Rapid heartrate/high blood pressure after eating

[budgetguy]

For the past several years I have noticed that after eating food (which ranges from just a cup of milk to a full meal) that my heart rate and blood pressure increases significantly about 30 minutes after eating, and it lasts for about  one and 1/2 hours to two hours.  This occurs about 50% of the time after eating.  My heart rate goes from ~75 bpm up to 140 bmp (max todate), and the blood pressure goes from 130/80 up to 180/102 (max to date).  Note: I am borderline hypertensive and take 20mg of lisinopril a day. I have attempted to determine if there is a particular type of food, or food additive that might trigger the symptoms, and have noticed the symptoms always occur when I eat peanut butter or the snack crackers that are sold in vending machines, and will occassionally happen when I eat homemade macroni and cheese.  Other that these foods, I can find no relationships.  I can have a cup of milk one morning and get the symptoms, then have a cup the next day from the same gallon and have no symptoms.  I have had several tests in the hospital - stress test, sonogram of the heart, gastronomic tests - with no results.  Of course the tests were not conducted just after eating, so I was not exhibiting the symptoms.  Do you have any thoughts on what might be causing this?

[sshazzam]

I have this condition too.

My resting BP is about 117/74, pulse 65 to 75.
This morning, after eating a bowl of low sugar/low sodium oat meal and a piece of toast buttered with low fat, low sodium spread, I was at 156/100 and pulse of 108.

1 1/2 hours after eating, now sitting at my desk at work I am now at 126/77 pulse 90.

Normally, after eating when my heart starts racing and my bp is up I do feel a tightness in my stomach, and I feel like I have asthma. I can breathe, its just tight/ bloated feeling in my stomach.

I have noticed that these symptoms, including the asthma feelings, ALWAYS seem to be brought on by eating or by acid reflux initially.

Numerous doctors say I don't have high blood pressure and my EKG looks great. They are puzzled why this happens Some have even claimed that maybe I was just having anxiety...though, usually I am not feeling anxious.

A regimen of Prilosec and anti- inflamatory meds seems to help, but it still scares the heck out of me because I never know what meal is going to cause it to happen. I have long suspected maybe the cause was in my stomach, but every doc just wants to move me on through so they can get to the next patient. Very frustrated.

[memo06]

I also have this problem,but i was wondering  if alcohol can be so dangerous . When i drink my heart rate usaully stays the same or it doesnt beat as fast.

[frattura]

I think the levels that US doctors go by for B12 needs to be re-evaluated. People with B12 levels between 200 pg/mL and 350 pg/mL (levels considered “normal” in the U.S) do show signs of B12 deficiency. Among other things, it could certainly give spikes in blood pressure after eating. Its worth looking into.

[Eule43]

It really is a nice forum and give you some ideas. I read about HYZAAR  , that pill almost kill me , because my Doctor did not tell me , if you have to go to often to the bad room , you need potassium and  magnesium  ,That line never end. So I drop all BP  medicine and  use  Pycnogenol. . This is not an advise , but I will tell you what happening. I am 70 and still work hard every day. I start with 100 mg in the morning , it did get a little better , but one day I had o lot off stress and end up with 600 mg , and I was feeling like a new man. I reduce my cholesterol from 220 to 165  and  no hemorrhoids , the Eye doctor tell me  I need new glasses I see  better , I think he was joking ,but it was thru .no more pain in my knees ,it is unbelievable .,but don't expect changes after 4 weeks , it almost took me  2 years .I eat every morning my banana for potassium and 500mg Magnesium chloride (very bad taste ) and feel super . It is 5 times stronger than Aspirin and you will not have a bleeding in you stomach. Believe it is worth to try it  . Of course is my wife satisfied , but not with Hyzaar

[Vina14]

...so, if i just had a meal, how many minutes or hours should I wait until i have my bp checked?

[hjm515]

This is good post. I'm glad that people are willing to share the experience. I started experience this Anxiety and panic three years ago. I have been on paxil of 20 mg which I take only 15 mg. I  notice the high heart rate at the evening time. Like many said it affected quality life, i cannot even count how many Sundays I was tried, not able to sleep, fatigue during the service and work during the weekdays. By God's grace I have sailed through all this pain and suffering for years. I still have insomnia problem, which creates different spin to this stress and anxiety. I would stay the I have learned to understand and little bit more vigilant about stressful situation and not to take it into mind or personal. I have been prescribed with Diavon 80mg, Lunsta 2mg and I'm taking half or 1.5 mg of Lunsta depending on the state of day. Lately I have been trying to wean off the paxil and by some research I found anxietin natural medicine to get out of paxil. I'm trying this new medicine for the last two weeks and it is working good. By God's grace I will find some natural remedy for insomnia. Until then i just have to carry this cross and keep rejoicing. Like many wrote, I went to ER, Cardiologist, many doctor's appt to find out the underlying root cause. Everything came out negative. I'm very glad compared to three years ago and I feel like I crossed the red sea.