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Could Both Carotid Artery Bulbs Having Significant Plaque Lead To High BP?

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Posted on Wed, 18 Jul 2018
Twitter Wed, 18 Jul 2018 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 17 Nov 2022 Last reviewed on
Question : If both carotid artery bulbs have significant plaque and my blood pressure is now spiking to over 230/120 could this be the cause? I have read that the bulbs have a sensor in them that regulates blood pressure. My blood pressure is spiking while I sleep at night and wakes me up. My blood pressures have been 120's/130's over 70's and 80's. up until 2 months ago. No major live changes or anything. Not stressed. I have had a stress test, echocardiogram, and lab work, but nothing really shows anything. The bp meds I am taking really are not bringing my numbers down, neither is nitro. I have had previous blocked carotid arteries. My doctor doesn't think this is the issue because he says the plaque is not blocking blood flow. What do you think? I was on Plavix before. Do you think this would help or is something else going on?
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Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (23 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Your high blood pressure values are not related to the carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques. You should know that the massage of the carotid bulbs can help activate the vagal nerve and lower blood pressure values. But the plaques do not raise blood pressure values.

Coming to this point, it seems that your current therapy is not very effective in lowering blood pressure values. For this reason, I recommend increasing the dose of lisinopril up to 5mg daily and add other drugs like a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine, lercanidipine) and a diuretic (Torasemide, Hydrochlorothiazide).

I would also recommend checking thyroid hormone levels for possible adrenal gland dysfunction and cortisol and aldosterone plasma levels for possible adrenal gland dysfunction. You should discuss with your doctor on the above treatment options.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Ilir Sharka

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Practicing since :2001

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Could Both Carotid Artery Bulbs Having Significant Plaque Lead To High BP?

Brief Answer: I would recommend as follows Detailed Answer: Hello, Your high blood pressure values are not related to the carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques. You should know that the massage of the carotid bulbs can help activate the vagal nerve and lower blood pressure values. But the plaques do not raise blood pressure values. Coming to this point, it seems that your current therapy is not very effective in lowering blood pressure values. For this reason, I recommend increasing the dose of lisinopril up to 5mg daily and add other drugs like a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine, lercanidipine) and a diuretic (Torasemide, Hydrochlorothiazide). I would also recommend checking thyroid hormone levels for possible adrenal gland dysfunction and cortisol and aldosterone plasma levels for possible adrenal gland dysfunction. You should discuss with your doctor on the above treatment options. Hope you will find this answer helpful! Regards, Dr. Iliri