HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS FOR 17 MONTHS

08/07/08

MS TERRY

Topics:SHOULD I GET A ULTRA SOUND OF THE HEART AND A CAT SCAN AFTER 17MONTHS OF HIGH PRESSURE

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN 2006, I BEEN ON NUMEROUS MEDS WITH NO EFFECTS, WHILE PREGNANT I DELIVERED BY EMERGENCY C-SECTION BECAUSE MY PRESSURE WENT UP TOO HIGH, SINCE THEN ITS NEVER DROPPED MY READINGS ARE STEADY AT BETWEEN 156/106 AND THE HIGHEST WAS 215/117 JUST RECENTLY, ACCOMEDATED BY MIGRAINES, TINGLY FACE, BLURRED VISION, SOMETIMES MY FOOT GOES NUMB, MY QUESTION IS I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ULTRASOUND DONE ON MY HEART, OR A CAT-SCAN SHOULD I BE SUGGESTION THIS TO MY DR. OR SHOULD I JUST WAIT TO HAVE A STROKE OR HEART ATTACK OR KIDNEY FAILURE, I HAVE HAD BLOOD WORK DONE AND WAITING ON THOSE RESULTS THIS WILL BE THE SECOND SET OF BLOOD WORK THE FIRST SET CAME BACK NORMAL. I NEED TO WAY ALL OF MY OPTIONS, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ADVISE ME ON WHAT TO DO. I AM TAKEN 40MG OF MICARDIS ONCE A DAY. AND I AM VERY TIRED AND SLUGGISH. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!

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Answers (1)

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Martin Cane, M.D.

MS Terry,

Thanks for your question.

You need a complete evaluation to look for possible causes of your high blood pressure. Most people with high blood pressure have essential hypertension, with no discernable cause. However, some patients have an underlying problem that has resulted in the high blood pressure. Some possibilities include: kidney disorders (functional as well as structural); adrenal gland and hormonal problems including tumors that produce hormones that raise the pressure; and, vascular abnormalities (problems with blood vessels). Your doctor needs to perform a number of tests looking for these possibilities. These tests range from a Chest X-ray to CT scanning of abdomen. There are many specialized lab tests looking for elevations in various hormones. And some patients require angiography and blood sampling from major veins in the abdomen.

If it seems that your physician is not considering this workup, request a referral to a specialist, or find another doctor. A good person to see is a Nephrologist (kidney specialist), who also specializes in hypertension.

You are a young person and now is the time to find the cause, if there is one. In no cause is found, you need your pressure controlled, before there is organ damage.

Best wishes.

Martin Cane, M.D.