Blood pressure spikes...

[PathFinderGrl]

Hi, I'm 34 years old, female. I have anxiety and high blood pressure which I take a beta blocker for. I suffer from health anxiety I guess you could say. I am currently taking Vistaril as needed for marked anxiety. I can't take SSRIs (weight gain, brain fog) & won't take scheduled drugs. I have terrible white coat syndrome. Since I have high BP, I always feel this need to have a good reading when I go in to see my doctor, and that in turn causes my BP to skyrocket. I went in to see my cardiologist today for a yearly checkup, and it was really high when the tech took it. First it was 160/94, then 143/103! My pulse was up as well. My EKG was normal he said. I asked him if these readings were normal. He said with all of my past normal tests, it was ok that the readings were that high. I've had an echo of the heart, several EKGs, blood work & have seen three different cardiologists. He said I have benign tachycardia and high BP. He said he felt my anxiety was causing this. He was only in the room a short time though, and said he'd see me in a year. My BP readings are normal at home. I started Vistaril two months ago, for the health anxiety attacks. I took it today before seeing my cardiologist. It definitely calmed me some, and helped my pulse rate, but I still freaked when it was time to take my BP. It's a vicious cycle. Anyone else deal with this? I'm planning to start changing my diet & exercising more to help.
PS- Ironically I'm an LPN... lol

[RCmommy]

I have white coat syndrome as well. As soon as that cuff starts to tighten, my heart rate speeds up, I get short of breath and I just know it will be high. And I don't have regular high blood pressure. I feel just like I am about to give a speech in front of hundreds of people. I have been told to take a big breath in and blow it out like you are blowing out candles, but my first few still read high. They leave the cuff on and leave the room. By the last reading it is usually closer to normal range. I try to read stuff on the walls too, distracts me.

[Kixxi]

Hi, I'm 34 years old, female. I have anxiety and high blood pressure which I take a beta blocker for. I suffer from health anxiety I guess you could say. I am currently taking Vistaril as needed for marked anxiety. I can't take SSRIs (weight gain, brain fog) & won't take scheduled drugs. I have terrible white coat syndrome. Since I have high BP, I always feel this need to have a good reading when I go in to see my doctor, and that in turn causes my BP to skyrocket. I went in to see my cardiologist today for a yearly checkup, and it was really high when the tech took it. First it was 160/94, then 143/103! My pulse was up as well. My EKG was normal he said. I asked him if these readings were normal. He said with all of my past normal tests, it was ok that the readings were that high. I've had an echo of the heart, several EKGs, blood work & have seen three different cardiologists. He said I have benign tachycardia and high BP. He said he felt my anxiety was causing this. He was only in the room a short time though, and said he'd see me in a year. My BP readings are normal at home. I started Vistaril two months ago, for the health anxiety attacks. I took it today before seeing my cardiologist. It definitely calmed me some, and helped my pulse rate, but I still freaked when it was time to take my BP. It's a vicious cycle. Anyone else deal with this? I'm planning to start changing my diet & exercising more to help.
PS- Ironically I'm an LPN... lol

It's quite a normal phenomenon. My blood pressure usually goes up when I'm near a doctor, hospital or public place lol. It did help me to exercise regular and reducing fatty foods.
I do notice that, when I get anxiety or panic attacks, my blood pressure rises quite fast. This isn't a problem at a time, but when I start to relax my blood pressure drops so rapidly that I get a dizzy from it. That sets of another panic attack lol, so its a bit of a vicious cycle. I do agree that exercise and good food is a good way to go. Also try some foods containing Omega 3 and 6, but be sure to balance them.