High HR and BP/ chest pain

[TigerLily17]

I've had high a BP and HR for a while now and am finally seeing a cardiologist on the 29th but am wondering if anyone can help me. Just a bit ago I took it and BP was 151/108, HR was 103. My BP is usually between 130-140/90-100 and my HR is normally between 90 and 130, sometimes lower or higher. Is there anything I can do to lower this until I see the doc? I'm having moderate to severe chest pain right now which I think is related to my BP.

A bit of a history: I'm 18 and I have suffered from joint pain since I was 10. It started in my knees and about 4 years ago started spreading, within about 2 years it was in almost every joint and last year affected my jaw (my jaw is not a huge problem just some occasional aches, rarely is it really bad). I am in severe pain daily with little to no relief and also have muscle spasms mostly in my chest and back. I have been on a range of diff. meds on the low end of the narcotics scale and unfortunately I probably won't get something stronger until I am dignosed with something.

I would appreciate any info or advice anyone can offer
Lily

[Yvette BG]

You might also want to look at what you've been eating and drinking, as foods and beverages can impact your blood pressure and also your heart rate. A lot of "energy drinks" have large amounts of caffeine, which can raise pressure and heart rate, as can coffee and colas (unless they're specified "caffeine-free.")

Do you use a lot of salt at the table? Do you eat many salty snack foods like chips, pretzels, etc.? If yes, it's a good idea to cut back; some people find salt in different forms raises their blood pressure.

On the flip side, the natural potassium that's found in fruits, fruit juices, and vegetables (fresh or frozen without salt is better than canned, due to the salt) helps lower blood pressure. So if you can eat those foods every day if at all possible, it's a good idea.

Are you taking herbs? Watch out, as some can raise blood pressure. There have even been some reports of St. John's Wort raising blood pressure.

Good luck!

[TigerLily17]

I do know that aspirin is for the heart and only mentioned the others so you'd know what I had been on. I don't know if any of them had a form of aspirin (don't think they do though) in them and thats why it had never gone this high before or if they might have somehow made it worse. It being as high as it is worries me and makes me think that it is getting worse, I'm thankful I will see the doc soon to hopefully get it all figured out.

Thanks

[Jerry_NJ]

I hope your other post(s) is(are) providing something useful.  

I read you've been on the "hard stuff" pain-wise.  My mention of aspirin was for the heart, not pain.  As you know, this Community is about heart rhythm problems, and some of them, such as AFib, can cause blood clots. Aspirin helps reduce that occurrence.  Aspirin seems to also have some other heart/survival benefits.  I think there may be some disagreement on these additional benefits.  It take aspirin for the clot reason... and get whatever else "free".

I wish you the best of luck in finding a cure.

[TigerLily17]

I am currently only taking amitriptyline to help me sleep at night, though it's not working. But I've also been on tylenol, ibuprofen, aleve, neurontin, vicodin, darvocet, percocet hydrocodone and tramadol none of which take the pain away anymore. It has progressively gotten worse. I'm not sure if any those have aspirin in them though some of them had tylenol, I don't think we have aspirin either.

My mom is on 2 different meds for her BP and HR, she has mitral valve prolapse. Hers is very well controlled.

Thanks
Lily

[Jerry_NJ]

It is good you also posted on Heart Disease, but I'll give you a little bit of what I think.

First I know nothing about the joint pain problem, but you do have my sympathy and hope that you will see an improvement.

Do any of the medications you take contain aspirin?  I think the advice, frequently advertised by aspirin manufacturers, to take aspirin to gain some protection against heart attack and blood clot problems.  Given you are on medications, it would be a good idea to discuss aspirin with your doctor before starting any daily regiment.

Happily, beta blockers lower both HR and BP, so it seems they are tailor made for your situation.  Still, an effort to find the cause is  the best approach.  That said, I note many people are on BP and/or HR medication with no hope of a cure.

I takd Metoprolol, a BB, for my high HR driven by Atrial Fibrillation.  That is, if we could cure the Atrial Fibrillation I could stop taking BB.  I'm not suggesting you have AFib.

[TigerLily17]

Sorry think I posted in wrong place, reposted in heart disease.

[TigerLily17]

I told my mom when she got up and she told me to lay down. About 45 mins. later its down to 126/94. Still high but has gone down.

Still seeking any info
Lily