High Systolic BP

[Jillybeansmom]

I'm 49 years old, have been exercising regularly for 13-14 years, including running 25+ miles per week, and added resistance training in the last year.  I'm 5'4" and my weight averages 124 lbs.  I have had no periods for almost a year.  My blood pressure has always been good, but today I went for a check up at the doctor for a shoulder problem and my blood pressure was 150/70, heart rate was not quite 50.  I feel great..... recently ran a half marathon with time of 1:47.  So what's up with my BP? [Less]

[skydnsr]

I have read that ibuprofen and similar drugs can have a side of effect of causing blood pressure to be elevated, so perhaps that did play into it.  I don't know if etodolac is as bad about it as ibuprofen.  I'm guessing you probably don't want to go without anything for pain, so it will be hard to evaluate whether the NSAIDS are causing a problem.  And if you were to be in pain when you were totally off of NSAIDS, then there would be the possibility that the pain itself could have an effect on your b.p.  Well, maybe that high pressure won't come back.  We'll hope for that.

[Jillybeansmom]

Thank you very much for your responses.  I had my blood pressure taken again last evening and the systolic was 123, and this morning it was 119.  The high reading was probably a fluke, like you said.  I really appreciate your insight.  I had been concerned that I was taking too much Ibuprophen for the pain in my shoulder.... at least 800 mg/day for a long, long time (years).  The dr. prescribed Etodolac 500 mg bid.  Hopefully, the nsaids have not interfered with my blood pressure, but it was a concern.  
Thanks again!

[skydnsr]

I also agree with kenkeith's comments.  Particularly if you were in pain, the stress of the situation could cause a mild spike in your blood pressure.  And the elevated blood pressure would only be significant if it were to recur and become chronic.

[skydnsr]

A few possibilities come to mind, given your age.  One is that the blood pressure reading was just some kind of fluke, and it will not happen again.  In that case, no worries .  Who knows and who cares what happened.  

Another possibility is that perhaps you are simply developing essential hypertension, which is an extremely common condition.  There is no explanation of reason for it; it just happens to a lot of people.  It would be a bit unusual, although I don't think impossible, for it to develop in a relatively young, very fit person such as yourself.

Another possibility is that, if you happen to be taking estrogen replacement therapy, the estrogen can trigger high blood pressure.  Estrogen acts like a salt, when it comes to blood pressure.

A fourth possibility, and this would not even occur to me except that I myself got the diagnosis at exactly your age, is that of a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).   In that small percentage of people who have a bicuspid valve, the condition is often discovered when the person is in his or her 30's or 40's.  The stereotype of a newly-diagnosed BAV-er is a middle-aged person who is extremely active and fit.  There is a slim possibility of this condition in any given person.  The possibility is especially slim in females, as many more males have BAV than females.  Probably about 2% of people in the general population have BAV, and probably about half of that 2% will never have any symptoms and may never even know about it.  Of the remaining 1% of the population that has a BAV and is at least somewhat symptomatic, the majority are males.  So, as I say, it is a very slim possibility that you have a BAV, but it is something to keep in the back of your mind if you and your doctor can't get a handle on the blood pressure issue.

Others here on the forum may have additional thoughts.

[kenkeith]

Often the blood pressure may be higher than normal, but usually harmless and not medically significant.  The average would be more accurate.  Of course if it goes so high as to cause a stroke, etc. (bp >200) that would be an issue for concern.  There may have been some anxiety due to your shoulder problem and doctor visit.

Thanks for sharing, take care