What Causes Increased Blood Pressure With Chest, Back And Left Shoulder Pain?

Posted on Sun, 4 Oct 2015

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

Sun, 4 Oct 2015 Answered on

Mon, 26 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My blood pressure has gone up from the 120s/70s to 150s/80s. Pulse rates about 70s. I was taking Losartan 50 mg. I am away from home. I called my Dr and he told me to increase BP med to 100mg. To day, I feel pressure in my back and some in my chest. I have a hurt in my left shoulder, back to over the top.

Should I be concerned, I have no doctor in the area where we area. I could go to urgent care 9 miles away or the emergency room 40 miles away.
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
immediate investigation is required

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

chest, back and left shoulder pain or pressure may be signs of myocardial ischemia (angina or infarction). Thus urgent investigation is required to exclude or confirm it. If it's an infarction indeed, the outcomes are better the sooner treatment is initiated. Other symptoms which may accompany pain or pressure include cold sweating, nausea, vomiting, faintness, palpitations, etc.

Your blood pressure is not a serious reason for immediate concern unless you have a history of aneurysm or serious heart failure and - of course - myocardial ischemia!

I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.

Kind Regards!

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