Heart electricity

I am a 50 year old female with a heart mummur and what doctors used to call mitro-valve prolapse. However for over a year I have had spells of very, very low blood pressure and pulse over 200 for over 4 hours. I finally went to the emergency room and they said it had to do with the electricity in my heart. What are the possible medications or procedures to expect?

[cindy707]

First off it is still called Mitral Valve Prolapse and over thirty percent  of the entire population has it,  Its pretty common believe it or not .....as far as what the docs said in the E,R. sounds like they are on it with your pulse rate reaching that high its normal for your blood pressure to drop.  The most common treatment for what you have described is that the docs will probably put you on a beta blocker med like Antenolol or in that family of medications but will have to assess it because if you have chronic low blood pressure they have to be careful because it also lowers the blood pressure so that is a treatement...however there is a cure for most issues with the electrical of the heart and its called an ablation.  I have one done four years ago for basically the same thing but far worse and it was a no brainer procedure that was non invasive and took care of the problem permanently.....

[kenkeith]

.......It is easy to explain high heart rate and high blood pressure, because the two normally compensate each other to maintain a balance of blood flow between the right and left side of the heart.  Lower cardiac output (stroke times heart rate) can/will constrict blood vessels and blood pressure with rise, and that will cause an increase in heart rate rate, etc. and blood volume.

Mitral valve prolapse can be a cause for low blood pressure if it reduces the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat (lowers cardiac output) volume can contribute to the blood pressure drop and common with MVP individuals.  

The fast heart rate can exacerbate the problem because rapidly contracting ventricles (pumping chamber) do not have enough time to fill maximally with blood before the each contraction, and the cardiac output decreases, in spite of the faster heart rate. Beta blockers can stabilize heart rate and that can indirectly resolve a low blood pressure as well.

I'm not a doctor but the recommended treatment and from my notes:
The type of beta-blocker chosen is important. Also, finding out if low blood volume is contributing to the blood pressure drop.  "These symptoms are very common in patients with MVPS, whether they are on a beta-blocker or not.  In general, lower doses, of course, would prevent having more of a blood pressure drop.  In many cases the blood pressure is actually more normal when a beta-blocker is given.  If this continues to be a problem, I would definitely choose one of the very mild beta-blockers, such as a 5 mgs. of betaxolol.  You could also add Florinef in the morning to stabilize blood pressure, so that an adequate dose of beta-blocker can be given"

Thanks for your questions, and if you have any followup questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  Take care, and I wish you well going forward.