxed and came home my blood pressure started to behave itself. This is just a warning do not take ibuprofen, and take the pressure reading when relaxed. Because stress can cause issues as well. But it is worth discussing with your doctor.

[Hidden]

Hi, thanks for the advice. I did take some ibuprofen and paracetamol over the past couple of days to help with the headaches is this not recommended? I don't take any other medication.

[Hidden]

Ibuprofen is not the best pain killer to take when on blood pressure medication and diuretics, also Ibuprofen can cause high blood pressure. Also they don't recommend asprin as this is also a nsaid, but low dose asprin should be OK because many people need low dose asprin. But I was told to stop my low dose asprin, again always discuss with your doctor. The trouble we all seem to have is that many products you can buy such as pain killers and coughs and cold remedies do not mix very well with blood pressure medication. So I am going to stick with paracetamol and sometimes paracetamol and codine.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

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