blood pressure problems

[kev5]

I'm a healthy 32 year old male.  I went to the doctor in Jan. for a cold and my blood pressure was found to be 156/100 and I had a very rapid heartbeat.  I went back one week later and it had risen to 175/106 and my heartbeat was still rapid.  The doctor put me on 20 mg of lisinopril and 12.5mgmyl of hydrochlorothiazide.  He also ran an EKG, chest xray and blood work, all of which came back normal except they described the EKG as borderline (but they didn't say what that meant). I then had an echocardiogram, which they said the results were normal for someone with an elevated blood pressure (but they didn't explainn what that meant).  My blood pressure had dropped to 110/70 at a subsequent visit a few weeks ago, and they did more bloodwork which was ok.  However, over the last several days my heart has been racing like crazy (I've even had some very very mild chest pain when my heart was racing).  This doesn't happen all the time, only occassionally.  I checked my blood pressure at home today and it was 144/77.  What can I do about these rapid heartbeats and my blood pressure?  Also, should I ask the doctor for any additional tests to make sure my heart is ok?

[Barbarella]

I'd think so.  If not, tell him how concerned you are.  There should be a reason why that high heart rate.

Good luck!

[kev5]

Yesterday it was 136 and I am starting to get worried it ranges from 90 to 140 when it is beating rapidly.  Should I expect the doctor will run additional tests?

[Barbarella]

I would tell the doctor that you still have these rapid heartbeats.  A fast heartbeat has got nothing to do with high BP.  These are two seperate things a Cardiologist told me.  You can have severely elevated BP and a heartrate of less than 100 bpm.  You can have a rapid heartbeat and have low BP or high BP or normal BP.

Did you take any over the counter cold medicine?  That too can raise your BP severely at times and cause your heart to race.  A fever with a cold can make your heart race.  However, it should not still beat that fast if you are over your cold and off the cold medicine should you have taken any   How fast is your heart rate?