Rate Response and Hypertension

I just got rate response turned on yesterday. Is it a coincidence that my blood pressure went up? I have fairly serious hypertension and I wonder if rate response is really appropriate for me. I take beta-blockers plus other hypertension medicine. I have only had the pacemaker for 6 weeks. It was put in due to bradycardia. Before rate response was turned on, my HR was always 60. Now it goes much higher, about 95 after walking up and down an 8 step flight of stairs once. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

1 Comments

RR and hypertension

by ElectricFrank - 2013-01-31 12:01:06

The increase in HR that RR is producing could raise your BP in the same way that a high HR in the normal person without a pacer could do it. In your case your treatment for hypertension indicates that you already have a problem in this area so the pacer just aggravates it.

By the way the RR needs to adjusted not simply turned on There are several adjustments that determine the starting level of the RR effect, how fast HR increases with exercise, and the upper limit. Many of the newer pacers add some more adjustments like acceleration, and averaging. Most docs and cardiologists aren't of an engineering mind which is what it takes to make these adjustments. If you could have the doc schedule the Medtronic rep or a session with you they could likely find a more comfortable setting.

My concern is that the doc will just increase your beta blockers to make up for the effect of poor adjustments.

frank

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A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.