Recently I've been having episodes of spiking blood pressure, makes my ears ring, I get a headache (sometimes burning, sometimes at back of skull), etc. Went to GP, did 24 hr urine, CT scan of head, carotid doppler, renal scan all negative. She sent me to my cardio, bp in office was 150/100. Said that since all the biggies were negative he felt a lift style change was in order. I take Avalide 150/12.5 and Atenolol 50 mg, am/pm for Avalide and he did up my Atenolol to twice a day. He wants me to walk 30 mins a day and lose 25 lbs in 6 mos. However, my head aches the minute I more my ears ring to. He seems to think they are not connected. I'm really, really terrified! Oh and I had a heart cath in Oct 2008 all okay, but he did mention an S4 but said it would go away when the pressure comes down. He said, "this will pass" and I asked him "before I do", he didn't seem concerned. He is one of the best in NYS. Can anybody give me some reassurance? I so worried and that's probably not helping anything for sure.