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Suggest Treatment For Low Blood Pressure

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Posted on Wed, 23 Jul 2014
Question: my wife 72 years old has consistant blood pressure of 70/45 highest is 100/55 this is on 30 some readings over 2 weeks. She is on a beta blocker for atrial fib. sfeels better. he has early morning dizzy spells and after an hour is better. Many times her pressure is so low the monitor comes up error. while mine immediately taken is 140/90.
Recommendations?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
may need to alter medication

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

The normal blood pressure is a systolic (top reading) of less than 120 and diastolic (bottom reading) less than 80 but the readings that you are reporting on your wife are low especially the readings of 70/55.

These low readings would be contributing to her symptoms of dizziness. In some persons the symptoms are worse on standing.

Treatment:(1) her medication may need to be altered to reduce the atenolol or change to another medication

(2)some patients with a fib are only on medications to help prevent clotting ( the main complications of a fib) and do not need medication for controlling the heart rate. Depends on severity of symptoms

(3) use of enough fluids may also help raise her blood pressure but her doctor should be consulted. If there is any history of heart failure the amount of fluid consumed needs to be strictly controlled, if there is no history of failure then the fluids can be used to help

(4)when the pressure falls too low, she may want to consider using a small amount of salt. Salt intake would help to raise the BP levels

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Low Blood Pressure

Brief Answer: may need to alter medication Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic The normal blood pressure is a systolic (top reading) of less than 120 and diastolic (bottom reading) less than 80 but the readings that you are reporting on your wife are low especially the readings of 70/55. These low readings would be contributing to her symptoms of dizziness. In some persons the symptoms are worse on standing. Treatment:(1) her medication may need to be altered to reduce the atenolol or change to another medication (2)some patients with a fib are only on medications to help prevent clotting ( the main complications of a fib) and do not need medication for controlling the heart rate. Depends on severity of symptoms (3) use of enough fluids may also help raise her blood pressure but her doctor should be consulted. If there is any history of heart failure the amount of fluid consumed needs to be strictly controlled, if there is no history of failure then the fluids can be used to help (4)when the pressure falls too low, she may want to consider using a small amount of salt. Salt intake would help to raise the BP levels I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions