blood pressure,getting higher with hypothyroidism

[debsiwebs]

Hi, since I was dx hypothyroid last December, I have noticed a gradual but definite increase in my blood pressure. For years, I had normal to low readings when neccessary, but recently the numbers are going up steadily. I was at my endo appt. the other day and my BP was 150/90. Is this a normal thing with Hypo...and should it get any higher, will I need treatment for it?

[debsiwebs]

Thankyou so very much for all your replies and words of wisdom. It's a really great comfort to know that it's not so unusual....and not imminently terminal!!!!  Also, I think I have been very depressed for a few months now, since the tragic death of my little brother.  The loss of him seems to be getting worse as time goes on and I do feel myself getting unusually stressed, when normally, I am very laid back and stressless. I do appreciate this forum so much, the support it offers at these times is priceless. Thankyou all again .

[Leigh1234]

Hi,

For what it's worth, my BP skyrocketed with hypothyroidism. (I also have adrenal insufficiency, so it seemed extra-weird at the time). I'm not totally regulated yet, but it has come down significantly with treatment.

Here's an excerpt from UMM's page on hypothyroidism:

"Mild high blood pressure. Hypothyroidism may slow the heart rate to less than 60 beats per minute, reduce the heart's pumping capacity, and increase the stiffness of blood vessel walls. All of these effects may lead to high blood pressure. Indeed, patients with hypothyroidism have triple the risk of developing hypertension. All patients with chronic hypothyroidism, especially pregnant women, should have their blood pressure checked regularly."

[goolarra]

My BP monitor is right on.  If it reads high, I'm dead.

[MANmom]

Another tip, those automatic blood pressure machines the techs use in the clinic are always much higher on me than a manual reading...ask for a manual reading, you may get a better reading.

[goolarra]

Well, don't go feeling too mortal just yet.  Mild HBP takes a long time to work its havoc.

It's hard to predict what the increase in meds will do to your BP.  However, the HBP started when you became hypo, so it might be reasonable to think that when your FT3 and FT4 get closer to "normal", it might also lower again.  I'm afraid you just might have to wait until you normalize to see.

The higher dose might initially raise your BP a tad until you acclimate to it.

I have a home monitor because I do have white coat symdrome...actually I think it's blood pressure cuff syndrome...the minute I see one coming at me I feel the BP start to go up. I really do think it's anxiety over having the BP taken, not anxiety over the appointment.   I often have higher readings in the earlier part of the day.  As the responsibilities drop away, so does the BP.  In the evening, it's regularly 80-something/50-something.  So, all over the place during the course of a day.

Also, I've noticed lately that a lot of the people who take my BP make a number of mistakes doing it.  You should be sitting quietly for at least 15 minutes prior to having it taken (no eating or drinking either) otherwise it's not a resting BP.  When they take it, your arm should be supported...you shouldn't have to hold it up.  And last but not least, they shouldn't scream and say 'YOU have high blood pressure'!  

Your endo wasn't concerned, so I'd try to relax about it a bit and see how things progress as you get your thyroid back into line.  Relaxing is really good for the BP.

Just a few things to think about...good luck.

[debsiwebs]

hello..thanks for replying. I was very surprised to see that my bp was going up over the last 2 months. I'm never nervous at medic appts. so I don't suffer white coat hyper.t.
My bp and hr have always been normal to low...until i was diagnosed hypo last december. I had discovered a lump in my throat which, after us and fna , turned out to be a nodule. Subsequent bloods gave the hypo dx four months later! tsh 49.5, (0.3-6.0)
Ft4 5.2 (8.6-17) No T3 taken, as here in uk  it's not normal procedure! Started on Levo 25 mcg in November. At that time, bp was 140/82. After 1 month of levo, Tsh was 5.0. Have no further results for bp or heart rate since I had it checked in Spanish chemist one month ago when it was 47/85. Then had my endo appt last monday and it was 150/90. I asked the endo but she didn't seem too concerned. I am still hyposymptomatic...so I have requested a T3 test along with the t4 and tsh. She has also doubled my dose of levo now...but i still have to have the bloods done. Will this increase in meds make my bp even higher still? I don't know what my heart rate is. I'm sorry if I'm rambling but I am actually, for the first time throughout this condition, starting to get scared. One always thinks life goes on forever..but since Monday's bp result, I'm feeling quite mortal.

[chel 81]

I have hypothyroidism and have always had low BP and a low heart rate even long before I became hypothyroid, while I was suffering untreated for thyroid disease, and after I was diagnosed and became well on my perfect dose. My BP never once changed through everything until I became ill again (got a second case of mono that relapsed my hypothyroidism that became unresponsive to thyroid medication). When my thyroid went out of whack for the second time my BP climbed tremendously. I think that it has something to do with the weight gain for me because it was very sudden. Also, my cholesterol went from an HDL level of 85 (stellar health) to 57 in 3 months- dangerous drop. I think that could have had something to do with it. I know that they say that "typically" hypo = low BP, low pulse but life is not a textbook and there are people who do react opposite and can end up with high BP and a high or low pulse while still being hypo.

[MANmom]

I do not have hypo, but my blood pressure went up, so I went to the doc and I found a problem with my nodules.  Have you had an ultrasound to look for nodules?  I just had three of the four of mine removed and my blood pressure has gone down, so much so that I will discuss getting off medication with my doctor on Monday.  It is worth at least asking some questions.

[goolarra]

Usually hypothyroidism is associated with LOW blood pressure.  However, if your heart rate drops sufficiently (bradycardia) due to the hypothyroidism, then HIGH blood pressure can result to compensate for the low heart rate.  Do you know what your HR has done in the same time period?  Were you nervous at your endo appointment...that can get your BP up...always works for me!  Do you have your latest FT3, FT4 and TSH results and their reference ranges?  Maybe you need a slight meds tweak to get your HR up and BP down?  You might be able to manage the BP with your thyroid meds.