Hi :)
I was recently referred to a cardiololgist and am happy to report he thinks there is not a problem so I need to look elsewhere for what causes intermittent chest pain.
The only thing a little amiss was my bloodpressure which was borderline high. (I always used to have bp on the low side - but I am a lot heavier these days)
Hubby has a BP machine which he bought when he was dxd with angina - so I've been trying it out at home. Now for the question:
What does it mean if the diastolic number is quite high but the systolic isn't too bad?? I've used search engines but haven't come up with an answer. I've had several readings of 138/98 which is a bit weird.
Thanks - Scottie :)
Hi Scottie,
I've had high blood pressure since I turned 30 (thanks for those genes, Mom and Dad). My doctor told me that it is labeled high if either number is above what they consider an average range.
One of the first things I'd do is take the machine with you next time you go to the doctor so you can test its accuracy. The diastolic on mine is 10 points higher than what the nurses measure so I take that into account.
Secondly, if it's correct and you're on hbp meds, you should be trying something different. The med trials were the worst part of it for me. So many different categories and types of medication exist that it takes a while to find what works with your body. I finally found the right cocktail (HCTZ and Amlodipine); it's been working for 5 years now.
Good luck!
MB
The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures is referred to as "pulse pressure" and in a text book ideal of 120/80, the pulse pressure is 40 mg/hg. With a BP of 138/98, the pulse pressure is still 40, but normal BP has a wider range of systolic than diastolic, so less than 140 systolic (textbook + 20) is OK, but greater than 95 diastolic (textbook +15) is considered high.
Most of the time, concerns about narrow pulse pressure only arise with notable elevation of the systolic pressure, or with a documented history of aortic valve problems, restrictive pericarditis, or cardiac injury.
Scottie, My hubby had the kind of elevated blood pressure that was affecting the lower number more. It would even go over 100 sometimes. He also had an upper number that would creep up over 150 off and on.
He was first diagnosed with high blood pressure when the dentist took his pressure back in 1978. It was 180/120 early in the morning. He was started on hypertensive meds that week and has been on them ever since.
He started with the triamterene/hctz. This is the same as Maxide or Dyazide and is a very, very old drug that is still sort of the best of the best. I have read articles about it stating that many people have had their libes prolonged because of this drug. I don't know all the answers, but I know that for some reason this drug prolongs life.
When I was working in long term care some of the patients that came into the nursing home said they had been on the drug since "after the war" and they were referring to WWII.
Nowdays they start people on blood pressure medications much sooner as it helps to prevent the heart and blood vessels from being so stressed. Hope that you docs treat you if you continue to have elevated pressure. Did you have the "white coat syndrome" when you went to the cardiologist???? Good luck. Irish ;D
Scottie, did you ever get your bp straightened out?
Hi Scottie - I don't have any good BP info to share. But, I had mystery chest pain for a long time. I seriously felt like I was having a heart attack, 1-2 per week. After a lot of run around, EKG, bloodwork they realized I had H-Pylori, therefore an ulcer. The ulcer was causing pain to radiate through my chest like electric shocks! Getting on pantoprazole cleared it all up. Not sure if that might be your problem but it may be something to check out.
Good luck!
KellyG
Quote from: KellyG999 on November 27, 2011, 08:00:26 PM
Hi Scottie - I don't have any good BP info to share. But, I had mystery chest pain for a long time. I seriously felt like I was having a heart attack, 1-2 per week. After a lot of run around, EKG, bloodwork they realized I had H-Pylori, therefore an ulcer. The ulcer was causing pain to radiate through my chest like electric shocks! Getting on pantoprazole cleared it all up. Not sure if that might be your problem but it may be something to check out.
Good luck!
KellyG
So it's not bothering you anymore? Great for you!!!
Systolic measures the force of blood coming out of the heart and can indicate if there's any resistance in the blood vessels. Diastolic measures the pressure when the heart is relaxed (after pushing blood out).
Nara - yes, after a round of strong antibiotics and double doses of pantoprazole, it went away. I still occasionally get a twinge of the chest pain, so I bump up my dose for a week or so, per the doc. It's the ONE thing I have actually had correctly identified and treated!!!
'bout durn time too!! I wish my docs could figure out a few things going on with me but I'm not holding my breath and learning patience. It'll come when it's time.
Hi, Scottie. You have your thyroid disease to thank for hypertension. High cholesterol, too. :-\
Hi :)
Well I've been taking my BP over the last few weeks and have come to the conclusion it's really variable but is pretty well OK most of the time. It does tend to be up when I come home from work but borderline high rather than badly high. A lot of the time it's quite low for my age.
Thyroid meds certainly brought my cholesterol level down.
Thanks - Scottie :)