Anxiety and High Blood Pressure

johnson

New member
The reason why I ask this is here, is because most of us have anxiety.... and I think I accept that I do.

For about 5 years, I have had high blood pressure. It came out of no where when I was 18. Now, at 23, my blood pressure ranges from low to high, but I notice almost a constant bounding pulse --- my pulse is very strong almost all the time, whether my pulse is 60, 80, or the normal 90 beats per minute.

The second I do any kind of activity (get up from my bed and run downstairs for a drink, for instance) my pulse hits 110 or 120 and I can hear it in my head. When I come back to my bed and lay down, I feel it in my arms, forehead, etc.... its everywhere. As a side comment, I also almost always have sweaty palms... 24/7

I've had every test to man done over the past few years.... now that I know I have BFS with my legs, I'd really like to address this final problem that has plagued me for years...

I've had the following done:

EKG's, Echocardiogram, stress test (non nuclear), 24 hour urine, 24 hour holter monitor, 24 hour blood pressure monitor, full blood work, full kidney function test, renal ultrasound.

All has come back OK. The doctors have "no reason" for my high blood pressure and bounding pulse (rapid heart rate, I find myself over 100 at times sitting down). Although more recently, since I lost weight, I would say my average resting heart rate is about 88, and I usually don't see it much over 105.

My medical doctor was right about one thing: BFS. I really really thought something was wrong with my body, but he attributed the REAL pain I was experiencing (and weakness) to BFS (I didn't know the real name at that time) before I even saw one neurologist. The second my EMG was over this past Wednesday, two days later I am feeling 99% better. My twitching is gone, almost completely, and so is my arm and leg pain. I still feel a LITTLE bit of leg pain, but no where near what it was like while I was freaking out about **S, and such.

So does anyone have any ideas? This bounding pulse and heavy heart rate I feel is constant, and sometimes I can't even sleep because I feel my pulse going through my head. I don't want this to go on for long, cause I know a heavy and fast pulse can weaken veins and arteries over long terms, and I'm only 23! :)

Could this all be anxiety related? Are there any other doctors I should seek? I know this is a community, but the only reason I'm asking here is because I know that a lot of you are anxious and might be able to relate.

Thanks!

-MJ
 
Totally normal...I've been in the fitness industry for over 10 years and I've had very fit people with high heart rates and very non-fit people with lower ones. The best thing to lower your resting heart rate is to increase your cardiac output by running (I use sprints...with walking intervals). When I had panic attacks in my 20's , I also developed a high blood pressure. But, as I came to know my body better and take my BP at home also, I realized that it was only high at the doctor's office. I wear a heart rate monitor a lot for working out and often when I'm at the start of class, I'll glance at it and it will be 110 or so just from talking to people. However, my resting rate (which you get by taking your heart rate 3 mornings in a row and averaging it) is around 67...used to be in the 70's. Resting heart rate is really the most important thing because it is the rate your heart is at for the entire time you're sleeping. Anxiety tends to increase your heart rate dramatically and I find that doing some relaxation exercises will lower it quite a bit. Bottom line is, as long as your doctor doesn't see any need for BP medication (I know mine was on the fence for a while but I convinced her that I had never had a high BP when taking it at home or the gym), I wouldn't give much thought to the heart rate issue. I tend to feel my heart beating while other people don't feel it much at all. A doctor told me once that some people's hearts sit closer to the ribs and those people are more likely to "feel" their heart, including skipped beats...where other people will have all these things and just not feel them.

Shelley
 
YES, it definitely makes it higher in general. Both my mother and grandmother are pretty anxious in nature and both have fast pulse rates (high 80's...low 90's)...they have always been that way. My grandmother is 81 and in great health so I figure it's not too bad a thing. Plus, we all have pretty fast metabolisms so we can eat a lot of goodies (one good side effect of a rapid pulse)...and, unfortunately, the more you think about it, the faster it gets. You've had every test known to man and you know it's not your thyroid or any of the other likely culprits so I would just assume it's just the way your body works. Nothing to worry about at all...
 
I'm not so worried about the fast pulse as much as I am hearing it in my head...

I figure, if I run and hear my pulse in my head, doesn't that mean that my pulse is pushing against the blood vessels, and will eventually weaken them?
 
No, it means your running and your heart is pumping. Everyone has that when they run. It's probably a sign of good circulation...

Hey- what's with the worrying!! You're supposed to be taking some time off from that!!
 

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