Does anyone here have any insights or information re blood pressure spikes? I've experienced several in the past few years, and my doc is unable to explain them. When I have them, I have no other symptoms.
These spikes have been fairly high for a week or so--most recently, around 180/100--then slowly returning to normal over the next month or 2. When I am experiencing a spike, I add amlodipine 5 mg as needed (prescribed by MD).
I've tested negative for the most obvious cause, pheo--pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adrenal gland: blood work and MRI shows nothing. I am unable to point to any change in my behavior: no changes in stress or diet, no dramatic increase in salt intake, etc.
I am a 76 y.o. white male in generally good health, maybe 5 or 10 lbs overweight, with well-controlled hypertension, no family history of bad diseases. Ordinarily, I take benicar (medoximil olmesartan) 20 mg to control my BP, which is normally in the range of 110--130 / 70--80. I measure my BP at home using an Omron Intellisense meter. I do a brisk 2.5 mile walk several times a week, and I also go to the gym, usually 1x or 2x/week.
Here is an interesting fact: I fast twice a week (non-caloric liquids, no food calories), from dinner Monday to breakfast Weds, then dinner Thursday to b'fast Saturday. On the day following a fast, my BP is in an acceptable range without any meds.