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Heart Disease  (Expert Forum)
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a quick question
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.

a quick question

by mbimom, Jan 15, 2004 12:00AM
I was wondering what does it mean when the systolic pressure is kinda low (105-120) and the diastolic is constantly a little high (88-100). Don't they usually go or down together?

by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Jan 15, 2004 12:00AM
mbimom,

Thanks for the question.

In patients with heart failure, a low pulse pressure (the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure, ie the top number minus the bottom) can indicate a low stroke volume.  This is typically seen only in patients with shock.  In someone who otherwise feels well, a small difference between the two likely means nothing.

I frequently find this pattern in my patients with large arms, where it can be difficult to hear where the second sound stops.

And yes, to answer your question, they do usually tend to travel together.

Hope that helps.
Member Comments (3)

by tkh7, Jan 16, 2004 12:00AM
I had an ecg ran last night the results stated abnormal ecg... Consider left atrial enlargement......p v1-.10 or more negative & diffuse nonspecific T wave abnormalities....T waves-.10 mv ANT/LAT/INF  so what does mean and should i even worry about long term or just live life normally?

by mbimom, Jan 16, 2004 12:00AM
To: ccf-md
Just an update, I have been having dizzy spells and at home my blood pressure has been running 120-110/88-99 but everytime I go to the doc its high today I was 160/100. My doc said the home monitors arn't that acurate.  I also was having the new arrythmia I have been getting since the Hysterectomy. It of course stopped by the time they got me hooked up but the doc said it was very fast and very irregular. I used to get episodes of SVT that would run 200+bpm and this felt alot like that but it felt very irregular. It started and ended with the same thump as the SVT used to. He started me on atenol to see how that works I really didn't want to take the beta blockers cuz I felt the whole reason for having an ablation was to not have to take meds. I wish they could've caught it on EKG so I would know what kind of arrythmia it was he said if it keeps happening I will get the loop monitor.
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