Do I need Beta blocker

[Diet-well]

I have had 2 TIA’s and I am on blood thinners. I am told I have an irregular heart beat and they want me to take a beta blocker to lower my blood pressure but my blood pressure is only 123 over 77 with heart beat of 74. Worried

[Tos92]

I have a family member who recently had her first TIA. It is thought to be due to her high blood pressure and she does take a beta-blocker for this. Could it be a safety precaution which the doctors are taking? I understand not wanting to take extra medication if you don’t think it’s necessary.

That is a low heart rate however, I note that you say it is irregular. I would make an appointment with your GP first thing tomorrow and discuss the heart rate and blood pressure readings with them ASAP.

All the best.

Tos

[Diet-well in reply to Tos92]

Thank you your reply. And suggestions. I will make an appointment but I don’t really trust my doctor. Have a nice evening .

[Jetcat in reply to Diet-well]

Make an appointment to see a different doctor.! 👍

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello

"Low blood pressure, medically known as hypotension, is when your blood pressure is below 90/60mmHg. This does not necessarily mean that there is a problem. In fact, people with low blood pressure tend to live longer than those with high, or even normal blood pressure "

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

A normal heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

A possible cause of transient ischaemic attacks, TIA is atrial fibrillation.

Beta blockers are often prescribed to help prevent heart rhythm problems as well as helping to reduce blood pressure when a person has atrial fibrillation.

Anticoagulants are also prescribed to help prevent futher a TIA or a stroke.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

My husband had his atrial fibrillation successfully treated by an ablation last year.

Perhaps give the BHF helpline a call and speak to one of the cardiac nurses?

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Diet-well in reply to Milkfairy]

Great to hear your husband is doing well. I would prefer treatment rather than medication but was not given an alternative option. Is your husband off medication now ?

Thank you for replying it was most helpful.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Diet-well]

My husband wasn't offered an ablation at first. He was treated conservatively with beta blockers and a direct oral anticoagulant DOAC.

All interventions have side effects and the risks of an ablation are greater than medication.

He was referred to a Cardiologist who had a special interest in treating heart rhythm problems an electrophysiologist. His atrial fibrillation was giving him symptoms that were affecting him.

Light headedness, breathlessness, feeling dizzy, he just didn't feel right and he had problems concentrating.

My husband remains on a low dose of beta blockers and DOAC. This is as a precaution to help prevent a stroke if his atrial fibrillation returns.

An ablation doesn't always work and can need to be repeated

I am sorry to read you do not trust your GP. It's is so important to be able to trust a doctor.

Is it possible to see a different doctor or ask to be referred to a Cardiologist?

[sandandkev in reply to Milkfairy]

TIA is not atrial fibrillation

[rosyG in reply to sandandkev]

she is saying AF can be a cause of TIA

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to sandandkev]

See rosyG's response.The orginal poster mentioned they had an abnormal heart beat which is a possible cause of a stroke or transient ischaemic attack.

[sandandkev]

I have supposedly AF and my BP was high but only that day!! Never had high BP now on beta blockers,but made me dizzy and sicky,and my pulse went down to 50, have had to reduce tabs to lowest of 1.25mg but BP quite low now

[MountainGoat52 in reply to sandandkev]

Had the same situation. On 3.75mg Bisoprolol I had dizziness and a feeling of impending doom. My pulse rate was dropping down into the low 40s. Now on 1.25mg and I'm fine with pulse rate in the 50s. It has had no effect my blood pressure.

[sandandkev in reply to MountainGoat52]

Exactly the same and it's a horrible feeling, am now on 1 25mg od ,but I've now gone into a normal rhythm but don't know how long that will last

[MountainGoat52 in reply to sandandkev]

Well I'm only prescribed it as a precaution against a further heart attack (I have no rhythm issues), so I could basically stop taking it, but it does help the heart and the small dosage isn't a problem for me.... except it has made my Raynauds worse, but that is now sorted by taking Nifedipine. Ah, don't you just love medication! 😀

[Coffeelover2]

I was put on bisoprolol even though my heart rate and blood pressure were pretty much normal like yours. I think they have a standard approach to secondary prevention regardless what happens. They told me it is only an issue if my heart rate drops below 50 or I feel dizzy. Think it went down to 54 but never below 50. Definitely speak to your doctors though

[Gumbie_Cat]

I am on beta-blockers for Atrial Fibrillation - which is basically an irregular heart rate. It puts us at risk of strokes and TIAs.

These have lowered my normal/low blood pressure slightly, but are important to stop the heart rate bouncing up too high. My resting heart rate was always low, but it’s those spikes of higher rates that could damage your heart in the long run.

If they do make you feel dizzy on standing, try to rise slowly. I especially have to do this when getting out of bed - by sitting on the edge of the bed for a minute rather than springing up,

Hoping that you can get a consultation to find out a bit more about it though, and alternative treatments. If your heart rate isn’t going up higher in AFib then a different medication might be advised,

You might like to look at the AF association forum too healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

And the AF Association website heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

[MountainGoat52]

I don't know why clinicians say they are prescribing a beta blocker to lower blood pressure. Although it may have a small effect on blood pressure, it is not the principal task of the medication. Beta blockers are prescribed to lower and regularise the pulse rate. In doing so it reduces stress on the heart and the risk of AF and strokes is reduced.

[momander]

HiFrom someone who has had 3 hesrt attacks since 2021, 2 failed stents and a double cabg, I am in beta blockers. I would take anything my cardiologist suggested in order to stay alive.

[Ivanuff in reply to momander]

Hi , i put up with being told i should be ok if i had a couple of stents put in, Then my cardiologist tells me i would need at least 10/12 stents so put me forward for OHS and a bypass. Its not a walk in the park but at least you get properly serviced, which takes a lot of worry away.

[Survivor1952]

I'm on a beta blocker after my HA and heart ops (2 x PCI, AVR and CABG). It is to stabilise the heart and prevent irregular heartbeat and/or AF which can cause a stroke, not lower BP. It will depress the heart rate but yours looks to be in the normal range, I can drop into the high 40's overnight and because of that I'm on the minimum dose.

I was told by the hospital that the dose would be increased as I recovered but my doctor has refused to do so because of my low RHR. I've got a calcium channel blocker added instead.

[Ewloe]

you’ve had 2 TIA’s, so what they consider a good range for your blood pressure would be different than mine. I have had to take beta blockers since my heart attack, heart muscle damage and subsequent arrhythmias. Before that my pulse and blood pressure were low as I was an exercise bunny. After having some side effects at first with a few tweaks of medication my body has adjusted and copes easily with a resting pulse of 48 and a BP 100/50.

If you do start them start I’d start on the lowest dose and see if that had the desired effect they felt was appropriate.

[Bramley01]

My cardiologist told me to keep my BP as low as possible without falling over , I've taken his advice and generally feel fine. Find a doctor who you trust and take their advice, best wishes

[Hidden]

As others have suggested you probably do need to speak with someone.

   Milkfairy has put up some useful information, I have also attached the following, again a BHF information sheet.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

One of the first paragraphs.

They are inexpensive, well tolerated drugs and save many lives by lowering blood pressure, protecting against recurrent heart attacks and helping people with heart failure to live longer.

They are used to treat conditions including angina, heart failure and some heart rhythm disorders, and after a heart attack.

I can only speak for myself, but, I'm on a Beta Blocker to control my blood pressure, and I also have heart failure along with AF. I don't take them to lower my heart rate.