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What Causes Erratic Blood Pressure

Good Sleep Can Prevent And Manage High Blood Pressure

Is your Blood Pressure Device showing – Irregular Heartbeat?

Most people experience a dip in blood pressure during the deepest stage of sleep , which is the body’s normal and healthy reaction to sleep. Not having that nighttime dip is a risk factor for heart disease and may increase daytime blood pressure.

Typically people spend 90 minutes to two hours in slow wave sleep per night. A recent study published in Hypertension found that men who got less slow wave sleep each night were a higher risk for hypertension than men who got more deep sleep.

While sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, and age can both affect the amount of deep sleep you get, there are steps you can take to ensure a good night’s sleep. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and being more active during the day can help improve the quality of your sleep.

Should You Worry About Fluctuating Blood Pressure

Small changes in your blood pressure are not a problem. Thats normal because of many different things can affect your blood pressure.

But fluctuating blood pressure that changes a lot between these categories is concerning. The categories of blood pressure in adults are as follows:

Health Status
High Blood Pressure Stage 2 160 + 100 +

Fluctuating blood pressure in the elderly is concerning. These fluctuations can be a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. It can also put you at risk of stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney failure.

Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure during your annual checkup. And he will track any trends or fluctuations that happen from year to year.

What Natural Remedies Therapies And Supplements Lower Blood Pressure

Alternative therapies may be helpful to people trying to control their blood pressure.

  • Acupuncture and biofeedback are well-accepted alternative techniques that may help some people with high blood pressure.
  • Techniques that induce relaxation and reduce stress are recommended. These include meditation, yoga, and relaxation training.
  • These techniques alone may not control high blood pressure for many people. They should not be used as a substitute for medical therapy without first consulting with your health care practitioner.

Dietary supplements and alternative medications and therapies are sometimes recommended for high blood pressure.

  • Examples include vitamins, garlic, fish oil, L-arginine, soy, coenzyme Q10, herbs, phytosterols, and chelation therapy.
  • While these substances may be beneficial, the exact nature of their benefits is not known.
  • Scientific studies have produced no evidence that these therapies lower blood pressure or prevent the complications of high blood pressure.
  • Most of these substances are harmless if taken in moderate doses. Most people can take them without problems.
  • Talk to your health care practitioner if you are considering any of these treatments. Substituting these therapies for medical therapies that have been shown to lower blood pressure and the risk of complications may have a harmful effect on your health.

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Classification Of Blood Pressure

Blood pressure in adults is classified as normal, elevated blood pressure, stage 1 hypertension, or stage 2 hypertension.

However, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk of complicationseven within the normal blood pressure rangeso these limits are somewhat arbitrary.

A hypertensive urgency is diastolic blood pressure that is more than 120 mm Hg but has not yet caused any organ damage that is apparent to people or their doctors. A hypertensive urgency usually does not cause symptoms.

A hypertensive emergency is a particularly severe form of high blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure is at least 120 mm Hg, and there is evidence of progressive damage in one or more vital organs , often accompanied by a variety of symptoms. Hypertensive emergencies are uncommon, but they are several times more common among blacks than among whites, among men than among women, and among people in lower socioeconomic groups than among those in higher socioeconomic groups. If untreated, a hypertensive emergency can be fatal.

Heart Attack And Heart Disease

Erratic blood pressure in fsgs cause and treatment

High blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. In addition, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause:

  • Chest pain, also called angina.
  • Heart attack, which happens when the blood supply to your heart is blocked and heart muscle begins to die without enough oxygen. The longer the blood flow is blocked, the greater the damage to the heart.
  • Heart failure, a condition that means your heart cant pump enough blood and oxygen to your other organs.

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Extreme Swings In Blood Pressure Are Just As Deadly As Having Consistently High Blood Pressure

Date:
Intermountain Medical Center
Summary:
Extreme ups and downs in systolic blood pressure may be just as deadly as having consistently high blood pressure, according to a new study.

Extreme ups and downs in systolic blood pressure may be just as deadly as having consistently high blood pressure, according to a new study from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City.

Following a review of electronic medical records, researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute discovered that patients with systolic blood pressure numbers that varied by as much as 30 or 40 between doctor visits over an extended period of time were more likely to die than those with less extreme variances in their blood pressure.

The systolic blood pressure reading indicates how much pressure blood is exerting against the artery walls when the heart beats. According to the American Heart Association, a normal systolic blood pressure is less than 120. High blood pressure is categorized as above 140.

Results of the study of nearly 11,000 patients will be reported at the 2017 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, November 13.

Researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute modeled their study after an analysis of the largest hypertension clinical trial ever conducted — the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial .

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Prognosis Of High Blood Pressure

Untreated high blood pressure increases a person’s risk of developing heart disease , kidney failure, or stroke at an early age. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. It is also one of the three most important risk factors for heart attack that a person can modify .

Treatment that lowers high blood pressure greatly decreases the risk of stroke and heart failure. Such treatment may also decrease the risk of a heart attack, although not as dramatically.

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Fluctuating Blood Pressure: Causes Treatment And Prevention

Blood pressure should be basically stable. If it regularly changes from very high to very low, a person can experience a range of complications.

It is normal for blood pressure to vary slightly throughout the day, but blood pressure that fluctuates from one extreme to the other should be monitored and managed.

Home remedies, lifestyle changes, and some medications can help regulate blood pressure.

It is important that a person have a medical professional check their blood pressure regularly, because blood pressure can reveal a lot about a persons health.

Below are five factors that can cause dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure.

What Medications Treat High Blood Pressure

Is Fluctuating Blood Pressure More Dangerous Than High Blood Pressure?
  • Of appropriate, chlorthalidone is the preferred diuretic.

Beta-Blockers

  • Beta-blockers reduce heart rate and decrease the force of heart contraction by blocking the action of adrenaline receptors. Beta blockers are widely prescribed and effective but can cause increased fatigue and decreased exercise tolerance because they prevent an increased heart rate as a normal response to physical activity.
  • They are also prescribed for people who have associated heart disease, angina, or history of a heart attack.
  • Examples of beta blockers include, carvedilol , metoprolol , atenolol

Calcium Channel Blockers

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

  • ACE inhibitors stop the production in the body of a chemical called angiotensin II, which causes blood vessels to contract. Narrower blood vessels are associated with increased blood pressure. Relaxing artery walls leads to lower blood pressure.

Blockers of Central Sympathetic System

Direct Vasodilators

Take your high blood pressure medicine as prescribed and only discontinue them on the advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Home Remedies And Lifestyle Changes

The following can help normalize blood pressure:

  • Stopping smoking: Smoking harms the arteries and can cause high blood pressure.
  • Eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein: Reduce or eliminate added sugars and processed foods.
  • Getting regular exercise: The American Heart Association recommends moderate-intensity exertion, such as walking at a quick pace. A person should do this for 30 minutes per day, at least five days a week.
  • Limiting alcohol consumption: Women should drink no more than one drink per day and men no more than two drinks per day. Drinking more than this can raise blood pressure.
  • Finding healthy ways to lower stress: Meditation, deep breathing exercises, guided imagery, and other techniques to manage stress can help to avoid spikes in blood pressure.
  • Consuming less sodium: Excessively salty foods can cause sharp increases in blood pressure.
  • Reducing the intake of caffeine: Caffeinated drinks can cause temporary spikes in blood pressure, and may make anxiety worse.

Consult a doctor for personalized guidance.

Many Factors Can Cause Blood Pressure Fluctuations

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My blood pressure readings vary throughout the day. Sometimes theyre high and sometimes theyre low. So Im not sure if I have high blood pressure or not.

Moshi

Santa Monica

Blood pressure varies throughout the day and is influenced by a number of factors, says Dr. Joshua Penn, a cardiologist with Cedars-Sinai Medical Group and in private practice in Beverly Hills.

For starters, all humans have a natural daily rise and fall in blood pressure that corresponds with their circadian rhythm.

For most people, blood pressure will be at its lowest in the early morning hours and then rise through the late morning and peak in midafternoon.

Typically, this range will be about 10 to 15 millimeters of mercury on the upper, or systolic, value, which represents the peak pressure in the arteries and five to 10 millimeters of mercury on the lower, or diastolic, value, which represents the lowest pressure at the resting phase of the cardiac cycle.

Thus, a person with a resting blood pressure of 125/70 at 3 a.m., might have a reading of 140/80 by late afternoon.

Other factors contribute to fluctuations in blood pressure, but the most common one is hypertension, a condition characterized by chronic high blood pressure.

One of the manifestations of poorly controlled blood pressure is a high degree of variability, he says. A person with a lot of variation could easily have a blood pressure of 140/90 in the morning and a reading of 200/100 later in the day.

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Blood Pressure Fluctuates Wildly

When blood pressure fluctuates wildly and the readings are totally erratic, chances are it is NOT the heart. Erratic blood pressure is a common phenomenon in elderly and debilitated individuals on BP medications. Be aware, that anti-hypertensive medications dont regulate BP. They only lower it, and they dont adjust to circumstances.

When blood pressure fluctuates wildly you need to look beyond the meds. Nutritional deficiencies, chronic inflammation, lack of physical conditioning and many other factors contribute to erratic BP. To see what you can do immediately about it click through to fluctuating blood pressure in elderly.

To resolve erratic BP problem permanently, please consult The Ultimate Guide to Low & Fluctuating Blood Pressure. It is the most comprehensive book on the subject with special test, explanation of causes, tips, and natural solutions that have been proven in a clinical setting.

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Statistics For Falls In Elderly

Causes of Irregular Heartbeat &  High Blood Pressure ...

Falls in the elderly are debilitating, serious, and costly. Falls cause anxiety, disrupt daily activities, restrict movement, limit independence, contribute to depression and despondence and seriously diminish quality of life yet despite precautions, one in three elderly experience a fall each year. 2 The risk goes up with age reaching 50% in those over 80 years of age.2 However, these statistics may represent only a fraction of the problem as a large number of falls are unreported due to fear of consequences for those who fall.

Seventy-six percent of those who fall need emergency care and 24% require further hospitalization.3 Falls account for 70% of accidental deaths in elderly and are associated with 27% risk of mortality within two years. The financial cost associated with falls are estimated at $2 billion CAD annually. Falls can be precipitated by variety of factors including poor gait, poor vision, cognitive impairment and muscle weakness, as well as acute and chronic illness, some of which may be secondary to dysautonomia.

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Why Is Hypertension An Important Issue In Low

The prevalence of hypertension varies across regions and country income groups. The WHO African Region has the highest prevalence of hypertension while the WHO Region of the Americas has the lowest prevalence of hypertension .

The number of adults with hypertension increased from 594 million in 1975 to 1.13 billion in 2015, with the increase seen largely in low- and middle-income countries. This increase is due mainly to a rise in hypertension risk factors in those populations.

You Shouldn’t Ignore White Coat Hypertension

Some people experience white coat hypertension, when blood pressure is elevated in the doctor’s office but not in other settings. These patients need to monitor their blood pressure at home or wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor that takes your blood pressure every 30 minutes for 24 hours.

While white coat hypertension was formerly considered simple nervousness, recent research suggests otherwise.

A study published in the journal Hypertension found that people with white coat hypertension are at a significantly greater risk for developing sustained high blood pressure than people who have normal blood pressure. One possible explanation is that people with white coat hypertension have a harder time managing stress and anxiety.

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What Is Normal High And Low Blood Pressure

There is a range of blood pressure that is considered normal. If your blood pressure goes too high or too low, it can be a sign of a health issue.

You may feel the effects of this change, or it may not show any symptoms. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure is measured in mmHg. The blood pressure is usually reported as one number over the other.

Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure In The Elderly

CCBs for Hypertension (high blood pressure) or Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)

Its typical for systolic blood pressure to raise as a person ages. This occurs because of stiffening arteries and plaque build-up. High systolic blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people over age 50 2.

In addition to lifestyle changes, medications are often prescribed to help lower systolic pressure. This also lowers diastolic pressure, even though it wasnt the reason for the treatment. If diastolic was low to begin with, this can cause fluctuations throughout the day.

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No Symptoms Post Medication Mean That You Are Cured

One needs to understand the fact the A-Fib cannot be cured the effects of A-Fib can be reduced by regular medication and Ablation. Ablations are not required until the medicines are working fine, and A-Fib symptoms are not triggered frequently. You need to take precautions like quitting smoking, doing heavy exercises, and limited caffeine use. A-fib can be triggered due to stress, heavy exercise, and sleep deprivation. If you can manage these conditions, then you will have minimal consequences.

How To Maintain A Healthy Heart With Irregular Heartbeats

  • Monitor your caffeine intake: If you have an irregular heartbeat after drinking caffeinateddrinks such as coffee, keep an eye on how many cups you drink.
  • Limit your alcohol intake: If your condition is caused by excessive alcohol consumption, restrict yourself to no more 1-2 drinks a night. If you have had a heart attack in the past or have atrial fibrillation, you should avoid even moderate drinking.
  • Lose weight: Obesity and being overweight can increase your risk of irregular heartbeats. However, while losing weight can help, avoid diet plans or pills that promise rapid weight loss because they can increase your risk of complications.
  • Get adequate sleep: Getting enough sleep6-8 hours a nighthelps lower your stress levels and reduce fatigue, both of which can trigger irregular heartbeats.

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Measuring Ambulatory Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can also be diagnosed through a special device called an ambulatory blood pressure monitor. A doctor, nurse or pharmacist will get you to wear the device for a full day. The device measures blood pressure every 20 to 30 minutes and gives the doctor an average of your blood pressures during the day and while you are sleeping. These devices are not available everywhere and can be uncomfortable to wear.

Errors And Mistakes Taking Blood Pressure

Pheochromocytoma and irregular blood pressure

There are many errors people make while measuring their blood pressure that can cause your readings to fluctuate . The different readings can occur between your morning and evening measurements, or even minutes apart from each other. The following are the most common:

  • Crossed legs can elevate blood pressure.
  • Failure to sit upright can raise your blood pressure.
  • Sitting with your back unsupported can increase your measurements.
  • Arm position, which changes the height of the cuff, can raise or lower your BP. Even when arm position is perfect, making one mistake can raise BP by 10%. Read about that mistake in my blog post, Effect Of Arm Position On Blood Pressure.
  • Failure to have 5 minutes of quiet time prior to measuring.
  • Distractions while measuring like talking, texting, watching Tv, browsing social media and similar common activities.
  • As mentioned earlier, measuring BP with a full bladder.
  • Making your cuff too tight or loose can cause inconsistent readings.
  • Wrapping the cuff around clothing and not on your bare arm.
  • Failure to take 2 to 3 readings and average them together.
  • Using an inaccurate home monitor. To determine if your home monitor is accurate, read how in my blog post, right here.
  • Smoking, drinking caffeine or exercising within 30 minutes of taking your measurement.
  • Failure to take your blood pressure the same times every day.
  • Taking a hot or cold bath within 20 minutes of measuring your BP.

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