Raised blood pressure with pred
Posted , 12 users are following.
Hi everyone
My blood pressure at a recent appointment with rheumatology lead was 188/80, so she has written to my GP suggesting they see me regarding this & sure enough I have been sent an appointment for next week where I am anticipating he will want to put me on anti hypertensives plus probably a statin, as most of them do. I'm not keen on this idea, as doesn't pred raise your blood pressure anyway? I have just reduced to 9mg and after a month on 9 I will do DSNS method of reducing, so I'm thinking that in a couple of months or so I should be at 7 or 7,5 which is body's own natural cortisol levels, so might my BP reduce on its own at that time? I'm looking for any ammunition or argument I can use with GP if anyone has any suggestions.
Many thanks
0 likes, 13 replies
TheRaven karenfizz
Posted
Is your usual blood pressure substantially lower? 80 isn't bad but 188 is nasty high. Occasionally I'll spike a high reading when the reading is taken when I first come in for my appointment. I ask them to take it 15-20 minutes later and have a much better result after I've settled down. No reason to be put on statins unless you've had cholesterol readings exceeding 200 regularly. Others may be able to tell you if pred does or doesn't increase bp sometimes. I don't know that part. Sometimes something as simple as a diuretic will help lower the numbers to an acceptable range. The only downside to that stuff is visiting the bathroom more frequently!
I have no facts to back it up but I would think that high blood pressure and vascular inflammation from PMR would be a bad mix.
karenjaninaz TheRaven
Posted
The diuretic is contraindicated with pred- unstable blood levels.
karenfizz TheRaven
Posted
Its usually around 150/90, which is at the high end of average
margaret22251 karenfizz
Posted
Now thats funny as i have started to decrease my bp has been high, not as high as yours 150/80 , but unfortunately i have just increased today as i am having problems. keep in touch and let us know what your doctor says.
jean39702 karenfizz
Posted
Karen, my blood pressure sky-rocketed with prednisone. I ended up on high doses of BP medication to keep things under control. As the dose of prednsone went down (from 40 mg to 10mg, my lowest so far) so did the BP and the BP medication.
However, what was really important for me was to monitor my own blood pressure at home. I have "white coat syndrome" big time!! All I have to do is walk into a doctors office, let alone start a conversation, and my blood pressure goes through the roof. Every doctor I had, and they were many, understood this issue.
So, every time I go to the doctor I bring a report of my BP over a number of days, or weeks, preceding my appointment,
karenfizz jean39702
Posted
Hi jean
Yes, I usually check mine regularly at home as I have white coat syndrome too; unfortunately we have just moved house and the BP machine is lost in the storage somewhere. Think I may have to buy another...
jones10939 jean39702
Posted
It's fortunate that "white coat syndrome" is now recognised; I remember when my GP laughed when I said that my BP went up at the sight of a sphyg!
Our current GP likes to see an average of a week's readings taken about 3 times a day
karenfizz jones10939
Posted
Thanks ofr that Jean; I have a week before my appointment so will take 3 readings a day till then & go armed with results.
freda07782 karenfizz
Posted
I also suffer from "white coat syndrome" and also go to see my doctor armed with my own BP readings taken a day or two before my consultation at home.
Freda
EileenH karenfizz
Posted
Raised BP is raised BP - whatever the cause. The 80 is not too bad - and it is perfectly possible it may have been white coat syndrome. I would be asking for a 24 Holter BP monitor to see what your BP is doing over the 24 hours in a slightly more "normal" situation. Then discuss the options.
I'm on BP meds - but I refuse to take a statin. Despite high-ish cholesterol - the total is high but my HDL level is very high and that contributes.
nick67069 EileenH
Posted
There seems to be a weak correlation between cholesterol and heart disease. In fact there seems to be negative correlation - lower cholesterol levels increase the chance for death if you are over 60. Just say no to statins 😃 ...
Study title is " Study says there's no link between cholesterol and heart disease"
OR
"Cholesterol and Heart Disease – What’s the Evidence?"
EileenH nick67069
Posted
Oh yes - that is part of the basis for my refusal! Together with the evidence that lowering cholesterol is not protective in women who have not yet had a cardiovascular event. Different matter for women AFTER an event and for men at all. But don't ask me for the reference ...
ptolemy nick67069
Posted
Read The Statin Nation by Dr Kendrick, the author agrees with you!!