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Blood Pressure 190/50: Help !!!
My grandmother has been suffering from BP related issues since 2 years. She stays with me and I have the sphygmomanometer and stethoscope equipment at home and daily morning during her rest time I check BP. Before taking medicine her BP value comes to around 190/50 which means the pulse pressure of 140. Is this Systolic and Diastolic values possible for a 80yrs old person? She takes homepathic treatment. Some days the pressure values are 130/70, 140/60, 120/70 .. like this. Should I go for a detailed check up ? I am majorly worried about her new value 190/60. Also she has cholestrol and its value is 275 and it was some 350 once.
Obviously, your Grandmother is being treated by traditional medicine in some way, being that she has had lab studies done (ie cholesterol, etc). Whatever she is doing right now is not sufficiently controlling her hypertension. That, coupled with her hypercholesterolemia, and her age..she could be at risk for cardiac complications.
Follow up with her PCP soon, and be sure to take the BP diary with you, along with a list of ALL of her current meds (even natural and OTC ones) and a list of any questions you may have (always wise to do this ahead of time as often we forget things we want to ask when in the office).
Many, many factors affect BP and can cause it to fluctuate at any given time, including most definitely anxiety. This is why a BP diary is a great idea. Measure her BP at different times, noting factors that you feel may be affecting her pressure. For example, some people have higher readings first thing in the am vs at bedtime, and vice versa. That kind of info can be very valuable to the clinician. If you notice at certain times she seems anxious (or she says she is), then take her BP periodically at those times too. I caution you, however, not to go crazy taking her BP too often. That in itself can increase ruminating about it, and subsequently can increase anxiety, and then her BP.
Fluctuations in BP are totally normal, and a noticeable spike in BP when anxious (by itself) usually is not worrisome. Most people's BP's are elevated above their norm when in a doctor's office/hospital setting. However, being that your Gram has concurrent issues (like her cholesterol and advanced age), it makes it more of a risk factor.
I'm sure all will be fine with consistent medical care and proper follow up with her doctor, with anti-hypertensive medications possibly being necessary. The PCP may opt to refer her to a cardiologist, but don't put the cart before the horse...one step at a time. The family doc will order the appropriate diagnostic tests, review the information you provide him/her, and go from there.
One last fact to help ease your mind a bit. As a rule, it is generally a bit more concerning to have consistently elevated DIASTOLIC (bottom number), than SYSTOLIC (top #) pressure. The diastolic pressure measures the heart at rest, while the systolic measures the heart while pumping. A higher diastolic value (consistently) can be more worrisome because the heart needs to be able to properly "rest". That's the best way I can explain it in simple, basic terms without getting too technical. From what you said, it seems like your Gram's systolic pressure is generally more elevated when her BP is above normal.
Best of luck...and try not to worry too too much.
Follow up with her PCP soon, and be sure to take the BP diary with you, along with a list of ALL of her current meds (even natural and OTC ones) and a list of any questions you may have (always wise to do this ahead of time as often we forget things we want to ask when in the office).
Many, many factors affect BP and can cause it to fluctuate at any given time, including most definitely anxiety. This is why a BP diary is a great idea. Measure her BP at different times, noting factors that you feel may be affecting her pressure. For example, some people have higher readings first thing in the am vs at bedtime, and vice versa. That kind of info can be very valuable to the clinician. If you notice at certain times she seems anxious (or she says she is), then take her BP periodically at those times too. I caution you, however, not to go crazy taking her BP too often. That in itself can increase ruminating about it, and subsequently can increase anxiety, and then her BP.
Fluctuations in BP are totally normal, and a noticeable spike in BP when anxious (by itself) usually is not worrisome. Most people's BP's are elevated above their norm when in a doctor's office/hospital setting. However, being that your Gram has concurrent issues (like her cholesterol and advanced age), it makes it more of a risk factor.
I'm sure all will be fine with consistent medical care and proper follow up with her doctor, with anti-hypertensive medications possibly being necessary. The PCP may opt to refer her to a cardiologist, but don't put the cart before the horse...one step at a time. The family doc will order the appropriate diagnostic tests, review the information you provide him/her, and go from there.
One last fact to help ease your mind a bit. As a rule, it is generally a bit more concerning to have consistently elevated DIASTOLIC (bottom number), than SYSTOLIC (top #) pressure. The diastolic pressure measures the heart at rest, while the systolic measures the heart while pumping. A higher diastolic value (consistently) can be more worrisome because the heart needs to be able to properly "rest". That's the best way I can explain it in simple, basic terms without getting too technical. From what you said, it seems like your Gram's systolic pressure is generally more elevated when her BP is above normal.
Best of luck...and try not to worry too too much.
Homeopathic treatment are more or less placebo effect. There's no clinical evidence of it's effectiveness... If you are worried you need to rely on traditional medicine. Sorry if i may hurt people using homeopathic treatments but since we all know sometimes mind act over matter there must be a kind of effectiveness someway.... But from a science point of view, none... Consult a specialist please.
Yes you should. And find out what the homeopathic treatment is and ask your doctor or pharmacist if it can raise blood pressure as well. But the blood pressure and cholesterol levels are serious enough that she should see a doctor (and perhaps obtain a referral to a cardiologist) as soon as possible.
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