Q: I usually have normal blood pressure, occasionally, mainly in the evenings it goes up
sometimes to 190/90, on these occasions I am shivering, the top of my head feels squeezed, have to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes or half an hour. Do I need medication, my doctor says it is not a problem if sometimes this happens. Please advise.
A: What are you doing before these episodes occur? Does this happen every time you eat a certain food? It sounds like you are having a reaction to something. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. See if you can’t figure out what is triggering these episodes. Since you have to go to the bathroom frequently, this suggests a reaction to something you have consumed. Start by keeping track of everything you consume a few hours prior to getting the symptoms. Don’t discount things you have been taken for years. Allergic reactions can occur at any time.
(21 votes, average: 3.90 out of 5)
Loading ...
Loading ...
Sometimes high blood pressure in the evenings.
A particular meal could be the cause?
I have found this myself. Just occasionaly my blood pressure jumps really high. And I have been able to trace it having eaten a particular meal.
Monday 2nd January 1pm fish and chips at the holiday inn; 5pm blood pressure 178 over 111 pulse 70
Other incidents connected to food, but also other things sometimes.
Generally my blood pressure has been coming down over these six months with exercise and relaxation. Yesterday 4th July 134 over 81 pulse 63.
Hope you can find the cause to your jumps in blood pressure
Derek Hill
Sometimes even sleeping too late may also cause your blood pressure to rise. I used to have the same problem due to sleeping late before I was put on lisinopril. I now take a glass of water before bed and as soon as I wake up it has really helped.
I read an article stating that a single meal can absolutely injure the lining of the arteries. Supposedly it diminishes the nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is the most powerful vasodilator in the body. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains have no negative impact on the lining of the arteries.
I have had the same symptoms, mainly late on in the day. Trembly/shivery …. a feeling that I am wearing a close fitting skull cap (top of the head being squeezed). B/P 220/120. The worst part of one of these episodes was an overwhelming feeling of doom/death. Had just about every test under the sun or in our Dr’s book! All come back that I am a fit person, which is good, but it didn’t solve the problem.
My old G.P. retired, my new G.P. a gentleman of mature years looked briefly at my records and said you’ve been on Quinine Sulphate for the same stretch of time that you have been having these episodes, about 5 or 6 years. He suggested I stop the Quinine Sulphate, which I did earlier this year and so far (thank God) since stopping the Quinine I haven’t had another episode.
I hope this may help …… I pray that you find a solution to your raised B/P.
Eveta Hubbardibus
I too have had similiar reaction in pressure rising and have found that it is realated to a food or meal that I have eaten for that night or even the day before.
I too have same symptoms. It is from my gallbladder and reaction to certain food.
When your blood pressure ai 190/90 and your doctor says it is not a problem than it is time to find a doctor that cares enough to help you find a solution!
2nd that “find a new doctor”
Did not know that certain allergies could trigger a high bp. I know that when I take a cup of black tea or coffee before going to bed it makes me pass urine frequentlY at night. Will now watch to see which foods am allergic to
These symptoms sound very similar to a panic attack (especially from Eveta). Panic disorder often has no triggering event… but the physical symptoms are often immediate and terrifying. Even though they’re not “real” symptoms to a doctor, ie, created by some physiological problem, they are very real to the sufferers. I’m not saying you have that, but it could be something to look into.
Your doctor is not interested in anything that he/she cannot prescribe medications for. If these types of BP spikes are not qualified for prescription, your doctor’s answer will always be “not a problem, it happens”. Now, besides reaction to certain foods, consider side effect of any drugs that you maybe taking, esp. anti-depressants, which are useless anyway.
Blood pressure spikes occur in everyone except the braindead… Slow down, breath slowly, relax… When you exert such as weigth lifting, even rising from an incline or a chair…a visual can cause a rise, ie…. a crisis, an upleasant observance, even a pleasant expeerience can influence pulse rates and fluctuations in BP. Relax, take up TaiChi or some other method of mind/body bio feedback… enjoy. George Semper fi… in the Corps. we use to say “Illegitimae non-carborundum” which we interperted to mean “don’t let the BASTARDS where you down”. Live, love and ignore…
I have had something similar for the last few years and also had every test the doctors could think of and everything was fine. My doctor put me on Propananol (Inderal) 40mg twice a day and this has helped a lot.
Interesting comments I too have hp and have had it for over 8yrs I am overweight so that doesn’t help. I have been watching what i eat in regards to things that may trigger hp for instance my salt and sugar contents, I have cut out sugar completly and I use very little salt. I have had a few episodes where I can feel my bp pounding it seems to happen when I am in bed trying to get some sleep. Lately I have been drinking a glass of milk every night in order to get a good night sleep because i just could not sleep at all for a long time. THe milk seems to have helped with my sleeping problem and i haven’t had strong palputaions associated with the hp and my face is not turning red like a beetroot any more, that used to be an indication my bp was on the rise. This seems to be working for me. I too have had to get up every hour or so to go to the toilet. It is winter here and i find if i go to bed wearing a pair of socks i don’t have to get up as frequently so stay warm as well that helps. If any one can help by letting me know what foods they have had trouble with i would very much appreciate it. cheers
Emanuela,
Are you seeing a doctor? You say you are overweight, that can be a big problem. Hbp is not only associated weight. Cholesterol, your ratio of sodium to potasium and other issues need to be looked at. Have a complete bloodtest.
That you are drinking a glass of milk is great! That shows you’re doing the right thing. The calcium lowers it, but that is probably not enough. The weight has to come down.
I walk a lot. Even when watching the news, I walk across the room several times as fast as I can and count how many times compared to how many commercials were shown. So I make a game out of it.
Have you noticed anyone, how many drug commercials there are?
Again see a doctor and have a bloodtest. It can tell you sooooo..much of what you need. Best of all it does not hurt!
Bless you,
Geraldina
Sorry, made a mistake…should be VANTAGE not vantege!
Since your bp is 190/90, it is time you change your dr and take medications as advised by a good doctor.
At the same time, you may also verify on the diet intake especially during night.
Reduce your weight, do morning walk regularly and avoid red meat can help you come out of bp in the normal way.
Also, find out whether you have any other problems of diabetics, high cholestrol.
GOOD dr???!!! – conflict of interest!!!!
take care of yourself
My blood pressure is high but gets much higher under stress. When I went in for cataract surgery it shot up to 200 –then down to about 160 till over with. I do not get cold but overly hot – and my head doesn’t feel pounding so much as my legs get sore. Also suffer from numbness in extremities from carpal tunnel. . Difficulty sleeping, and do have to go to bathroom often. Afraid to take medications so I’ll take my chances. Heart is healthy. I believe high blood pressure is definitely increased by stress. In the case of surgery I hadn’t eaten anything – even water – since before midnight the night before.
I can definitely vouch for stress induced BP spikes. Mine can surge to 200+ when under stress. Nothing seems to prevent it either. Tried Resperate, drugs, diet and exercise with the same result
I AM NOT A FAN OF MEDICATION, BUT I WILL STATE THIS, USING BUT 1 MG OF ATIVAN WILL BRING THE STRESS THING DOWN QUITE A BIT, ITS COMPARABLE TO SMOKING POT ( SOME FOLKS HAVE POINTED OUT ) i DONT SMOKE ANYTHING , BUT IT IS A MELLOW TYPE OF FEELING THAT IS VERY HELPFUL IN BRINGING DOWN SOMETHING CAUSED BY ANXIETY, RESTLESSNESS ETC WHICH IN CAUSE CAN RAISE OUR BP. i DONT FEEL GUILTY TAKING THIS IN THE EVENING AND HAVE TAKEN IT DURING THE DAY IF A STRESSFULL EVENT TAKES PLACE,,, ONE HAS TO SPACE THIS OUT AT LEAST 6 HRS APART.
I’ve been hearing a number of people speculate that the horizontal position in sleeping may somehow cause a strain on heart circulation or be linked to night increases in blood pressure or heart attacks. Would appreciate any thoughts, theories or experiences on this.
Salty or condimented foods at night will make you thirsty. When you drink liquids from thirst, your blood volume goes up and so does the BP. The feeling of pressure in the skull is because the brain wants to swell but can’t because of the skull.
People with night problems should look at their legs. If the legs and feet are swollen from retained liquid, when they recline the liquid is pulled back into the body circulation, increasing the volume and BP. Then all that liquid has to be filtered out by the kidneys. Solution: less salt, more exercise, more liquids during the day, elevate the feet in the evening.
Thanks to you all for your input,I now know why my pressure spikes some nights and i use the bathroom more often at night.God bless youall
Dr, put me on new meds Lisenaprel 40 mg. Instead of my B/P coming down it went real high 210/110, It also happened with other drug pressure meds. Think I’m allergic to the meds. I am female 76 yrs old
Watch out for lisinopril !!!! my husband was given lisinipril with metaprolol, and , otherwise healhthy man got so many side effects, though HBP got worse! – that he tragically died within a couple of month – traditional medicine sucks… also chronic stress is the main factor to start with – that’s what kills us all… bullying,abuse,addictions(food and computer included),unemployment, reposessions, foreclosures – who allows all this…
I am a widow now with 4 kids – who cares, they got their money…
Sounds like adrenaline firing in the brain at random, ck for teas, coffee, chocolate, and dont discount this as being crazy but eating chicken livers will cause an adrenaline rush. If necessary one can benefit to relax at night by taking 1 mg of ativan, yes its medication but it does relax the body , bringing a mellow feeling that takes down the BP at night for a restful sleep. Using at daytime makes one sleepy. It requires a prescription.