Blood pressure (panic attack)

[colette1973]

My BP was a 129-97 this particular day and later that same day my kids were playing outside and only turned my back for a few mins I looked again and both gone! well my heart was beating out of my chest, I was experiencing a panic attack - found the kids on the front but my heart seem to stay high for over an hour later - my pressure went up from 129-97 to 152-103 !!  Is this normal after experiencing such a panic?? anyone please help! thank you :)

[Coleen27]

Hi Colette

I think speak to your health care provider to put your mind at ease....in my case I am 44 years old and have been on medication for hypertension for 4 years now.
Up until a couple of months ago I was able to check my bp regularly myself at home using a home monitor. Unfortunatly I started to suffer panic attacks then due to personal issues that I've been dealing long term with, I then got myself in a vicious circle- I started to expect my bp would be up due to the increased anxiety and so bingo it would shoot up. I then had to stop using my home monitor as it was only serving then to increase my anxiety. I now have to visit my nurse or gp if I want a reading as even tho I still get anxious having it taken there, it's nothing compared to the anxiety I experience while taking it myself! Weird I know, as most people are the other way around...normally my bp can be between 120/70-130/80 depending on how I am feeling at the time & when the doc takes it....
A month ago I had to go to A&E, turns out I had compression on a nerve in my back which caused severe weakness in my legs. I was nervous of course having my bp checked and it was 160/90. On my examination they were were worried I was having a stroke so brought me into resuss, WELL you can all imagine the fear then!! My bp readings shot through the roof! I was showing readings of 189/110, I was terrified and found it very hard to calm myself internally.
Once they established I wasn't having a stroke they got me out of there asap as they knew the anxiety was just pushing my bp up.
I was kept in hospital for a week for tests and any time the nurses came near me with the electronic bp machine it would go through the roof, as soon as that cuff went on my arm & the machine was switched on bang, my heart would take off! They had to use the manual bp reader and then it would come down.
Basically where I am today in all this is that I worry incessantly about my bp. I have been assured by my Cardiologist that I am fine and that I am on excellent coverage with the meds I am taking.
I find I am 'minding' myself a lot lately tho...'Oh I can't do that or I can't do this, it might put my bp up'. I don't smoke & stick to the recommended units of alcohol weekly. I eat healthy & try to exercise by walking, altho I could do better in that area.

I'm frustrated with myself  as I'm usually a positive & practical person.
Doc gave me 0.25 xanax for the anxiety probs and prescribed Prozac, but the Prozac are giving me side effects...
it's hard when anxious to know if bp readings are true readings so if I were you I would go to my doc & explain how you're feeeling?

[allmymarbles]

Anxiety or a panic attack can raise your blood pressure temporarily. Following the use of inhaled steroids my adrenal glands were affected. This resulted in panic attacks. I could have sworn I had a heart problem but the cardiologist said my heart was great in spite of my age (82).

[colette1973]

Hi thanks for your reply.. well its my father that suffers with high blood pressure and on this particular day when i had the panic attack i got on my fathers pressure monitor and it seem quite normal then after the panic attack my heart rate seem to stay up for quite some time after, i do feel that i may be getting heart anxiety.  I say this because sometime i wake up in the early hours with my heart beating out of my chest especially if a bad dream or if iv heard some kind of noise in or around the house.  I did get have attempted burglary a few years ago and not recovered properly ever since.  Thank you so much for your reply, maybe i should visit the doc.. I do need to lose 2 stones maybe its a combination of weight and stress on my heart.  What can the doc give for heart anxiety?  :) x

[RubyWitch]

Is 129/97 your average BP? The systolic, (top number) is very good, but your diastolic, (bottom number) is a bit on the high side. When you found the kids missing and went into panic mode, a BP of 152/103 is probably not unusual, but after you found the children it should have slowly returned to a more normal range. When you took your BP an hour after finding the kids, are you saying your BP was still at the higher number? Also, your HR (heart rate) is not the same as your blood pressure, You HR can be quite elevated while your BP remains normal.
Are you on BP meds? I get the sense that you're a tad obsessed with your blood pressure.
I would suggest a visit with your doctor to discuss your BP issue which could actually be a form of Heart Anxiety.
Peace
Greenlydia  

[allmymarbles]

Are you subject to high-blood pressure? I ask because it is unusual for people who do not have blood-pressure problems to have blood-pressure cuffs in the house (and know how to use them);.