Can untreated inflammatory arthritis cause high blood pressure?

[Clokii]

Hey everyone, I hope you're keeping well and enjoying the sunshine! I was called into my GP surgery regarding my blood pressure as it's been elevated at the last couple appointments and it was higher than ever! I've got to be hooked up to a bp monitor that takes readings over the space of a week - could this be related to my working diagnosis? My body just seems to be falling to pieces!

[Mmrr]

Yes, inflammation can cause high BP. The good thing is that your GPs are onto it and will most probably offer hypertensive medication if required. My BP has decided to raise itself too, I've been on a small dose of Losarten for several years, which has controlled it, but over the past year it has crept up again. The GP doubled my dose 3 weeks ago and all is well again.

[Clokii in reply to Mmrr]

My blood pressure has always been perfect but the last few months it's just been creeping up and up. I'm not sure if the GP is aware yet as it was the nurse that did the appointment but I have an appointment next week and I'll mention it then if I haven't heard anything about the monitoring!

[Caza]

This is interesting. My bp has always been low, all through my pregnancies etc…. But of late I’ve been having a lot of problems with my eyes & my optician suggested that I get my bp checked. I borrowed my neighbours machine & it is indeed high & once very high. My RD has taken off big time since April. Never connected the two together. Decided to monitor it for a week & try & get an appointment with my GP which is still shut open only for emergencies & only be zoom 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[Clokii in reply to Caza]

I hope that you manage to get an appointment and get sorted! Mine is all over the place at the moment - when I took it this morning it was quite low! I'm just hoping that my rising blood pressure may help with some sort of diagnosis and treatment plan perhaps.

[Caza in reply to Clokii]

I was at the docs this morning picking up my meds, reception still closed big notice saying emergencies only & online 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[Clokii in reply to Caza]

Oh god, I hope you manage to get seen and sorted soon!

[Mmrr in reply to Caza]

My BP was on the low side all my life until RA too, but has slowly gradually been creeping up.My issue is that it is high in the evening, but ok in the morning (discovered by accident as I checked my BP in the evening during the pandemic, rechecked a few evenings later, and another few evenings and mornings and found the pattern).

The first GP telephone consultation got me nowhere, she went on about cuff size, how to take BP properly.....I left it a few weeks, checked my BP again 166/108.

I called and requested the GP I usually see, she immediately doubled my dose of losartan. My BP is back to high normal range.

I'm just mentioning this as it might be worth checking your BP in the morning and evening.

[Caza in reply to Mmrr]

Thanks I have been & it’s much higher in the morning as my optician suspected, eyes quite bloodshot & feeling sick. As the day goes on it gets lower. The highest was 165 over 127 lowest being 119 over 90. Been getting headaches in the morning as well.

[Clokii in reply to Caza]

That's interesting to know... I've been getting really bloodshot eyes too but I'd just put it down to my hay fever being really bad but I've also been getting really nauseous which could explain things a little better! My bp has been ranging from 115/73 to 156/112

[Mmrr in reply to Caza]

166/127 is very high. It might be worth contacting your GP?

[Caza in reply to Mmrr]

I tried this morning. It’s still shut emergencies only. It’s only been that high once. I took it just now & its 135 over77. I’ll try ringing in the morning. Trouble is you can be hanging on for ages & then you have prove to the receptionist that it’s an emergency & I’m not sure it is.

[Mmrr in reply to Caza]

I would say 166/127 needs urgent attention and would explain that a bottom reading of over 110 needs to be dealt with.

[Caza in reply to Mmrr]

If it goes that high again I’ll ring & insist. Most of the readings are High Normal with one being normal. Thanks for replying

[Clokii in reply to Caza]

Might be worth going to a walk-in centre and then seeing if they can get your GP to follow up on it?

[Caza]

Adds up but who knows. Would just like a medical person to check it

[Clokii]

I'm getting the monitor first thing tomorrow and it's staying on for a week! Hopefully can get to the bottom of things