When is it advisable to go for a stress test? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

kg21678 · 05-04-2009, 05:16 PM

I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure for over 2 years now (since i was 25). My BP was never excessively high, usually 140/80-130/90, but my doctor found it appropriate to be on bp meds. I have been having breathing problems and dizziness for these past 2 years and tightness in the chest. I have brought this up to my doctor, had ekg's done, blood work etc. and nothing has showed up. A friend of mine has a doctor for a father and he told me that if he were my doctor he would have sent me for a stress test since my bp has been going all over the place. I've had readings of 120/80-160/80. Also, even slight exertion such as running up the stairs causes me to feel out of breath. I have done my own "home testing" and have noticed that after a quick jog up the stairs and then a bp reading right after, my bp has jumped to 145/79 and then after 5 min down to 116/76. I have read where this can be angina during exercise but diagnosed usually through a stress test which my doctor keeps saying i don't need because he says my bp is under control and i am 27 years old. I must also say that recently during an MRI i nearly passed out, my face turned grey (According to the nurse) and my extremeties felt like they were going numb. I told them it felt warm while i was in the machine and i was getting tired, it was a seated mri and i felt a great deal of effort to stay seated in the straight up right position. they suggested i go to the hospital, and in the ambulance my bp was 112/72. When i got to the hospital it was in the 130/75-140/82 range. I just don't get it, what could be going on? I also feel chronic tightness in my legs and my whole body feels off, its usually difficult to stay standing for too long. What exactly constitutes going for a stress test?

caberg · 05-05-2009, 06:20 AM

Do you think some of your symptoms are anxiety-related?

I haven't been "diagnosed" with high BP (not sure what an official diagnosis would be), but I have had several high readings at the doctor's office and I range anywhere from totally normal (110s/70s) to high (140s/90). I think that mine is tied completely to anxiety/stress.

Anyway, I thought I was having chest pains too, so my doc suggested a stress test. I wanted to do it, partly just to see what it was like. I love to exercise, so it was kind of fun seeing how long I could last on the treadmill and how high I could get my heartrate. All checked out fine. I don't think the test was necessary, but it definitely made me feel better just knowing that the ticker is in good shape.

By the way, the chest pains that led to the stress test, I'm pretty sure are stress/anxiety related or some kind of musculoskeletal pain. After describing them to the cardiologist and taking the stress test, the cardio doc assured me that the pains were in no way heart related. If I feel a pain like that now, I don't even think twice about it, whereas before I was getting very stressed and anxious about every little chest pain.

Good luck!

Flutterbye77 · 05-05-2009, 07:01 AM

I have all those symptoms plus muscle aches. Thought it was my medication causing it and found out it was fibromyalgia. Yes ir causes all the symptoms you mentioned as well. Crazy isn't it? I went through ALL the heart tests, I was convinced it was heart realated and it wasn,t

kg21678 · 05-05-2009, 07:56 AM

caberg;

Hi, I do suffer from anxiety, but things have become worse over time. For example if i am seated im usually ok, but if i stand up i can't breath well, i get tightness in my chest and body, and my heart beats slow and hard. My phsyciatrist does not believe that any of this is caused by anxiety he believes my blood pressure medication might be the culprit, but I'm not a doctor so....I do know that i wake up Every single morning with tightness in my legs, back, chest and a very dry mouth. I usually take the bp med at night, but i don't know if this is the reason. I actually wake up in the morning feeling like my body is dying a slow death. I wouldn't mind pushing myself harder to exercise etc. but its hard when you can barely stay standing let a lone running.

caberg · 05-05-2009, 08:42 AM

I don't take any BP meds, so I don't have experience with side effects. In terms of using the results from a stress test to put your mind at ease, it worked for me and I think it is worth it. My doctor saw value in taking the test, even though I think he strongly suspected my heart was fine. After learning that my heart reacts well to exercise, I can really push myself in my cardio workouts without worrying about it, which in turn is good for my heart and helps relieve stress and anxiety and will hopefully help keep me off BP (and other) meds.