How Can High Heart Rate And High Blood Pressure Be Managed?

Posted on Thu, 3 Mar 2022

Question: Not sure if I had a heart attack. Chest and back felt like it was in a vise, but no severe pain. Heart rate was 155, BP 199/129. I took an aspirin and a BP pill and sat up for awhile and things got back to normal. I am 80, not overweight and fairly active. Any reason for concern?

Answered by Dr. Sagar Makode (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is likely due to elevated bp and pulse rate

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

You mentioned the pulse rate of 155, was it that high, if yes then its likely an atrial fibrillation and you need to be on rate control medicines like beta blockers like Metoprolol and anticoagulation other than aspirin, after evaluation.

Also, the chest and back pain was likely due to elevated bp and pulse rate which creates stress on the heart leading to pain. However, this should be evaluated, and you should get ECG, troponin done and if normal then a stress test. Also, get your BP medicines optimized in order to prevent such episodes of hypertension which can be deleterious. So it's better to visit the hospital and get evaluated in details.

You should also get started on statins like Atorvastatin considering the possibility of blockages along with Aspirin (Tab Ecosprin AV).

Hope this helps you and get back if you have any doubts.
Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee