My systolic readings have been anywhere from 134 to 160.
My diastolic are pretty normal 76 to 80. Pulse 70 to 80.

Am taking 10 mg of Atenolol daily.

This keeps my heart rate down a bit because it was fast.

Was wondering why my systolic is so high. I am having daily headaches starting around noon and lasting until evening.
Last BP was 162/77----74 pulse

WORRIED. Should I be.

Anyone know what causes high systolic?

My systolic readings have been anywhere from 134 to 160.
My diastolic are pretty normal 76 to 80. Pulse 70 to 80.

Am taking 10 mg of Atenolol daily.

This keeps my heart rate down a bit because it was fast.

Was wondering why my systolic is so high. I am having daily headaches starting around noon and lasting until evening.
Last BP was 162/77----74 pulse

WORRIED. Should I be.

Anyone know what causes high systolic?


Twokatz,

What you are experiencing is what's called "pulse pressure". Yours appears to be rather wide well in excess of 70+ and that is what is probably causing the headaches. Was it this way BEFORE the Atenolol?
This could also be due to the very low dose of Atenolol as well because 10Mg. is not much and could be wearing off long before it should causing a rebound affect, thus headache, plus pulse pressure. Why the low dose?

IF your BP was ALWAYS like this even BEFORE the Atenolol then there could be another problem. Sometimes a CCB can correct this, at least that is what I have found in some research.

Low dose of Atenolol because heart rate would even be lower on more dosage. Think I will return to DR. Good info to present to him..Thankx Stumper

Twokatss

Low dose of Atenolol because heart rate would even be lower on more dosage. Think I will return to DR. Good info to present to him..Thankx Stumper

Twokatss


You are welcome.
I have used Atenolol actully quite a bit and when I lower the dosage, sometimes to about 6 Mg. (1/4 of a 25 Mg. tablet) it will wear off in about 6 hrs. Then I notice a slightly uncomfortable rebound ffect which sometimes can give me a "widened" pressure for a bit. But that is me.

There really is nothing wrong with a lower pulse rate just so it doesn't drag you down. One doc told me one time that my pulse rate of 45-47 was GOOD ! He wasn't alarmed and he was a "seasoned" doc, well into his 60's.

CCB's like Verapamil will also lower heart rate though not as drastic as a Beta blocker. Plus I personally noticed a CCB driving the numbers closer together which supports some info I have read .


Good luck. :)