High BP and Arrythmia

[Pressured]

Hi

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I'm male and 58 next week.

Currently taking Losartan 75mg

Has anyone had experience of having an Arrythmia and High BP.

I was diagnosed with SVT Tachycardia 3 years ago followed shortly after with a diagnosis of elevated BP. Although I rarely have an episode of SVT, as I've stopped the amount of exercise I was doing I often get a feeling of missed heart beats.

I'm confused if one is effecting or making worse the other?

Thanks.

[Cardboardsniffer]

Hi, I was on Losartan 25 mg for 5 years, then moved up to 50mg. When my dosage increased I felt like a zombie. It just stopped working for me. Best see the doc.

[RedItalianDevil]

Hi there Pressured

I was on Losartan, Atenelol and doxazosin after trying other meds beforehand. I’ve had no side effects.

The reason I joined on here a few years ago was because I was interested in atenolol primarily as my resting heart rate can be as low as 46bpm.

I was extremely fortunate that on the numerous check ups, blood tests that you have to attend when you 1st take meds that there was a locum who spent a good deal of time listening to me.

I only remember saying that I always felt like my heart was beating fast. This was not a result of me being on meds, it was just my general state at the time. In fact it was normal between 55-65 resting.

So I was put on this combination of drugs. My mindset was great at the time. I never wanted to take meds previously as I always had side effects… and I led a very healthy lifestyle. I wanted a natural solution.

To get to the point now I m sure the atenolol was to reduce my heart rate and stop my panic attacks which I mentioned too. Losartan is potassium based which is beneficial to the heart and relaxes the blood vessels. I may be wrong so consult your doctor. At my practice we can also speak to our pharmacists which has been beneficial too.

Not really sure about doxazosin but whatever the reason I felt well almost immediately. I guess that had to do with my positive mindset and owning the problem. I think I’ve had high blood pressure for a long time and I just didn’t want to take meds.

Like yourself I exercised regularly. I played football at least 4 times a week but I’ve had to manage my playing time in short bursts. I always felt that I was going to have some sort of episode. I stopped playing competitive football at 49 because I thought that 1 day I may push myself too hard. I blacked out for a matter of seconds on one occasion and that was the last straw.

At the time I was going through re-organisation at work too and was quite stressed out. I knew I had to sort out my issues.

Now to the present day I m currently on half my meds and twice a week only. I’ve consulted both my doctor and pharmacist at all times.

I was very sceptical in the past about doctors and meds. It changed that day with that locum and I’ve never looked back.

During Covid I watched a lot of YouTube clips about intermittent fasting and carbohydrates being inflammatory.

I cut down on carbs and replaced with lots of vegetables and eggs. I always felt full and stopped snacking as a result.

It was a curious accident again but I stopped feeling tired. All my aches and pains disappeared almost overnight and I could last through my football 5 a side games. With no adverse affects during the game and afterwards.

I was still taking the meds at the time but started to feel lightheaded. My blood pressure was lowering. I started to take daily readings and a few times during the day.

As a result after constant consultation with the pharmacist and doctors they agreed that I talk half the dosage daily and kept monitoring.

Now I take half the dosage but twice a week. I darent not completely go off my meds because I feel so well now and have done ever since Covid. I never have a bad day.

Basically I now realise that I must have had an anxiety disorder and IBS for the past 20 years. It just felt normal to me.

Apologies for the long response. This is the 1st time I’ve been inclined to respond to the forum.

I wish you all the best.

[Pressured in reply to RedItalianDevil]

Thank you so much for replying. So much of what you say strikes a chord with my situation. Although there is a history of elevated BP on my mother's side of the family, I think with hindsight I've always been affected by stress which may be making my BP worse.I'm not sure about the arrhythmia which only seems to occur after exercise.

Anyway I'll experiment with diet changes and relaxation techniques over the next few weeks.

Thanks again.

[RedItalianDevil in reply to Pressured]

It was my mothers side too with the hereditary blood pressure issues. My fathers side had a history of low blood pressure.

I think that the meds definitively helped initially and when you combine that with diet and lifestyle changes, that also has an impact. I also feel empowered if I try and help myself.

I never felt right during and after the exercise. I always needed to get that second wind and would often feel disoriented, aware of my breath, my heartbeat etc.

I never had the chest pains so could live with it without getting afraid of a potential episode. So I understand why doctors would treat the anxiety first and foremost.

But since swapping vegetables and proteins for carbohydrates …. and eating large infrequent meals rather than the previously accepted healthy small and often protocol my life mentally and physically has completely transformed.

I do have a good sleep regime now which I never had pre Covid.

I do wish you the best and would like to know how you get on.

[Peregrino]

I have had high BP for many years and have reduced my medications to 16mg of Candesartin but was intrigued by your situation. I have been very athletic all my life and then began getting SVT issues with tachycardia. Now, years later, I am struggling with arrythmia brought on by even mild exercise. Maybe all that healthy exercise was not such a good idea?

[Pressured in reply to Peregrino]

Hi PeregrinoLike you I did some quite intense sport up until SVT became a regular occuranc e when I was about 55.

I've been away for past 2 weeks on holiday and didn't notice any arrhythmia at all, although I was only walking slowly for a few hours a day.

Mostly my arrhythmia is in the form of "missed" heartbeats after moderate exercise and my heart rate sometimes stays at 80/90 beats for hours after.

Anyway I don't want to stop my cycling so I'm looking for ways to reduce these symptoms.

[lettingoffsteam]

Hi Pressured, I was diagnosed with extremely high bp at 54, I'm now 59.Initially, on starting medication I noticed a rapid heart rate and some arrhythmia and it bothered me.By losing quite a bit of weight I was able to halve my dose and that helped alot. Also the cardiologist prescribed a low dose of propranolol which has helped alot. Long story short I still have some arrhythmia ( damage due to years of volcanic bp apparently) but I am less bothered by it now plus my bp is good and low. What does you GP say?

[Pressured in reply to lettingoffsteam]

Thanks for the reply. What BP medication do you take?

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Pressured]

I take 5mg amlodipine, 2.5mg ramipril and 20mg propranolol