I went to the Doctors on Friday as a precaution , with sore throat and generally feeling unwell- I was diagnosed with RA at Christmas so I've been on a steep learning curve since. Everydays a school day!
Whilst there my blood pressure was checked and it was very high. I am now monitoring at home for 10 days. I had been on predisolone which I'd finished on the Tuesday prior. Could the steroids be a contributing factor?
Also is this something I should bring to my rheumatology teams notice?
Thank you 😊
Mel
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MelB71
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I would probably see how your blood pressure is for a day or two at home, in case it’s white coat syndrome, before telling your rheumatologist. Some of the meds can cause hypertension, especially nsaids, and biologics. Dmards tend not to increase blood pressure. You don’t say what meds your on. If the trend shows your blood pressure is high, then yes I would contact them. Always take blood pressure after resting a few minutes, and not when you just eaten or drunk something.
As Runrig says, take your blood pressure at home for a few days and see what comes out.
Last time I had my blood pressure taken at the GP surgery it was 'very high', so she kept taking it, on the same arm, chatting to me the whole time, with my arm in the wrong position, through my sleeve, my feet not supported and so on. Basically she wasn't following the procedure. The highest measure was 175! My arm was hurting and it was painful for several days afterwards.
Additionally the digital ones have algorithms that sometimes make things up. This is common if someone's blood pressure is low. I know someone who was in A&E and told her blood pressure was 200 and they wanted to give her an injection. She refused and told them to get a manual one. Sure enough her blood pressure was very low and the injection could have actually killed her. The digital one had made up the data when it received data lower than it expected.
I know my blood pressure is low, rarely more than 120/70 because I have taken it at home with a machine recommended by my son's cardiologist. He was very specific about the one to buy too, as he new that some wouldn't register properly with low blood pressure.
So before you start worrying, think about how it was taken in the surgery, and make sure you do it the right way at home!
A few years ago I took part in a medical study where my blood pressure was checked. For that part of the test I sat in a very comfortable chair. I was connected to a machine that once started took three readings at five minute intervals.
The nurse / operator said she would not speak to me while it was happening so when it started she carried on with her paperwork while I just sat quietly. It took the reading and switched itself off at which point the nurse carried on asking questions, the machine indicated it was time for another BP reading and the same thing happened again. So all three readings were taken the same way and the machine then averaged them out.
When I received a copy of what happened at each session - I had two over the year - I could not believe the results. They were so low. Normally having BP measured by the doctor is a really rushed affair with the doctor or whoever is doing the reading talking throughout. At my doctor’s surgery the DIY blood pressure machine is in a corridor so that is stressful too.
So now I sit quietly when I am on my own, I wear loose clothing and don’t do it straight after I have eaten and I tend to read a book. I take three readings at five minute intervals then average them out - if the first one is high which it occasionally is I tend to ignore that one and every so often I get a text asking me to take them into the surgery.
It’s also better to use the type of cuff like the one used by your doctor that goes on your arm rather than the sort you see advertised that goes on your wrist.
Hopefully your blood pressure isn’t as bad as you think it is.
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