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Suggest Tests To Diagnose The Reasons For High BP And Occasional Heart Palpitations
Posted on
Sun, 23 Aug 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 23 Aug 2015
Answered on
Tue, 8 Sep 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : I am a 40 year old woman. I have a heart beat at rest in the 40's. Lately I've obtained a B/P monitor & noticed high results eg 160/100,150/90 on occasions.I used to get Occasional palpatations but i put that down to stress .
As a teenager I did have poor leg circulation .
I know this is probably impossible to get a diagnosis but what tests would you advise to get done .
Thanking you, XXXXXXX
As a teenager I did have poor leg circulation .
I know this is probably impossible to get a diagnosis but what tests would you advise to get done .
Thanking you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXX!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that you need to perform a thorough medical check up to investigate possible secondary causes of your high BP values (as in young adults when dealing with high blood pressure, secondary hypertension should be primarily excluded).
(a) You need to closely monitor your BP values for a couple of days (several times daily) and write them down.
Then you should consult the measured BP values with your attending physician (cardiologist or internist) to decide whether you have persistently high BP values, conclude/exclude the diagnosis of hypertension; and explore possible secondary causes.
A careful physical exam by your doctor is necessary coupled with a resting ECG and a chest X ray film.
Some blood tests are needed to rule in/out potential secondary causes of hypertension:
Complete blood count (for anemia); thyroid function tests (thyroid hormone levels for possible dysfunction); liver and kidney function tests (underlying functional impairment); blood electrolytes (exploring adrenal glands in conjunction with underlying hormone levels); fasting blood glucose; lipid profile, etc.
(b) In addition a careful investigation of your heart rate and potential rhythm and conductance disturbances should be done concomitantly.
In well physically trained young adults a persistent sinus bradycardia is frequently seen.
So, your actual heart rate, if confirmed to be normal sinus rhythm (without any cardiac conductance disturbances) by a resting ECG, would be a normal finding.
But, to assure the persistence of the normal sinus rhythm, identify possible severe bradycardia or even any conductance disturbances, and also to investigate for any occasional arrhythmic events (as you experience palpitations), it is necessary to perform an ambulatory 24 to 48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter).
According to the above tests results a proper treatment would address any underlying disorders.
(c) For a current review of your lower limb blood circulation status, I would recommend besides a careful physical exam by your doctor, performing a Doppler ultrasound investigation of the lower limbs blood vessels.
You need to discuss with your attending physician about the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need! Greetings! Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXX!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that you need to perform a thorough medical check up to investigate possible secondary causes of your high BP values (as in young adults when dealing with high blood pressure, secondary hypertension should be primarily excluded).
(a) You need to closely monitor your BP values for a couple of days (several times daily) and write them down.
Then you should consult the measured BP values with your attending physician (cardiologist or internist) to decide whether you have persistently high BP values, conclude/exclude the diagnosis of hypertension; and explore possible secondary causes.
A careful physical exam by your doctor is necessary coupled with a resting ECG and a chest X ray film.
Some blood tests are needed to rule in/out potential secondary causes of hypertension:
Complete blood count (for anemia); thyroid function tests (thyroid hormone levels for possible dysfunction); liver and kidney function tests (underlying functional impairment); blood electrolytes (exploring adrenal glands in conjunction with underlying hormone levels); fasting blood glucose; lipid profile, etc.
(b) In addition a careful investigation of your heart rate and potential rhythm and conductance disturbances should be done concomitantly.
In well physically trained young adults a persistent sinus bradycardia is frequently seen.
So, your actual heart rate, if confirmed to be normal sinus rhythm (without any cardiac conductance disturbances) by a resting ECG, would be a normal finding.
But, to assure the persistence of the normal sinus rhythm, identify possible severe bradycardia or even any conductance disturbances, and also to investigate for any occasional arrhythmic events (as you experience palpitations), it is necessary to perform an ambulatory 24 to 48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter).
According to the above tests results a proper treatment would address any underlying disorders.
(c) For a current review of your lower limb blood circulation status, I would recommend besides a careful physical exam by your doctor, performing a Doppler ultrasound investigation of the lower limbs blood vessels.
You need to discuss with your attending physician about the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
Feel free to ask me whenever you need! Greetings! 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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