Hello,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
I understand your concerns and anxiety.
You're on correct set of drugs which should keep your BP under control. You do seem to have terrible anxiety while the BP is evaluated and such anxiety can lead to very high BP causing an alarm. Up to a point that you have been put on 2 medicines for BP.
Apart from this anxiety symptoms when your BP is evaluated, do you have any other symptoms such as chest pain, giddiness or headache? If you don't, it shows your BP is fine and goes up only when somebody is about to check it. At 180/120 if BP was persistently maintained at that level, you will definitely have symptoms.
So do not worry about BP being stuck at that level. You just need to overcome your anxiety. If you overcome that all your problems will be solved. Rather BP will be normal with no further chances of heart disease.
Hope this was helpful,
Regards.
Patient replied :
I have no other symtoms than those from the anxiety. In a wider perspective I am a person worried about all kinds of disease. So you can see that those numbers 180/120 scare me. And to the point that I don't dare check again (ever). I just need reassurance. My heart rate was 133 when the bp was 180/120 and normally my heart rate is 60-75. Can it still spike that much even though I am on meds??
Hello,
Yes even if you do take medicines sudden periods of anxiety will lead to a lot of corticosteroid release in the blood stream leading to increased BP. It is just what happens during exercise. Even if you are on well controlled medicines, your BP will rise during exercise.
So please do not worry.
Your biggest problem is your anxiety. And you need to overcome that.
You can talk to a psychologist who will teach you some meditation and relaxing techniques. I feel this will help you.
Regards.
Patient replied :
So, you feel that I could just forget about the 180/120?
Hello,
Yes, you should not worry.
Rather try to avoid anxiety as far as possible. It can in future lead to secondary hypertension.
Regards.
Patient replied :
Thanks. So the problem now is only: I will never dare to check BP again so we just have to trust that it is lower when anxiety and HR is lower..:?
I have understood that HR and BP are not necessarily related, but you still say that I can be calm if my HR is normal. Could you please explain? Also, since I started medications I feel my pulse at the wrist and neck is softer than before (when relaxed). It still is soft and not 'hammering' (if not anxious). Good sign?
Yes you need to overcome this fear most importantly.
I can assure you, with a normal HR ( 60-75 ) there is really nothing to be worried about.
I can say that if Pulse and BP are both are raised it could be a pointer towards anxiety. Anyways medications can bring your bp back to normal even if you are actually an hypertensive. So take tour medications and practice relaxation.
Regards
Dr Vivek Mahajan