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Suggest Treatment For High Blood Pressure And Severe Dizziness
Question: Hi! I am an active, athletic 48 y/o female. I'm 5'5" 125 #. I recently became acutely dizzy and my previously normal blood pressure shot up to 165/95. My primary care MD prescribed lisinopril 2.5 mg daily and started me on exercises for Benign positional vertigo. After 1 week, my BP is down to 130/80, and I am intermittantly dizzy still. My bloodwork, including TSH is normal, I'm negative for renal artery stenosis. I'm concerned this is secondary hypertension and we haven't found the cause. I've also experienced recent weight loss with no obvious cause, down from 130 - 122 #. I would love to have your thoughts! Thanks!
oh - also, I've been normotensive my whole life, except for an incident about 6 years ago when I was on a birth control pill that elevated my blood pressure unknowingly to approximately the same levels it was last week. Once I stopped the pill, my systolic pressure dropped 20 points instantly, and over the next several months my systolic/diastolic pressure slowly returned to normal. Since then I've been consistantly 120/70. Wondering if this could be hormonal? I've had an endometrial ablation, so unsure where I am in pre/peri menopause? I may have had a few "hot flashes" but really unsure....
oh - also, I've been normotensive my whole life, except for an incident about 6 years ago when I was on a birth control pill that elevated my blood pressure unknowingly to approximately the same levels it was last week. Once I stopped the pill, my systolic pressure dropped 20 points instantly, and over the next several months my systolic/diastolic pressure slowly returned to normal. Since then I've been consistantly 120/70. Wondering if this could be hormonal? I've had an endometrial ablation, so unsure where I am in pre/peri menopause? I may have had a few "hot flashes" but really unsure....
Brief Answer:
How many times was your blood pressure measured!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Your information is less likely in support of secondary hypertension. This is because there are no findings to raise such a diagnosis. Your rapid response to treatment also makes this unlikely as well.
On how many occasions was your blood pressure reported as high before being labelled and being treated for hypertensive? Was did over a time period or not? I rarely allow a single visit to make this diagnosis as some increases may not reflect the reality.
Let me hear from you on the above. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
How many times was your blood pressure measured!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Your information is less likely in support of secondary hypertension. This is because there are no findings to raise such a diagnosis. Your rapid response to treatment also makes this unlikely as well.
On how many occasions was your blood pressure reported as high before being labelled and being treated for hypertensive? Was did over a time period or not? I rarely allow a single visit to make this diagnosis as some increases may not reflect the reality.
Let me hear from you on the above. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr Ditah- I'm a Sonographer at a Level 1 trauma center, so I have access to blood pressure monitors. I followed my BP for 4 days before making an appt with my Doctor- it was consistantly high at all times of day. I'm concerned because my understanding is that primary HTN develops slowly over time, not acute onset. I know I was normal at the end of September at my yearly Gyn appt. I guess my concern is with the recent weight loss, acute HTN and dizziness, should I be concerned about an endocrine disorder such as adrenal or pituitary? Or could the HTN be caused by Benign positional Vertigo?
Brief Answer:
I would have monitored a lot longer.
Detailed Answer:
HI,
Am afraid your worried state fast tracked this diagnosis. Though not entirely impossible, am afraid you were more concerned about this and that could have left to increased blood pressure. A continuous 4days is just too exact for this.
The BPV could keep you worried and increase your blood pressure. If I were your physician, will first manage the BPV alone and stop the hypertensive drugs at this time.
Let me know what the current plan is. I am really not sure this is secondary hypertension. There are no other things to push me towards adrenal or pituitary tumors. They are rarely isolated with hypertension alone.
I would have monitored a lot longer.
Detailed Answer:
HI,
Am afraid your worried state fast tracked this diagnosis. Though not entirely impossible, am afraid you were more concerned about this and that could have left to increased blood pressure. A continuous 4days is just too exact for this.
The BPV could keep you worried and increase your blood pressure. If I were your physician, will first manage the BPV alone and stop the hypertensive drugs at this time.
Let me know what the current plan is. I am really not sure this is secondary hypertension. There are no other things to push me towards adrenal or pituitary tumors. They are rarely isolated with hypertension alone.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you- I do realize that working in health care can push one towards hypochondriac tendancies- on the other hand, I don't want to sit on something that's brewing. I will follow up with my primary care in 2 weeks and go from there. And perhaps stop the lisinopril and see if my BP stays stable. I appreciate your time and this site! If you'd like I can give you an update in a few weeks :-)
Brief Answer:
I await your updates!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I will wait and get updates from you. I am very curious to know what the final version is. Like you rightly said, our knowledge might push us to extremes as health professionals. This is why it is often important to exchange ideas like we did.
Thanks and wish you well. Most especially, kindly update me when you see your primary care doctor.
I await your updates!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I will wait and get updates from you. I am very curious to know what the final version is. Like you rightly said, our knowledge might push us to extremes as health professionals. This is why it is often important to exchange ideas like we did.
Thanks and wish you well. Most especially, kindly update me when you see your primary care doctor.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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