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What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Heaviness In Head With Normal BP?

Posted on Mon, 2 Feb 2015

Question: About every 6 months or so, I quite suddenly get very out of breath, (just doing nothing) feel hot and what I call a 'heaviness' inside my head. 3 times I have ended up in Immediate Care with very high BP. The last time it was 242/100and something, really dangerous. They sent me to the ER by ambulance. Heart, blood and chest tests were all negative. After medication to lower mt BP, I was sent home at 181/78, along with, "OK, you've just had an anxiety attack".
I am a very calm, happy 83 year old, living a full, active and great life; have family close by, everything good happening. I do not feel these episodes are anxiety attacks as one started while I was asleep and it woke me up. I think that both my cardiologist (who had previously given me the same diagnosis), and the ER doctor are relying on the anxiety thing because they don't want to say they have no idea of the cause. Next time I see him, what could I ask him to get him to try harder to discover the real cause?
Thank you, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
get done 2D Echo.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
I don't think it is anxiety related.
If your blood pressure was also normal then possibility of anxiety is high. But during all attacks, your blood pressure was high, so anxiety is less likely.
Sudden breathlessness in night with hypertension can be seen in
1. Congestive Heart failure (CHF)
2. Pulmonary embolism
So 2D Echo should be done in your case to rule out CHF.
CT pulmonary angiography should be done to rule out pulmonary embolism.
So ask about these things and discuss possibility with your doctor on follow up visit.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 days later)

Hi Dr.Bhavsar,
I was waiting to see my cardiologist today before replying but he was unable to see me until this Thursday. Even then I see his nurse prac. and by then my time online will be up! If I return later, will I be able to ask for you again?
I have had several very small incidents since I contacted you. I could be reading, e mailing, watching TV or whatever, and suddenly my head feels heavy as before and I know my BP is going up even though I didn't take it. However, this strange feeling, just as suddenly, completely disappeared in as little as 4 minutes.
I just wanted to mention that only once was I woken up by breathlessness and rising BP, the other 3 times happened when I was awake ... I am talking about the episodes when I went to the ER not these recent, short ones which I 've never experienced before.
I certainly will be mentioning your suggestions, thank you so much. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, you can definitely contact.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question.

I can understand your situation and problems.
And you can definitely contact me anytime you wish. This is the beauty of this forum.
I still advice you the same things. Rule out CCF first then pulmonary embolism.
Discuss these things with your cardiologist.

And you can ask me directly through
bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar

Hope I have solved your question.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju