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Is Blood Pressure Of 160/40 A Cause For Concern?
Posted on
Tue, 13 Oct 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 13 Oct 2015
Answered on
Thu, 29 Oct 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : When a blood pressure is 160 / 40 should I go to the emergency
room or page on call for primary so that I can be informed what she
want to do and put it in her ball court????
room or page on call for primary so that I can be informed what she
want to do and put it in her ball court????
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would like to know if you have other symptoms like headache, dizziness, blurring vision, shortness of breath, nausea, etc?
Have you experienced before these blood pressure values?
Have you taken any drugs (illicit drugs, caffeine) or energy drinks?
If you have any of these symptoms and this value of blood pressure is not a wrong value from a measurement inaccuracy, I would recommend you to consult an ER doctor, to check for any possible disorders like: aortic valve disease (regurgitation), a thyroid dysfunction, etc.
But if you are feeling fine, without any disturbing symptoms I recommend you to just make an appointment for a medical check up by your GP.
Meanwhile keep monitoring closely your blood pressure closely for a couple of days.
These blood pressure values are abnormal at your age. So some investigations should be done to find out the possible cause (chest x ray study, resting ECG, blood lab tests etc.).
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would like to know if you have other symptoms like headache, dizziness, blurring vision, shortness of breath, nausea, etc?
Have you experienced before these blood pressure values?
Have you taken any drugs (illicit drugs, caffeine) or energy drinks?
If you have any of these symptoms and this value of blood pressure is not a wrong value from a measurement inaccuracy, I would recommend you to consult an ER doctor, to check for any possible disorders like: aortic valve disease (regurgitation), a thyroid dysfunction, etc.
But if you are feeling fine, without any disturbing symptoms I recommend you to just make an appointment for a medical check up by your GP.
Meanwhile keep monitoring closely your blood pressure closely for a couple of days.
These blood pressure values are abnormal at your age. So some investigations should be done to find out the possible cause (chest x ray study, resting ECG, blood lab tests etc.).
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I was in the emergency room tonight for this. The cause is benign from what they are saying I do drink caffeine but I'm laying in bed and blood pressure is 109/69 so it flextchuates between high normal and low
Brief Answer:
I recommend consulting with your GP for some tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information provided.
These fluctuations in blood pressure may be related to anxiety.
Anyway, I would recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, a chest x ray study, an abdominal ultrasound and some blood lab tests:
-complete blood count
-thyroid hormone levels (thyroid gland function)
-kidney and liver function tests
-fasting glucose
-blood electrolytes
-cortisol and aldosteron plasma levels (adrenal gland function), etc.
- PCR, sedimentation rate (inflammation)
to exclude any possible cause of secondary hypertension.
Meanwhile, I would recommend you some modifications to your lifestyle, which can help maintain a low blood pressure:
-a balanced diet (reduce salt intake and caffeine), avoid smoking or energy drinks intake
- physical exercise (walking, aerobics, sports)
- reduce your weight, if you are overweight.
If all your tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of this symtomatology. In such case, you should consult with a specialist of the field to help you manage your anxiety.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
I recommend consulting with your GP for some tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Thank you for the additional information provided.
These fluctuations in blood pressure may be related to anxiety.
Anyway, I would recommend consulting with your GP for a careful physical examination, a resting ECG, a chest x ray study, an abdominal ultrasound and some blood lab tests:
-complete blood count
-thyroid hormone levels (thyroid gland function)
-kidney and liver function tests
-fasting glucose
-blood electrolytes
-cortisol and aldosteron plasma levels (adrenal gland function), etc.
- PCR, sedimentation rate (inflammation)
to exclude any possible cause of secondary hypertension.
Meanwhile, I would recommend you some modifications to your lifestyle, which can help maintain a low blood pressure:
-a balanced diet (reduce salt intake and caffeine), avoid smoking or energy drinks intake
- physical exercise (walking, aerobics, sports)
- reduce your weight, if you are overweight.
If all your tests result normal, you should consider anxiety as the main cause of this symtomatology. In such case, you should consult with a specialist of the field to help you manage your anxiety.
Hope to have been helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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