blood pressure

I have dual lead pacemaker and AV node ablation. 3 weeks ago mode setting was changed and doc said that should free things up a bit, as my pulse would not go over 90-100 on exertion leaving me totally against the wall. Actually it did free things up a bit so that I can walk quickly up inclines whilst talking and not SOB. Is it a coincidence or a complication that now I have high blood pressure. My cardiologist is on holiday until next Tuesday. BP is 171/85, and I dont want GP to put me on meds if this is not the right approach. I know many of you are well informed and would appreciate comments.

2 Comments

Hi mtulau

by IAN MC - 2013-08-22 04:08:01

When you say your BP is 171/85 is that a single reading which has been taken or is it an average figure over 24 hrs?

Before embarking on blood pressure meds you really need a 24 hr monitor. It is a real pain having a cuff on your arm inflate every half hour or so, especially if you're trying to get to sleep, but it is the only way to give a true picture.

I had one done last week and many of my readings had a systolic of 175 plus BUT my average over 24 hrs was 128 so no BP treatment needed.

I read the other day a view that Blood Pressure is one of the most over-diagnosed, over-treated conditions in medicine. People are often put on BP drugs for life on the basis of one or two in-surgery readings.

If your average is 171/85 most Drs will put you on drugs as well as recommending a reduction in your salt intake, and keeping your weight down etc.

As to coincidence or complication.. usually the Dr cannot say with any level of certainty what causes individual high blood pressure .

Best of luck

Ian

Hello again

by IAN MC - 2013-08-22 05:08:35

I've just re-read your message and it sounds as though you've had rate response switched on ( or the sensitivity altered ) so that your pulse / heart rate will increase with exercise. There is a relationship between heart rate and blood pressure but it is not straightforward i.e. if your HR doubles it does't mean that your BP doubles .

Your BP may be determined by the elasticity of the blood vessels and if they dilate very readily on demand then your BP wouldn't increase markedly as your HR goes up, on the other hand if the blood vessels are fairly inelastic then your BP could shoot up with exercise

I was wired up for a treadmill test a couple of days ago and after 15 minutes or so my BP was hitting 220 / 100 which seemed to concern the technicians but not the cardiologist

..... and then my BP dropped ; diagnosis " Exercise induced Hypotension " but that's another story which is currently unfolding .

Let us know how you get on

Ian

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