Re: Pulse Pressure

Posted By Ken on March 14, 1999 at 22:03:05:

In Reply to: Re: Pulse Pressure posted by CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on March 14, 1999 at 13:38:01:






I'm 76 and thought I was hale. I lift weights 3 days and walk 4 mile 4
days. I'm told I have a slight murmur which all doctors dismiss as no big deal. My B/P is 150/60 and my pulse at the wrist is 60. I take 10mg of
Norvasc and 20mg of Lasix. My Cholesterol is very nifty and no problem.
More than 10mg Norvasc gives me fat feet. Because of moderate renal
insufficiency, I'm sort of married to channel blockers.

I was a happy citizen until I read that a pulse pressure of 65 raises
one's risk of heart attack threefold. I'm sitting on an ugly 90. I've decided to eschew training for a marathon. When I look for sympathy, my
doctor's eyes glaze over.

What I want to know is should I stop buying green bananas?




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Dear Edward,
Thank you for your question.  Not only can you continue to buy green bananas but I would go for the steel-belted radial tires with the extended warranty.  A BP of 150 is a bit high and this is something your doctor may want to work on but I would not worry about the pulse pressure.   There is a natural increase in pulse pressure as one ages.  The relationship between increased pulse pressure and heart attack is only observational and is probably related strongly to increased age.   Enjoy life for the many years to come.
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.





What are normal limits of pulse pressure?