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What Causes A Sudden Spike In BP Despite Medication?
Question: My blood pressure was usually 130-140 over 75- 85. I take 40mg of Lisinopril daily. Recently, it is 165-175 over 75. I am 73, exercise daily, very active and not overweight. What would cause the sudden spike?
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that this raise in your blood pressure values could be related to different causes:
- a metabolic disorder (thyroid dysfunction, chronic anemia, electrolyte imbalance, diabetes, kidney or liver dysfunction)
- chronic inflammation
- physical activity or anxiety
- a natural progression of arterial hypertension, due to increased peripheral resistances (further stiffening of blood vessels).
Coming to this point, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a physical exam and some tests:
- a chest X ray study
- complete blood count
- PCR, ESR for inflammation
- fasting glucose
- kidney and liver function tests
- blood electrolytes
- thyroid hormone levels.
If all these tests result normal, I would recommend adding another antihypertensive agent in your current therapy in order to have a better control of blood pressure. For this purpose, I would recommend adding hydroclorothiazide or amlodipine.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that this raise in your blood pressure values could be related to different causes:
- a metabolic disorder (thyroid dysfunction, chronic anemia, electrolyte imbalance, diabetes, kidney or liver dysfunction)
- chronic inflammation
- physical activity or anxiety
- a natural progression of arterial hypertension, due to increased peripheral resistances (further stiffening of blood vessels).
Coming to this point, I would recommend consulting with your attending physician for a physical exam and some tests:
- a chest X ray study
- complete blood count
- PCR, ESR for inflammation
- fasting glucose
- kidney and liver function tests
- blood electrolytes
- thyroid hormone levels.
If all these tests result normal, I would recommend adding another antihypertensive agent in your current therapy in order to have a better control of blood pressure. For this purpose, I would recommend adding hydroclorothiazide or amlodipine.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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