DH’s BP is in the 140+/90+ range and his doc just increased his BP meds.
I did cardiac rehab in your area – I got a lot out of it. Their hours are a limiting factor for people who work. I thought it was the most productive part of my recovery.
Our docs seem to want our BP around 120/80 and made H start BP meds when his was 130s/100. Higher would have made them crazy!
I don’t have the link handy, but I know I read something, maybe in the NY Times or W Post, with a study about revised bp standards for those over 60. Something about stiffening arteries justifying that higher bp was ok.
@CountingDown - at Shady Grove? If you have time, would you pm me where it was. Thank you.
This is what I saw:
“Among adults age 60 and older with high blood pressure, aim for a target blood pressure under 150/90. Among adults age 30 to 59 with high blood pressure, aim for a target blood pressure under 140/90. Among adults with diabetes or chronic kidney disease, aim for a target blood pressure under 140/90.Dec 28, 2016
New guidelines published for managing high blood pressure - …
Harvard University › health › blog › new…”
But of course, I am sure the cardiologist knows the best target range.
Fwiw, I am firmly convinced that my PVC episodes are connected to menopause. The cardio looked at me like I was off my rocker but I know when they started.
Time to get a new cardiologist, @Gatormama :
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/be-aware-for-perimenopause/all
Stop worrying about the PVCs (I also have them). They are benign. Worry about the BP and stress. Those are what is life threatening. As to Magnesium, the Oxide version is what is regularly available and not well absorbed and causes diarrhea. Fine one that ends with “ate” like Magnesium Citrate, Glycinate, Chelate, Threonate. It will reduce PVCs and help bring the BP down.
I have PVC’s, wore a 24 hr. And 30 day monitor about a year ago. My doctor has me on an infantile dose of cardivolol…a beta blocker. 3.125 mg twice a day. The PVC’s were uncomfortable, now I rarely feel them. My cardio doc said I could be on these all my life with no issues, and that was confirmed by my general practioner, too. I would have him discuss this with his doc. My cardio doc had me on another beta blocker at first, and it caused weight gain. I researched this one and as soon as the doc switched, the weight slid off.
I agree with BB - PVCs are well known to happen during menopause and peri-menopause. My internist even knew that. Also, @GTalum is correct about the magnesium oxide - look for the Citrate version. My D is supposed to take it for another issue and the only problem is I can only find it in huge capsule sizes that she finds difficult to swallow.
My daughter used natural calm magnesium powder (you mix with water) - available online or in GNC stores. Looks like it is magnesium citrate. She liked the raspberry flavor but it comes in a few different flavors;
Isn’t magnesium citrate also a laxative? Its used before colonoscopies as a “prep”.
Yes, it relaxes your body including your digestive system and so is also a laxative. Years ago when you had an upset stomach you took Milk of Magnesia because it had this effect.
Yes, Magnesium Citrate is a laxative, but the supplement isn’t near as strong as the laxative you find. Those who have problems (I take Natural calm as well) can take another 'ate.
Thanks guys, I had done some research online so I knew I was not just talking out my a** when I said it was related to menopause. I am, unfortunately, in a backwater, and so finding better doctors within a reasonable distance is impossible. Now, if I feared cancer or something serious, I’d make the trek into NYC.
Update - we are relaxing at the beach and he is doing much better. Had a new bp machine shipped to us here so he can start monitoring using a consistent device. I think this is primarily stress related, followed by family history and diet. I will also mention the magnesium tips.
Stress is big! I have had occasional very rapid heartbeats since I was a teenager. It had been getting worse in recent years (more frequently occurring, episodes would last longer). I would drink 2 or 3 cups of coffee in the morning, and then run in the late afternoon or evening, 7 or 8 hours later. In recent years the rapid heartrate would occurr after I finished my run. I thought the caffeine couldn’t be contributing 7 or 8 hours after drinking coffee but a little over a year ago I cut back on the caffeine (1 scoop regular, 3 scoops decaf) and it has made a huge difference. Maybe I am extra sensitive to caffeine and my body processes it slowly. So just some anecdotal evidence that cutting back on caffeine can help a lot.
My brother had PVCs in college (and was a hypochondriac, to boot.) Graduated, they went away.
Our tolerance for caffeine can shift, over time.
@NJres Have you ever had an irregular heart beat while exercising or just after?
Yes, sometimes it will trigger while I am running. I have to stop and walk then, or ideally sit down. Fortunately, that rarely happens. When I bicycle I am at risk when I stop for a traffic light. Again, not too often.
@NJres I’ll just mention this because we went through this.
Exercise can trigger irregular beats for H. They caught it once during a stress test and he needed an additional test because of it. He’s had it his entire life so he never worried about it, and thankfully, the additional test was clear.
But when D had her issues, they took it very seriously that her dad had irregularities with exercise and made her get a stress test, too, even though she was only fifteen.
When the stress test was over, they told us that D was good because her heart beat became very normal when she was exercising and the irregular beats only showed up again only after the exercise was over for a while.
So when I hear exercise can trigger irregular beats, it makes me think it could be worth checking out.