How dangerous are SPIKES?

[red-rider]

Spikes are triggered by many things. Meds that dont work~a heavy/salty meal~exercising~stress and sometimes for no reason. I have had spikes on all 3 meds I have taken-Tenormin-Accupril-and Diovan. When I have one anxiety sets in and automatically my BP soars(beyond the spike level). My doc told me not to worry about 150's and 160'over 90's. Yesterday I had a spike 175/101 with pulse staying over 100. It scared me so bad that I could not settle down! After a hot bath it was 204/103~I flipped my wig! Part of it is that my Diovan is not working anymore and the other part is that the anxiety takes over and keeps my BP really high! Can a person have a stroke or heart attack from BP spikes?~ namely those "fueled" by anxiety? I called the doc at the minor med clinic first thing this a.m. to report what happened~he is the one who refilled my Diovan just last week. I wanted to request a new med~I called 3 times and no one ever called me back All this scared me(and my husband to death). I dont know if I was in "danger" but it felt like it. Thoughts-comments are welcome!
RR

[Lenin]

red-rider,
First order of business is to replace the Diovan. I don't get any control from an ARB either so I understand. In fact, I wouldn't even waste the money by taking something IN ADDITON to Diovan.(Of course that's what your doctor will try to push...make sure the HCTZ Rx is separate !)
I am in the large minority, maybe 25%, who are "salt-sensitive" or "low-renin" hypertensive and if I treat my low renin with something that blocks the effect of renin I get SQUAT in BP control! I must either limit my salt (diet) or force it out (diuretic).
I choose the diuretic which is cheap and easy.
For people like us (if indeed you are low-renin) thiazides work like GANG BUSTERS... give HCTZ it a try, maybe 50 mg. once a day, and see what numbers you get.

No, the OCCASIONAL foray slightly over 200 won't blow an artery, they are pretty flexible, or we would all be dropping dead when first someone goes BOOO or the stock you bought yesterday goes into the toilet today...of course, with an aneurism all bets are off.
It's EXTREMELY damaging over the long haul though and if you are seeing these spikes with regularity (like more often than once a month) it behooves you to take action to get your BP lower. Get some thiazide and sell the Diovan on e-bay!

[redherring]

Originally Posted by red-rider

Spikes are triggered by many things. Meds that dont work~a heavy/salty meal~exercising~stress and sometimes for no reason. I have had spikes on all 3 meds I have taken-Tenormin-Accupril-and Diovan. When I have one anxiety sets in and automatically my BP soars(beyond the spike level). My doc told me not to worry about 150's and 160'over 90's. Yesterday I had a spike 175/101 with pulse staying over 100. It scared me so bad that I could not settle down! After a hot bath it was 204/103~I flipped my wig! Part of it is that my Diovan is not working anymore and the other part is that the anxiety takes over and keeps my BP really high! Can a person have a stroke or heart attack from BP spikes?~ namely those "fueled" by anxiety? I called the doc at the minor med clinic first thing this a.m. to report what happened~he is the one who refilled my Diovan just last week. I wanted to request a new med~I called 3 times and no one ever called me back All this scared me(and my husband to death). I dont know if I was in "danger" but it felt like it. Thoughts-comments are welcome!
RR

I agree with Lenin here. Get thee to the doctor and switch your meds!

[Mellie310]

Hi, I'm so new to this forum, but I feel for you. I've been having b/p spikes as well, albeit not as high as yours. But I do know THIS.....anxiety isn't helping them any. If I see one number higher than I think I should, I panic, and my b/p just keeps rising. My husband is my comforter, and he helps me relax and once I'm relaxed it slowly starts dropping. Would you consider taking an anti-anxiety medication? Maybe anxiety is what's causing the spikes in the first place. I doubt if this helps any, but I hope it does.

Good luck.

Melanie

[Machaon]

Originally Posted by red-rider

My doc told me not to worry about 150's and 160'over 90's.

Your doctor is an idiot.

Does your doctor know how many hours per day that your bp is about 150's and 160's over 90's? I doubt it. Do you? Is your blood pressure higher during day time hours, or during the night time?

The more hours per day, that your blood pressure is high like that, then the more harmful it is to your health.

Yesterday I had a spike 175/101 with pulse staying over 100. It scared me so bad that I could not settle down! After a hot bath it was 204/103~I flipped my wig!

How often is your blood pressure spiking? For how many hours? Does it get that high every day?

Part of it is that my Diovan is not working anymore and the other part is that the anxiety takes over and keeps my BP really high!

Anxiety, or stress, could be among the reasons for your blood pressure problems. Blood pressure medications attempt to block or inhibit the effects of anxiety and stress (among other things) on blood pressure.

If your doctor won't take your blood pressure problems seriously, can you switch to a better doctor?