Q: Recently at a health fair screening my bp was around 150/90. When I was checking out, they checked it again, it was 180/100, 1 minute later it was 235/100, 1 minute later it was 170/100, they said it was because I was stressed but I should go somewhere different and have it checked. I went to Walgreens Takecare clinic and met with an RN there, where my BP was 150/90. Why the crazy swings in numbers? I do have an appointment with a dr. in a few days.
A: You had your blood pressure checked at a health fair. Your blood pressure was not normal. I do not know why you had such erratic readings. It could be error on the part of the taker, equipment malfunction, stress, side effect of a drug, an irregular heartbeat, etc. The take home message of the fair was you flunked the screening test and need to be evaluated more carefully. I am glad you have an appointment to see your doctor. Based on the evaluation by your doctor, you should get a clearer picture of what is going on.
Further Reading:
Get the most out of home blood pressure monitoring – Mayoclinic.com
Loading ...
Loading ...
Those are interesting numbers indeed, and they do require additional monitoring. Those numbers may or may not mean that you have a serious case of hypertension IMHO. Perhaps the first thing to do would be to relax. Many people, including myself, have a very bad case of what is called “white coat hypertension”. I simply cannot have anyone else take my blood pressure. When they do, it always ranges from high to higher! So, I have stopped doing that! I bought my own blood pressure cuff and take my own blood pressure at home in a relaxed atmosphere. Also, that must be done properly. If you have a single-reading monitor, the Mayo Clinic protocol is to first sit down and rest for at least 5 minutes to 10 minutes, and then take three separate readings at least 5 minutes apart. When you are finished, throw out the first reading and average the last two readings. Make sure your posture and postioning are good for the readings. Don’t cross your legs and be sure to have the cuff at about heart level while remaining quiet. Do this consistently over time for a few weeks. If you have normal readings on average over this time…….wonderful! If not, you will have a much better measure of what your average blood pressure looks like, and you can plan to address it from there! All the best!!
I too have White Coat Hypertension, but I do worry it goes up during ANY stress. At home it is super optimal: under 120/60. Anytime I go to the doctor (any doctor, nurse, or medical setting) it is avg. 160/90. I had a baby girl and in the hospital they checked it upon arrival. 150/90. It progressively went down as I got comfortable. After delivering, I had not one high reading for the rest of my stay and they checked it every 4 hours for 3 days. Do you ever worry that it’s high outside of the home? What are we supposed to do then? We can’t very well take meds just when we plan on being stressed- at home it would bottom out. I feel like my dr. doesn’t know what to do. One told me only to take a beta blocker if my BP read high at home! It never has! So confusing- this has been going on since my teens. I eat a largely mediterranean diet, exercise, and meditate. I’m just wired for the flight or fight response. Your experiences and knowledge would be appreciated!
I do my blood pressure readings at least five times a day since experiencing a similar reading as you. I went to a cardiologist and was tried on several mixtures of BP medicine before going to another Dr. that put me on Diovan 320mg. It was causing all kinds of side effects so I started splitting the pill myself and most side effects have disappeared and the Dr. has prescribed Diovan 160 mg since. However, my BP still has a wide range of fluctuation and out of frustration I have found 8-12 oz of wine every evening helps keep it below 130/80 as I continue to take Diovan. However, I have also found as the BP goes over 140/100 periodically, I take a Cialis 10 mg and everything stays below 120/75. I am also ready to try Resperate. I also do a regular routine of 30 min. walks and 30 min weightlifting. My life is surely much more enjoyable. Good Luck
MY BP IS 190/110 PLEASE GUIDE ME
Try using Divyamukti (by Ramdev). You will probably wonder. Make sure you talk to your doctor and measure your BP with your monitor or with doctor. I recommend taking measurement daily 4 to 5 times atleast at different times. Depending on your BP you may have to split the pill in to half over even quater,because it is effective. You be the judge how much to take after talking to your doctor to be sure that you maintain your BP correct. If you take another BP medicine, make sure you discuss with your doctor to assure your BP stays around the normal range. Good Luck!
I sent you the email before. Looking at your BP being 190/110 you may have to take one tablet in the beginning, but it can later be reduced. Make sure you discuss this with your doctor.
Try the diagnosis of “paroxysmal atrial fibrillation”.
Don’t they have equipment to continuously monitor blood pressure for 24 hours? This is so ridiculous to make any assumptions on random reading – there are so many factors in isolated blood pressure reading. For example, if you are lifting a heavy weight, your blood pressure can go to 280/90 for a moment.
Ihave checked two hospitals and the Heart Inst. in Manchester NH and no one has the BP monitor for a 24 hour period. Strange isn’t it?? I have not contacted the folks who have the Holter monitor, perhaps they have one.
My home-measured systolic reading is always anywhere between the 140’s and the 120’s, but the diastolic is always in the mid-60’s. Heartrate always mid-40’s. Is it possible that, although I’m 67, since I run – and run hard (20 mi/wk, hills, track repeats, frequent races) – that the heart is so strong in pushing the blood out (systolic) that it’s registering high? Has anyone studied this?
Pradeep, the Divyamukti is also same as Mukta Vati for your information. It is available on internet as well in India at the Ayurvedic stores.
I also had erattic blood pressure from extreme highs to extreme lows, changing several time within a short time. My doctor could not get it under control so I went to mayo Clinic and they solved the problem by putting a stint to one kidney and clearing the artery to the other. They explained that the kidney when it does not get enough blood through the artery it shoots off something that causes the erratic blood pressure. They said that the kidney with the problem was already smaller than the other one and would probably have failed me at a later date. Since then my blood pressure has been fairly well under control with only a couple of blood pressure meds and no more erratic changes.
I had “white coat hypertention” also . However in addition to white coat hypertention my blood pressure goes sky high in a room full of people. It goes higher the longer I have to wait for hours. Now that the doctors know this they don’t panic when my pressure is to high. I take it at home the day before under relaxed conditions and it is 130/70. I also check it a few times during the month. If you worry that your blood pressure will be high..it will go up.
hi ive been suffering with anxiety sonce 2007 an my bp went high so i was put on propanolol for a year..then out of the blue i developed breathing difficulities..went to a n e had xray,heart scan,my oxygen level was 100per cent but couldnt breathe..had blood tests then sent home..still couldnt breathe proprely so dr gave me inhalers to use tho im not really asthmatic as such..its to help breathing..had spirometry test,all ok..im 40,gave up smoking 7 years ago..weigh 7 stone 13,eat healthy,have 2 glasses of red wine 3 times a week an walk my dog,plus yoga..i have anxiety,i know that,n bp goes up high at drs..i use home moniter to watch it..an now been told to stop streroid brown inhaler n just use blue..an dr gave me citopolam but dont want to be hooked on happy pills n the side effects look awful
Tom abbott you asked the most sensible question ever. I was a track star in high school, tae kwon do guy in college and now I do thread mill and have 140/100 blood pressure reading. My heart is strong with 57 resting pulse. i am only 38 years. I strong heart I imagine will produce high cardiac output.
Like the writer mommy, I too have erratic blood pressure. I am presently out of the country trying to find out why. I have done extensive tests but they do not seem to know why my pressure reads sometimes up to 240/105. I really don’t know what to do and I am taking my medications regularly. When I am at home my readings are 130/80. The highest it can go is 140/90. So I really don’t understand. Please help.