Can Anemia Affect Your Blood Pressure! - Anemia Message Board

dona129 · 10-19-2004, 03:03 PM

Hello....I have been on iron for two months...and feel sooooo much better....

but now i am having a very heavy cycle.....which i have not been having.....and am feeling drained again....soooo annoying.....

anyway....blood pressure has been up....especially if i do things.....160's over 90's....can anemia affect your blood pressure!!!!!

KritterKeeper · 10-20-2004, 04:30 AM

I doubt it. You need to have it checked. Are you taking any medications (including over the counter)? My hematologist explained to me that iron plays a role in constriction of the blood vessels. He said that once iron levels return to normal most women's cycles get lighter. I found that to be true even though my cycles were rarely heavy they did get lighter when my iron levels improved. I have also been experiencing a rise in blood pressure but ony by about 10 points--used to be 120/70 now 130/90. But I think mine is due to other factors. My iron goes up and way down all the time!

homeandlovingit · 10-23-2004, 04:42 PM

You know, I've been wondering the same thing. I'm suffering from anemia from excessive periods and have also been dealing with high blood pressure. My doctor put me on a diuretic to help with the blood pressure, but I'm totally wiped out right now. I'm hoping that it's just a period of adjustment and that things will improve over time. I have lost a couple of pounds after months of feeling horribly bloated, so maybe there's something to it all. If your red cells are pale and not very healthy, wouldn't your body have to work harder to pump blood to the places that it needs to go to provide oxygen? I'm not a medical person, but it would seem to make sense that somehow the two interact. And of course..., I always wonder what my iron level is when I'm feeling so tired.