Causes of hypertension

Is it possible to determine the cause of severe hypertension?  I have been having problems for over a year.  My doctor has tried 7 different meds, most of the time in combination with others.  I am currently taking, Atacand(16 mg) 2 X a day; HCTZ (25 mg) once a day; Clonidine (.1 mg) 4 times a day; Adalat (30 mg) 3 times a day.  I feel fatigued all the time.  Other symptons I have are numbness on the left side, headaches, and middle chest pain.  Are the meds I am taking a good combination?  Are there other types of meds that might work better?  In your opinion is it all the medication or the high blood pressure causing my symptons?  I do exercise, have cut salt from my diet; and have lost weight.  I have never smoked and all my blood work is normal.  I had a heart cath and have no blockages but do have dilated cardiomyopathy.  I have been told the heart problem will not get better unless the blood pressure is under control.  It runs about 180/100 with spikes as high as 230/140.  I am getting very depressed and discouraged and don't know what to do.  Thanks for your input.

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Dear Hattie,
High blood pressure may be primary (essential) or secondary.   If the  hypertension is secondary there may be a treatable cause.  Most of these causes are relatively rare (i.e. renal artery stenosis, pheochromocytoma).  If no secondary cause is found then the high blood pressure is said to be primary.  The vast majority of cases of HTN are  primary.  The main cause of primary HTN is genetic.

There are a number of drugs that can be used for treating HTN.  There is no single combination of medications that is used but rather things must be individually tailored to the patient.   Describe your symptoms to your doctor.  Clonidine is a good drug for lowering blood pressure but is known to cause fatigue and depression.  You may need to see a specialist in the area of hypertension if your local doctor is unable to control your BP.

[Cuore]

Hi Hattie, This may be a shot in the dark but have you had your thyroid checked?  Around 3 years ago I suddenly got hypertension (180/100 when mine had always been 110/70) and couldn't figure out why.  Last year a nodule was discovered in the right lobe of my thyroid and the right lobe had to be removed.  After a year, my thyroid meds seem to finally be at the right level and just recently my bp seems to be going down.  Again, just a shot in the dark but worth a try.

Lin

[Jim]

checked for a pheochromocytoma?

[Biggs]

Hang in there.  Last year I experienced many of the symptoms that you describe.  At one point, I was up to 14 pills a day to control blood pressure and nothing worked long term.  I was depressed, lost too much weight and felt totally helpless.  

I changed cardiologists and tried yet another regime of medications.  It worked.   I am now on 4 pills a day and a very normal blood pressure with no significant spikes.  I do have a 2+ aortic insufficiency but now that the pressure is good, that is under control.

Bottom line...tell the doctors exactly how you feel...if they don't listen...change doctors until they do.

Good luck!!

dbiggs
a cardiac patient that understands that things can be worked out

[jan]

My bp isn't high,it's around 100/70, but I was wondering if anyone else gets light headed when they get their blood pressure checked?