Confused with my BP - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

nuttygirl · 04-03-2007, 09:12 AM

Hi!
Well, I take atenolol 25mg once daily. It was mainly prescribed for tachycardia, not my bp and also pvc's but it doesn't really help with that. I was on 50mg but my bp was 90/50 and my pulse 50 so my doctor lowered it and my bp went to 105/62 on average with my pulse being in the 60's. I only notice it goes up during exertion. Well, I've been feeling bad and having a headache for 3 days now and I took my bp and the top number is still good at 107 and my pulse is 61 but my bottom number is 79 - higher than it's been before except during exercise. Should I be concerned about this just because it's not normal for me and because it's only the bottom number and not both? Maybe the atenolol isn't working well anymore? I can't increase because it goes too low as does my pulse. Should I even call my doctor to make an appt. or just keep an eye on it? Would this be causing my headache for 3 days? Are there any vitamins, minerals or supplements aside from the nasty diet type stuff that would cause an increase in the bottom number only? I do take quite a few.

A lot of questions, I'm sorry!! =)

Thanks,
Tori

I have 2 BP machine. One is a wrist cuff and the other an arm cuff automatic. When I use the wrist cuff it's high and then I tried the arm cuff and it's fine......could it just be the machine is off?

tfkeel · 04-03-2007, 05:26 PM

It's pretty normal for your BP to rise when you don't feel well. 107/79 is sure not anything to worry about. I don't believe this BP will cause your headache, my guess would be that whatever is causing your BP to rise is also causing your headache.

It is quite normal for your pulse rate to rise during exertion.

Please don't stop taking Atenolol suddenly. I think you are probably aware of the "rebound" effect of a fast pulse and high BP.

If it were me, I sure wouldn't call the doctor about this, of course, I wouldn't want you to substitute my judgement for your own. You are the one who knows your body the best, and if you are concerned that this points to a problem, there is certainly no harm in consulting your doc about it.

Diet can raise your BP. If your salt intake is higher than normal, that can do it. Fluid retention also has an effect, as well as how much fluid intake you have. I am not familiar with the actions of vitamins, I will defer that to other posters.

famnd · 04-03-2007, 07:28 PM

Hi NG,

You need to take both of your b/p monitors to your Dr. or to the ER (they often will take your b/p for free if they aren't too busy-I've both that before) to make sure they are accurate. It is important to use your cuff first to take your b/p at the Dr's otherwise you might get an inaccurate reading because the Dr's cuff collapses the blood vessel. This prevents your monitor from working because it measures b/p by sound waves.

A 2nd way is to have the nurse take your b/p with her machine & then wait at least 5 min before taking your b/p with your monitor. Which ever way you do it, remember that you are just looking for your b/p reading to be in a range not exactly the same.

When got my cozaar reaction & my hands were damaged I could no longer use my mercury type b/p machine. So I started testing different brands of b/p monitors. I thought they were all defective until I called one company & found out the above problem. Fam

famnd · 04-03-2007, 07:46 PM

Hi again,

I doubt if your Dr. would be concerned unless your diastolic (2nd no.) gets to 90. How have you being taking this drug? I wonder if it could be side effect of the drug. Do you often get headaches? Fam

nuttygirl · 04-04-2007, 07:53 AM

I've been on it for 8 yrs and yes, I get headaches quite often as well as cold hands and feet and othet little things....