Question: Hi there,
I had a few questions regarding blood pressure/heart rate.

I'm prehypertensive sometimes. Generally mornings, I'm right around 120/80 (sometimes below, sometimes slightly above), though evenings I'm usually prehypertensive (generally not above 140/90). Also, sometimes the readings can differ by more than 10 points per arm (sometimes even 15-20), but other times the readings are quite close. (I'd say there's a significant difference half the time, and half the time they're within a few points of each other; as I said, the arm that's higher also tends to vary [right is usually lower, but not always]).

1.) Is it true that since the arm that's high varies and a large difference isn't always present, this is likely due to BP technique variation, not something like atherosclerosis?

Also, several years ago I (stupidly) tried a legal stimulant that made my heart race (part of it may have been anxiety). For 8-10 hours, I had tachycardia and a heartbeat somewhere between 120-150 (150 would have been around the XXXXXXX and that lasted maybe an hour). I slept for a couple days after this and felt sore, but recovered, and a recent echocardiogram showed my heart was grossly normal.

2.) Is there much chance I did any permanent damage to my heart and/or blood vessels and increased my chance for heart disease/atherosclerosis/hemorrhage?

3.) I'm working on trying to lower my BP naturally. If I'm otherwise healthy and keep an eye on it, is this an immediate danger for heart attack/stroke, or am I likely fine? (I am working with a doctor but don't get to see her as often as I'd like.)

Thanks much!

Thanks much for your help!

It sounds like I shouldn't worry about BP variation since it tends do disappear, vary between arms, and is prettymuch always less than 20. So you're saying if I get one-off readings that seem far apart, but next time they're close together, it's not a worry I should have?

Just to clarify, I'm not talking about something like caffeine; the compound I used (this was a few years ago by the way, not presently) was unknown, despite being legal (stupid thing to do; won't ever again). But my heart never raced so fast (120-150) or for so long (8-10 hours). I'm relieved to hear you don't think it caused any permanent heart damage; not to blood vessels either?

I'm relieved to hear you feel I'm not at significantly increased risk for heart attack/stroke simply because of my sometimes prehypertensive BP.

Hi there,

I recharged because I ended up having a couple of followups - I hope you don't mind. =)

1.) Regarding blood vessel function, you mentioned ECG/stress test could rule it out. Is this something you suggest I actively pursue because you think it's necessary given my experience? Or are you simply saying you expect that the experience I had with that stimulant didn't cause any damage, but if worry persisted, this could ease my fears?

2.) If BP for a reading is high temporarily (for example one reading I got the other night was 127/91, which is well above the usual), but within 10 minutes is down to 120/80 or something reasonable...is this not a concern at all? I know you said one-off readings aren't something to be too worried about. But it's only actually hypertension and needs to be medicated if the 91 is a regular, repeatable thing?

Thanks.