Concerned

[mike6977]

When to call 911 regarding systolic and diastolic readings get close together?

[CCF CCF]

If you have symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or passing out, you should call 9-1-1 regardless of your blood pressure.  If your blood pressure is less than 90 systolic or more than 200 systolic, you should call your doctor, unless you have any of the above symptoms.  If you have those symptoms, you should go to the ER or call for an ambulance.

[kennysbabyg1rl]

I would deff. get another doctor we just lost my dad to chf and kidney failure it sounds like the doctor does not care enough about u to take the time to find out what is wrong becareful with lasix it will kill your kidneys my dad had all the same signs as u get a second doctor my dad had very good doctors in florida he lived alot longer then they thought he would with only 12 percent heart function tell them to run  a blood panel on your kidneys because when you kidneys go down and or gain weight that is a sign of CHF good luck and god bless u :)

[katcorb]

I was diagnosed 1/10/2013, with diastolic congestive heart failure. Starting in Nov, 2 months prior, I began having breathing difficulties & congestion. I was treated with z-pack & improved. Early Dec, my breathing difficulties worsened. Additionally, my grandson exposed me to the aggressive flu we have had this season. Again, I was prescribed the z-pack. As Dec unfolded, my symptoms didn't improve, but worsened. Xmas Eve day, I contacted Dr on call & was given Avelox. Again, no improvement. My symptoms worsened through the entire month of Dec. I was given a 3rd script of z-pack to no avail. New Years Eve day, my husband drove me to ER. At this time, I was considerably worse. Xrays showed heart enlargement. Nothing else indicated DD, or DCHF. I was given breathing treatments as lungs were significantly congested. Diagnosis, brochitis & brochiospasms. I forgot to mention throughout this time I was given Adavair for daily use & albuterol for "emergency" use. Finally, 1/10/13, I felt worse than before, breathing extremely labored, dizzy, chest pressure significantly worse, could barely walk back to my bed, slept, awoke still feeling horrible. I had been sleeping  with 2 pillows for wks. Hubby droveback to ER. At this pt, I couldn't walk. He grabbed a nurse & wheelchair. Everything was hazy at this time, but my husband was impressed how everyone flew into action. More xrays, only heart enlarged, "no fluid showing". EKG insignificant. Day before, I had nuclear stress test, echo. Results weren't known, yet. I saw cardiologist 2 days before ER trip who had no idea what was going on & ordered these tests. Last test given in ER was a CAT scan with contrast. A pulmonalogist was pulled in. He saw a vein in my neck while evaluating me stating something was elevated, said he thought there was fluid in my lungs, went to read CAT scan, came back stating fluid was indeed in lungs & not pnemonia, but pulmonary edema. I was given inj through iv of lasix & thus began fluid runoff. After 4 days of hospitalization, I went home on lasix & lisenapril. After I was home, I visited pulmonalogist & cardiologist in their offices for follow up. Pulmonalogist told us how echo showed diastolic dysfunction which lead to CHF & pulmonary edema. Cardiologist was confused as he stated all tests showed no problems, all readings looked good, but I was symptomatic. Questioning him further, he stated tests were for systolic findings. He wouldn't validate pulminalogist findings. He scheduled heart cath for following wk. Later the same wk of appts, I had considerable left chest pains, coughing & labored breathing. My husband came home frm wrk, then called EMS. I ended back in ER. I was kept for 2 days. Hospitalists had overlooked contacting cardiologist til 2nd day. When contacted, he told hospitalist I could go home. Both my husband & I were perplexed. All of this was new to us. We researched online after 1st hospital stay to educate ourselfs. We wanted answers, why discrepancies & if heart cath could be scheduled while in hosp. It was, eventually, but not w/o having difficulty with hospitalist. We had requested my pulmonalogist be called in. Hospitalist said he wasn't heart Dr, etc. Cath findings once done, diastolic dysfunction, but no CAD. Went home on Coreg, 40 mgs lasix, & Cozaar. Meanwhile, I maintain sodium log &weigh each morning. I've had to increase lasix by addt'l 20  & 40 mgs  on separate occasions, then back to 40.  I was feeling btr last week, doing more physically as we had moved in Dec, & much still needed to be done. I went with hubby to grocers Sat ( today is Mon). Towards end of my list, my breathing became difficult, chest pressure began with pain on left side & felt very faint. We sat dwn, then hubby checked out. I came home & slept over 2 hrs. Went to bed at 7:45. Awoke at 8:00, napped for another 2+ hrs, then to bed at 8:00. When I do minimal movement such as getting cooking pan out, going back & forth to fridge, my breathing becomes difficult. When I awoke Sun morning, I had left chest pains  & trouble breathing when I arose frm bed.  We are confused as to whether we should be concerned & see Dr asap, or dreaded trip to ER. Is this DD, ir DCHF, or does that matter? Are my symptoms "par for the course", or what? Should I limit all activity til this has passed? Did I overdue it last wk & this is result? Forgot to mention, I'm 55 & have taken bp meds, Norvasc, over past several yrs, but when bp checked, always showed good  numbers. Before cardiologist did heart cath, he actually told my husband that maybe I was psychosomatic. We were dumbfounded. I really question whether to continue with this Dr. Our Dr friends, when told this, were as well. Can anyone provide suggestions/answers? Btw, my EF is intact @ 55%. Thank you, Kathy

[kenkeith]

QUOTE: "When to call 911 regarding systolic and diastolic readings get close together?"

>>>>Its not clear what you mean by getting closer together?  If I understand the question you are referring to the lower number (diastolic) is higher than normal and closer to the systole number?

That would not be an emergency situation, but if that reading is consistent, you would want to contact your doctor.  The diastolic pressure represents the pressure exerted when the heart is expanding, drawing blood into its chambers. High diastolic blood pressure can lead to many ailments and should be treated.

This higher rate of diastolic pressure causes adverse effects on the brain, heart and kidney. An individual with diastolic high blood pressure are advised to lower diastolic pressure by maintaining below 90. Systolic pressure is also required to be lowered though a top priority is focused on diastolic pressure.

Hope this answers your question, and thanks for your question.  If you have any followup questions you are welcome to respond.

[is_something_wrong]

I agree, it's probably when you get symptomatic.

What blood pressure we can handle depends much on our age too. I get a BP of 210/90 when exercising at max heart rate (205). At rest it's usually 115/65 but it can easily increase to 150/90 with stress.

Blood pressure above 220-230 systolic and/or 130-140 diastolic at rest is considered malignant hypertension and should be treated immediately, because the risk of stroke, heart attacks and damage to other vital organs is greatly elevated. If your numbers are this high, try to relax and call 911.

The pulse pressure (difference syst-diast blood pressure) can vary a lot, it should be above 30 and below 65 I think, but if it's a little outside this, there shouldn't be any reason to call 911 if you otherwise feel OK I think.

[ireneo]

I would say if the person is symptomatic as in fainting. Usually we don't call 9-1-1 because our BP looks funky.