Tachy when doing nothing and high diastolic b/p

[mom4cem]

I have been a bit more tachy than usual lately. It has been jumping up when I get up and move around and it was high today at work(I stand outside with schoolkids during lunch for 2 hours). Those tachy's I expect.

I have been having tachy just sitting sometimes, it's not jumping to a high rate right away but gradually going up and peaking then going down and staying in the upper 90's for hours then.

Was wondering, if one's diastolic(lower number) is higher while feeling tachy is it because of the tachy or is it because the b/p was dropping and the body is trying to compensate and raises the b/p and the tachy follows? I don't normally have high b/p. Last reading in the Dr. office last Thurs it was 100/60 but it usually is higher lately. Even today it was 90/85 or 110/88. I know those are not terrible numbers but I never used to even reach past the 80's. Dr. knows all this and is not concerned but I am.

Just wondering if there is any correlation with a higher diastolic b/p and tachy, dysautonmia issues.

Thanks for any info!

[Poohbear]

Well....my heart rate and bp are all over the place and I get every combination you could think of.

I also get tachy sometimes sitting or even lying down. Recently, while in the hospital I had tachy rates of 178-180 while lying flat on my back not doing anything.

I understand your concern though. I think your Dr is probably right in that your BP, though it may not be normal for you, is not so "off" yet that it would be causing a problem. When I have events like this I just document it and take it to the Dr so they have a clear picture of what is happening. Even when I have really high spikes the Dr's often don't have anything to offer me because it doesn't spike and stay high.

I don't see how you stand that long at lunchtime though. Is is possible you are having these tachy episodes because you're body is fighting to recouperate?

This kind of thing happens with me sometimes....I'm fine in the moment when standing in line but when I get to sit it's like my heart tries to adjust and can't find the "right place" (makes sense when you consider the ANS to be the "regulator" and by standing for a long time and then sitting the "regulator" is all messed up trying to figure out where it needs to be)

Good luck but know that you aren't alone

[melly4]

My 13-yr-old's HR and BP is like Poorbear's...all over the place. When he is upright, his BP will be anywhere from 140/110 to 170/110, and then drop suddenly. His HR goes from the low 100's when he has immediately stood up, and then goes into the 140's when he's been standing for a long period of time. I don't know the exact etiology of this. I know when exercising,that the top number normally goes up for some people, but the bottom number should remain about the same. I don't think your physician is worried unless diastolic starts climbing over 90. Physicians follow guidelines for "normal" BP values for people, going anywhere from borderline to severe hypertension. Of course, for us "dysautonomiacs", nothing is normal!!

I didn't understand from your post. Are you taking you BP at home? It's a good idea. If you feel that you are experiencing a change, then keep a journal of daily readings. If your BP is getting higher, it would be helpful to your doctor to see this trend. What's normal for one person isn't for another.

I hope you feel better. Those tachy episodes create so much alarm and fatigue.

Take care,

Melly

[mom4cem]

Thanks you two. It is, well not that I want to put it this way, but it is nice to know one is not alone.

Melly, I do check my b/p at home as well as my heartrate. Not sure that is always a good idea though. I may become more neurotic and worry about things that I probably should not, but oh well, that's me.

I was curious since so many have low b/p most if not all of the time.

Thanks again!

[goldicedance]

I think you are right on target about the spike in blood pressure. I would think that if you had to stand much longer your blood pressure would fall and you would become a true victim of POtS. How do you manage to stand during those times? Do you walk around? Can you sit down? I find it easier to walk than to stand in one place--like waiting in a line is a disaster for me.

Speaking about standing...I was ready to sign myself up for a Stand Strong event in Washington with Lance Armstrong and his team honoring cancer survivors when i read the fine print...must be able to stand for 45 minutes. Talk about a downer. You would think they would have a way to make a "special accommodation." Oh well, I guess I will have to wait for a Sit Strong event.

Good luck! Lois

[Guest Finrussak]

I am trying to get thru another Lyme die-off which has my OI really flaring so I have limited pc/upright time these days. [so forgive the blocks in coherence-Ill try to make it as readable as I can]However your post caught my eye as Ive been searching for the very same answers for years. My BP also has diastolic spikes with or right after a tachy session. Finally found some physiologist at med school with patience to tell me a few things:

-Normally,the systolic often rises in response to same stuff as heart rate ( adrenalin etc), which is why beta blockers can work to bring both down.

-Diastolic rises when the blood vessels dont relax after the contraction beat. It can mean a loss of tone of the vessels themselves, or that the body is trying to compensate and cant quickly do it or even that its takling longer for the compensation. It can also mean a faulty chemical response. apparently the systolic system responds faster

Of course this is for "normals"...no telling what mess POTS/OI people have

-whats more important than actual numbers ( unless theyre of course very highor low) is the PULSE PRESSURE= the difference between numbers.

-pulse pressure is usually 35-40 ( 120/80, so 120-80=40)

-IF the pulse pressure falls too much it means the blood isnt really pulsing where it has to, is stagnating tho flowing and therefore can also mean higher risk of clots and other probs.constant pulsing with no relaxation..constant pressure gradients-

a too close pulse pressure is often stated as less than 25-30 but of course varies with persons and conditions, meds etc.

It can also mean the heart isnt relaxing which can strain it into other serious probs..

in my own case, Ive been told to get to DR if my pulse pressure falls to 25 or less ( as in 120/95 or even 130/105 or even 110/85) as u can see, this may not be "hypertensive"....just numbers too close together--

I have also been told that I should call dr ( or go to er) with tachy over 140 for over 20-30 min and/or BP over 155/110 for more than 30-45 min..I am 48 and long history of chronic illness etc., currently no meds to control the highs..so a spike can add another 20-30 pts!!!..so this is FOR ME!!

Of course I usually wait a bit longer, hoping to break it with relaxation methods and breathing exercises and hawthorne teas...this often saves me a trip by ambulance which only adds to the numbers making it worse than it already is!!! Plus I am unfortunately one of the few who betas are worse so nothing except fluids and "watching"me can be done unless I have a stroke or clot or heart problem...so why bother...

hope this helps a little

[mom4cem]

That is interesting. I have read about pulse pressure. I wonder if it pertains during spikes or if it really is more for hypertensive patients. What I mean is that blood pressure can vary over the course of a day. Just as they don't consider on hypertensive unless they get consecutive readings at visits that are high. So for us who are not exactly "normal" and go through periods of highs/lows can we really apply this for us, especially if it is not like that day to day? As I type I am going through a high episode. When I check it is either 120/85 or goes to 110/82 aroun there.

Thanks for the info.

[Guest Finrussak]

I can only relay what my own docs said...that pulse pressure describes a state of the cardiovascular system and even if dynamic (changing) it still can represent a problem, even if not "hyper" or "hypo" tensive by frank number measurements. Of course measuremtns of any dynamic system should be over several days or weeks at different times and under different circumstances/activites. then see a pattern. If your pulse pressures are almost always too close (or too close always with a certain activity, like standing) it can very well mean something and I think important enough to tell your Dr...especially one who understands fully the cardiovascular system!!!! Someitmes a specialist in hypertension ( nephrologist or renal cardiovascular specialists) understands this better than cardiologists even if not hypertensive!

[EarthMother]

I've noticed a lot of weird spikes recently as well -- and I've decided to stop taking my bp because as you said it doesn't always help to know.

Sometimes even during a sitting meditation my pulse will start to go 100+. But I otherwise feel calm. So I've been trying to rely more on how I am feeling than on what my mind wants to interpret as a problem.

Another thing I've noticed is that even thou I may look like I am doing nothing ... in some cases these tachy episodes occur an within an hour or so after eating. Then I remember ... I am digesting. And a higher pulse is normal for me and my POTS while I digest food.

Either way, as I have been able to relax, accept and allow it to pass in it's own time .... it has and I don't seem to be worse for where. Ofcourse my doctor's regularly check me out and assure me that my symptoms are normal for POTS. But it is so reassurring to know here on the boards that we are not alone.

From a fellow mother of 3, good luck on your healing journey.

EM