85 Year Old Having Hypertension. Swollen Ankles And Kidney Problem. What Should Be The Normal BP?

Posted on Tue, 17 Jul 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 Answered on

Mon, 6 Aug 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : hi, i have question about 85 years African American male's nomal blood pressure?

And what he needs to know if the hypertension has been responsiblle for his kidney problems?

How to explain to him why he ahs swelling in his ankles?

Also, how many pack-years has he acquired?

Answered by Dr. Anil Grover (33 minutes later)

Hi there,

Thanks for writing in.
I am qualified and certified in medicine and cardiology. I read your question with diligence.
In general, I recommend honestly telling about illness especially, to an elderly person.
Facts can be cruel one need not be in cruel in telling them.

How do you know he has renal disease as a result of hypertension? What diagnosis the doctor has told you? What is his creatinine and urea? How much urine he brings out a day? What kind of diet he should take? These are the questions, answers to which is entitled to know, rather than what caused his renal damage or his blood pressure. If for some reasons doctor can not communicate to him properly, you understand from the doctor and then explain to him in your own way. That would be my suggestion. Be truthful whether hypertension had been responsible first you find out it is so, explain to him that doctor says so.

Swelling in legs in kidney disease is because of two reasons. One is loss of protein and second is rise in total body fluid volume. Most which can not be retained inside the vascular space. It is then accommodated in outside the vascular space and called edema. Causes swelling of ankles.

Number of pack years is no packets of cigarettes he has smoked per day on an average multiplied by number of years he had smoked. One packet a day for 30 years is 30 pack years.

Please let me know more facts in your follow up query, I shall be able to help you in answer nearest to truth and not so hurtful. For example cigarette smoking has not much role to play in kidney disease past or future, so it can be downplayed.
With Best Wishes.

Dr Anil Grover,
Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)
http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anil Grover (58 minutes later)

Thank you for answered question.
um, actually his blood pressure 175/100 today and he took the one blood pressure pill he is prscribed aboout 3 hours ago .

I think his blood pressure is higher than other nomarl blood pressure his age, is not it?

um, also he wants to know if the hypertension has been responsible for his kidney problems. How can I explain for him?

should i aks the docotr whether or not he may need more medication or an increase in his dosage?

and when I walk with him around the block, the doctor wANTs I to monitor his Pulse. The doctor says it is okay for him to walk at an optimal pulse rate. What would that pulse be ?

Answered by Dr. Anil Grover (9 minutes later)

Hi there,
Thanks for your followup query.
Yes you are right his blood pressure is not normal.
But one problem is there is this the result of kidney disease or kidney disease is effect of blood pressure. An answer only your doctor can give! You can tell the truth that you will ask his doctor and tell him the truth. And when you are meeting his doctor ask him this question as well as question about medication whether he wants the patient to take higher dosage
His pulse should be between 60-90 and will increase with exercise, That is normal.

Any more query I will be happy to answer. Regards

With Best Wishes

Dr Anil Grover,
Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)
http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar