High diastolic

I am a 47 year old female with a 3 year history of shortness of breath, cough. I have had elevated pulmonary pressures on echo's but pulmonary hypertension was ruled out by a right heart catheterization two years ago. The cardiologist thinks my problem is because my diastolic BP increases with exercise. So, he put me on Tiazac 240 mg OD. The first few days, it made me more short of breath to the point that I couldn't walk across the room without stopping. And my cough got worse. It is a little better now(2 weeks later) but still worse than prior to starting the drug. My BP runs around 120/97 so it obviously is not enough. My BP was lower before taking this medication.
  Does this sound normal? I am afraid to take more medication if he gives it to me.

[kenkeith]

There are two causes for diastolic blood pressure and that is mainly determined mainly  by cardiac output (amount of blood pumped into circulation at 1 minute intervals and peripheral vascular resistance.

For some insight, with exercise the heart pumps faster increasing cardiac output (CO), and there is a dilation of  peripheral vascular vessels with the exercise as the vessels present less resistance the diastolic blood pressure should be reduced. Is your diastolic BP of 97 at rest?

Has there been a test to determine tha amount of oxygen in your blood?  Has there been pulmonary function tests?  Blood tests—to check for anemia or low blood count. Thyroid gland production normal?


Thanks for your questions, and if you have any followup questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  Take care.  Ken

[loree147]

Thanks. My diastolic was 97 at rest. Prior to this new medication, it only was high with exercise. I seem to be having a backwards response to this medication. I am actually waiting for PFT results right now. Oxygen saturations are normal, bloodwork is normal other than I had liver enzymes(ggt, ast, alt, alkphos) done last week and they were mildly elevated which is new for me. I wondered if it might be from the medication.