High Blood Pressure? anyone?

[Wobbly]

Hi there, my GP took my Blood Pressure today, as I told him my heart beats so quickly at nightime and it can wake me..I can feel it in my neck and ears...fast and hard...I'm also short of breath at times lately.. also vision has been worse.. he checked my BP it's usually 120/80 ish... now it 150/95..said it abit higher...could be from age, or from whatever they are looking for... we will keep track of it and that is all he said.

I'm overweight and gather if I lost some weight and watched my salt intake it might help...just guessing from what I see online.  

Is this a common thing for people...with or without MS?  Would this have anything to do with my symptoms or brain lesion?  I had it abit high a couple of years ago, but not for long..not this high too.. Not sure if I should worry about this, or start looking in new direction?  not sure what to think of this..

any ideas

thanks
wobbly
undx

[GrannyJo6]

Hi! I have also been on BP meds for about 10 years. Sometimes it takes awhile to figure out which meds work the best if you need to go there. It can be high from stress (white coat syndome), illness, pain or the dreaded weight gain and lack of exercise. I lost almost 20 pounds and exercise three days a week and it is now pretty normal. She keeps me on a low dose to help my kidneys. Anyway, don't be discouraged. Lots of people have high blood pressure unfortunately! Take it one step at a time!

Do invest in a good BP machine for home. I had one for awhile that I thought was pretty good, but it was registering way too low! Yikes! I now have a better one and if I am needing to keep an eye on it, I stop by the Fire Station near me and have them take it. They are pros at it!

Best wishes! Jo

[LATW]

I was 16 years old when I went on medication for high blood pressure. I am 46 now and have never been off of bp meds but my blood pressure is well controlled. .

I am on medications for MS symptoms that say they may cause hypo tension but NOPE not for me.

LA

[PastorDan]

I also should have noted that my home blood pressure monitor is great.  I did spring for one that inflates automatically, because I have some trouble with the hand joints and don't think squeezing a rubbber buld would be of much help.  I checked it against the doctor's office readings once, and they were impressed with how close it was.  Also of note was that it stores my readings in memory automatically, so I can scroll back and see when it climbed or dropped.

[Wobbly]

thanks everyone, I will track these as two different things and will keep track of my BP... as well as waiting for my other tests for the other part... thanks for being here friends... you are here when I know alot of you have so much on your plates as well..

I will take your advise on this.. and keep you guys updated of course..
take care
wobbly
undx

[rendean]

I have been treated for high BP since I was 22 (many, many moons ago :-). I have also had several others health factors even before the MS symptoms.

As Shell said, keep the two separate. The BP stands alone as a separate condition. You need to keep an eye on it and check it reguarly. Ditto the reccomendations regarding diet and exercise.

Good luck,
Ren

[PastorDan]

My BP had never been high, except for a couple of episodes when I was in extreme pain.  However, it took a substantial jump this January.  Doc now has me on Norvasc, which I had used for arrhythmia many years ago.  It's probably going to be bumped up in dosage next week, as it helped some, but not as much as hoped.

[sllowe]

Hey Wobbly,

Long time, no chat - sorry about that!

Please look into this.  Prolonged high BP is not good for your heart or your brain.  As far as I know, MS should not be the cause of high BP.

Do what you can on your own to keep it low like you said, low salt, diet, etc.  But, youu Dr. should be recommend a cardio work up if it remains high. Now, you've been with us for a long while now Andie, and I don't want you going and getting yourself all worked up over the cause of your lesions.  

You know I'm not yelling at you when I say this....just know you have your share of evidence of MS related things (right?).  For now, just see what you can do to keep it low, pursue a cardio if need be.  And, don't let anyone get the 2 different issues confused if that ends up being the case.

Here for you!
shell

[Wobbly]

thanks for the info and I will watch for the spikes in my BP...and how I'm feeling.. just incase one has to do with the other...

I hope you feel better soon and things get better soon... so you can come back and chat online.. we do miss you here and all of us hope you will return soon..

take care
wobbly
undx

[wishforchange]

Hi,

Rooting around a few posts before I disappear again for a little while, hopefully.  Thank you so much for thinking of me over the last months and greeting me on my return.

Occasional high BP is not too much to worry about, it is when it remains high, even at rest, for many months, that it needs to be addressed.  Any factor could be causing temporary raise, which is highish but not too bad.  Forgotten your age sorry.  Of course being overweight does not help, neither does a poor diet, or worry.

The palpitations on lying down may be a digestive problem, do you eat late at night?  Or there may be some structural stress if for example your back is not straight, many causes, many not too much to be concerned about.  But always worth having an ECG to look for abnormalites, and if there is breathlessness, even a chest x-ray.  If anything is out of line there are further tests such as an echo of your heart, not a major procedure, is just an ultrasound, or blood work which can test if your heart has been under any great strength for about a month previously.

My BP goes throught the roof when I am too long without pain relief, and then settles immediately on the pain relief working.  Have alarmed several doctors with my readings, and then on them taking further readings after I have sorted out the pain they realise it is not a permanent state.  Not a good example though, as I do have some cardiac problems anyway.

Of course some brain lesions can affect the heart, they can affect anything.  But first it needs to be established whether your heart and lungs ARE being affected.  Then it makes sense to look at possible reasons.  If these spikes are up and down, then it may be inane.

There is one other condition that can cause spiking of blood pressure, and that is adrenal gland problems, such as a growth.  Very rare, very unlikely, and it would not really fit with you gaining weight, you would more likely be losing it, so maybe shelve that one for the moment.

Keep well and keep on top of your readings.  With this always better to errr on the side of caution than find out only after a major event.  But without knowing all, I somehow feel on this side you're okay.  But you know the whole story, trust your own instincts, even above your medical professionals.  We all know a lot more about ourselves than many doctors give us credit for, and it is about survival, not from reading or talking.  You do what you think is right.

wish

[HVAC]

I changed my diet gradually over years and find I can't stand things I thought I could not live without. Coffee is my last hold out and I am drinking less of it. My husband has always had good nutrition being an athlete and I have gradually gone towards his choices.

I am looking into something in the pool. May be aerobics through Parks and Recreation.

Do not beat yourself up that will only make things worse. Do what you can. The MS Society has lending DVD of chair exercises.
Take care
Alex

[Wobbly]

thanks for the reply... I guess I should try to excercise some how...now that I have my roller walker I'll be using that more to walk.. and watch my salt..I love salt... I'll try alternative too... thansk
maybe we will buy a at home monitor for BP... and keep track of my husband as well as me.. he is on BP meds already, but doesn't talk about his BP...typical for him... heheheh

take care
wobbly
undx

[Mand125]

Hi Wobbly
Several months ago a routine bp test showed my blood pressure to be the same as yours - 150/95.

They were concerned enough to have me see the nurse for weekly checks, it didn't change from that reading so after 3 weeks I had to see my GP.

He wasn't unduly concerned, told me the usual, watch my weight and try to exercise more and see him again in six months.

My concern was the beta interferon was causing this but the doc said it wasn't.
Mand