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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Blood Pressure
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
Blood Pressure
by Guenter, Jan 25, 2004 12:00AM
I am so surprised that I am getting to post. Just one question: I have heart failure (BNP 177) and I am taking diuretics and antiarrhythmics. I have always run a blood pressure around 120/70 to 110/60 or in the area. About three months ago when I went to the Doctor it was 160/100. They took it three times over an hour with different equipment. He did nothing about it. This past week I went to see the Doctor again for follow up and it was still quite high between 150/90 and 160/100. This time he really didn't even acknowledge it. I am wondering if some treatment would be indicated for this. I realize this may be due to fluid retention but with the heart failure isn't it a good idea to keep the blood pressure down? What are the potential long term effects of an increase in blood pressure with heart failure?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Jan 25, 2004 12:00AM
Guenter,
Thanks for the post.
Q1:"I am wondering if some treatment would be indicated for this ... with the heart failure isn't it a good idea to keep the blood pressure down?"
You bet it is! In my clinic, and indeed the CCF heart failure clinic, we strive for the lowest blood pressure that the person can tolerate without symptoms (dizziness, lack of energy, etc.). It is not infrequent that the blood pressures in my heart failure patients are in the 90s/50s range, although this range may be too low for some. I become physically excited when I see someone with heart failure and a blood pressure in the 150/90 range, because it means that I can offer them the state-of-the-art therapy: ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, and aldosterone antagonists. So many of our patients present with such low blood pressures that we have nothing to offer them.
Q2:"What are the potential long term effects of an increase in blood pressure with heart failure?"
Mainly that the heart failure will worsen, plus all the other long-term detrimental effects of elevated blood pressure: stroke, coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, impaired vision, etc.
As always, please remember that you provided very little information about yourself (not a criticism, just a fact), and thus I'm giving pretty generic information.
Best of luck.
Thanks for the post.
Q1:"I am wondering if some treatment would be indicated for this ... with the heart failure isn't it a good idea to keep the blood pressure down?"
You bet it is! In my clinic, and indeed the CCF heart failure clinic, we strive for the lowest blood pressure that the person can tolerate without symptoms (dizziness, lack of energy, etc.). It is not infrequent that the blood pressures in my heart failure patients are in the 90s/50s range, although this range may be too low for some. I become physically excited when I see someone with heart failure and a blood pressure in the 150/90 range, because it means that I can offer them the state-of-the-art therapy: ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, and aldosterone antagonists. So many of our patients present with such low blood pressures that we have nothing to offer them.
Q2:"What are the potential long term effects of an increase in blood pressure with heart failure?"
Mainly that the heart failure will worsen, plus all the other long-term detrimental effects of elevated blood pressure: stroke, coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, impaired vision, etc.
As always, please remember that you provided very little information about yourself (not a criticism, just a fact), and thus I'm giving pretty generic information.
Best of luck.
My mother had CHF from her mitral valve and by the time she was diag with this problem she was very bad off. So bad that they had a team of drs. to discuss what they should do. She was a bad candidate for medicine therapy and for open heart! They opted to go through with the surgery (mitral valve replacement and 2 bypasses) and all the risks (diabetes added to that risk, I believe). She made it and had 10 more yrs with us.
BTW, why are you seeing an EP?
By "normal" I mean it is an expected response for a healthy person.
You say you feel healthy and comfortable, so I would say try and relax when you have the tachycardia. Instead of focusing on it try to distract yourself. I know it is easier said then done. I didn't know I had tachy. I just wasn't feel'g well, tired and often dizzy. If you develop symptoms then discuss it with your dr.
Good luck.
BTW, why are you seeing an EP?
By "normal" I mean it is an expected response for a healthy person.
You say you feel healthy and comfortable, so I would say try and relax when you have the tachycardia. Instead of focusing on it try to distract yourself. I know it is easier said then done. I didn't know I had tachy. I just wasn't feel'g well, tired and often dizzy. If you develop symptoms then discuss it with your dr.
Good luck.