High Blood Pressure

I need some help understanding how High Blood Pressure is treated if the individual has been diagnosed with Vaso Depressive or Vagal Vagal disorder. The Vaso Vagal dialation of Blood Vessels cause slow heart rythm and low blood pressure that causes periodic fainting.

My problem is that I have the Vaso Depressive diagnosis which led to a PM. Additionally, I have high blood pressure with a 145/95 average. My EP states that any drug that dialates blood vessels will increase the number of dizzy spells.

So my question is what do people with Vaso Vagal and High blood pressure problems do?

Any suggestions on how to discuss with my cardiologist next week?

3 Comments

High BP?

by ElectricFrank - 2008-12-05 06:12:22

Actually, 145/95 is marginal as far as hypertension is concerned. It certainly isn't dangerously high. One question when you say it is 145/95 average. Under what conditions were the readings taken to get the average? Also, how much does it vary?

My wife had a similar problem in that her BP ran a bit high, but when treated had the problem of dropping enough to cause fainting. Her mother had the same problem and lived into her 90's without taking BP meds.

These are things to consider when you see the cardiologist. Another thing to keep in mind in evaluating his/her statements of "risk". Ask him what the absolute risk is of leaving your BP untreated and what the risk is if treated. They like to state relative risks because it is more impressive. In case you aren't familiar with these terms, absolute risk would say you have a 1 in 1000 risk of something happening; relative risk would say you have 2 times the chance of it happening.

hope this helps,

frank

PS on the above

by bowlrbob - 2008-12-05 10:12:03

I forgot to mention I thought it was weird to give me a pacemaker to keep my heart rate up then give me a Beta-blocker to slow it down. But strange as this seems it has worked. Yes I have to use the pacer more so it won't last as long but for quality of life it has been awesome. I was released to live my life with no medical restrictions. Bowlrbob

VVS and Bradycardia

by bowlrbob - 2008-12-05 10:12:48

What you have And what I have sound the same. I was first diagnosed with the bradycardia slow heartbeat. Which as I understand it sometimes goes with VVS. So I was given a pacemaker. Then the story gets longer I passed out again and it was discovered I also have VVS. So My Electrophysiologist set the rate drop response on my pacer to deal with the VVS. When I have a heart rate drop which is caused by the VVS the pacer picks it up and jump starts my heart to 100 BPM. for 2 minutes this gets the blood pressure up quickly so I don't get dizzy or pass out. Then it goes back to its preset 70 BPM. The other problem I had was my blood pressure was running at 140 to 145 over 90 to 95. For this I am on atenolol 25 m. This gets it down into the 110 to 120 over 75 to 80 range most of the time. Since taking these measures 3 years ago I have not had any dizzy spells or pass-outs and my blood pressure has been fairly stable. Bowlrbob If you want any more info private mail me. I can even give you my Drs. name so your DR. can get hold of him. Good Luck BOB

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