Question Please

I have high blood pressure, my cardio did the echo, and nuclear stress and said looks ok. She was concerned though that my blood pressure went to 141/101 on the stress test.She put me on Toporal 25mg a day and said to stay on the Availide 12.5/150 a day.

Now I am on 2 blood pressure meds for over 2 weeks now but have noticed that when I move around, walk and other that the top number goes up 138/87 or 131/84 but my heart rate is 74 or 69....why is this??

I go back to her next week and she said she will decide if I need a heart catherization at this time.



Thanks for any opinions

[marikelly]

I am hypothyroid also and take Armour 120 mg a day also take a B Complex with folic acid and vitamin c in it, Selenium 400 mg a day and Absorbable Calcium.

[Barbarella]

Your doctor wants to send you for a catherization because your BP went up to 141/101 during a stress test?  Does she expect while you are on the treadmill working out big time that your BP stays in the normal range?

After I saw the Cardiologist I was referred to a "Hypertension Specialist" not because my BP didn't stay at a normal level during the stress test, but because I had no clue and was concerned (the Cardiologist wasn't) and therefore I was referred to a Hypertension Specialist.

He told me that nobodies BP stays in the "normal" range during the day.  Extreme workouts like a stress test make it go up.  He did research on weight lifters and found that their BP was 240/130 on average while they were lifting weights. Their normal BP was below 120/80 when they were not lifting weights.

He told me if your BP stays in a high range when not exercising, stressed, angry or high anxiety THEN you might need BP meds.  

He also told me that by only looking at a heavy box or piece of furniture you get ready to lift your BP will go up.

Most of all nobodies BP stays the same during the day unless you are calm and lying on the couch every day, and not overweight and healthy.

[marikelly]

But also because the bp is staying high even though I have been on one of the bp meds for over a year.

My concern is that no matter what I do...if I just walk to the bathroom and back it seems to go up and I am now on 2 bp meds....is that normal?

[Barbarella]

What is your BP when you are sitting down for about 15 minutes?  I know there are different opinions by doctors i.e. true BP shows when you are relaxed.  Other doctors want to see the BP how high it gets when you are upset, stressed, angry, at work etc.

I can only tell you what the Hypertension Specialist told me.  Your blood pressure does not stay the same when you are working, exercising, walking etc.

If your BP is elevated when you are relaxed, and stays elevated then you need meds it depends how high your BP is.  Sometimes you can bring it down with diet and exercise.  I too take two BP meds because my BP was also elevated when calm and extremely elevated due to White Coat Hypertension.  Since my BP in a calm state was elevated and I did not know it at the time my BP when at the doctors (white coat hypertension on top of it) it went way over 200.  



I'm taking BP meds and have no side effects.

[marikelly]

I took BP sitting down for about 30 minutes its 128/86. Now thats not bad I understand that.

I am wondering....I take both bp meds in the morning as I work and all and try to get them in before I forget them. Could this be a problem, should I take one in the morning and one later in the day? The Availide I take is also a fluid pill  so I hate taking it to late because them I am up during the night going and going..... The toporal keeps me awake at night if I take it to late.

I do question why the Cardio is thinking of doing a heart cath....maybe she seen something on the echo or in the nuclear that she is not telling me???

[marikelly]

Just wanted to say thank you so much for your help.

[Barbarella]

How long have you been on the BP meds?  It took FOUR months for me until the BP meds came to their full effect.

Ask a pharmacist or your doctor at what time you should take the BP meds.  I take all my BP meds including the Zocor in the evening after a full meal because I have a very sensitive stomach.  I've no side effects from any of them.  The Cardiologist told me I could take the meds any time of the day.  However some meds have to be taken in the morning or the evening.  Just ask and find out.  I take my water pill between 7-8 p.m. and by time I go to bed the water pill has done its job.

[Barbarella]

You are welcome!