Too Low Blood Pressure May Signal Heart Failure - ThinnerTimes

Peckkale · 02-17-2006, 06:21 PM

My blood pressure has taken a huge drop since my surgery. On an average day it measures 80/50.

I recently ran across this article and am curious what you may think about it.

Too Low Blood Pressure May Signal Heart Failure
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Among heart disease patients, a blood pressure reading of lower than normal may be cause for grave concern. According to a report printed in the American Heart Journal, heart patients whose systolic blood pressure tests at lower than 100 mmHg experience a 50% mortality rate. That compares with a significantly lower mortality rate of 32% among those heart disease patients whose systolic pressure tests slightly above the normal range, or approximately 130-139 mmHg. The normal range for healthy systolic blood pressure is 120-129 mmHg. A low diastolic blood pressure (normal is 80 mmHg) was also found to be associated with a higher risk of death from heart failure. The study's findings are based on data from more than 5,700 heart disease patients at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Bypassingme619 · 02-17-2006, 06:51 PM

Peckkale I would highly recommend keeping a journal of your blood pressures. I would run any concerns you may have with your BP with your doctor. HF could be a contributing factor but so could a couple of others. Keep an eye on it.

coptergirl · 02-17-2006, 07:29 PM

I would definately make a trip to your doctor - this can be pretty scarry!!

Gina in NY · 02-17-2006, 08:15 PM

I agree a trip to Dr is required, but the article refers to heart patients. Do you already have heart disease or a history in your family?

I wonder if you could take something to bring your blood pressure up? Sounds crazy doesn't it? "Eat two sticks of salted butter and call me in the morning." I wonder if the heart failure is when the blood pressure goes so low your heart stops beating (I guess that is what failure means, huh.) I wonder if they use pacemakers for that??

Obviously, my degrees are not in medicine (though if you have any music questions, let me know) and my response is unencumbered by the thought process, but I hope you find some real answers soon! Darn weekends!

Dyann · 02-18-2006, 05:46 AM

Do you have that blood pressure with Heart Disease?? Or do you just run low now. Are you well hydrated??? Do you have symptoms of low blood pressure or are you comfortable. That article is a huge generalization of a subset of patients.

Peckkale · 02-18-2006, 07:42 AM

Good Morning Ladies,

Here's my family History,
...... Father - CHF Died @ 70
...... Mother - 1st Heart Attack @ 38
...... GrandFather (Mother's Side)- Unknown
...... GrandMother (Mother's Side) Stroke Died @ 72

My Cardic Stress Test (Pre-op)
Cardiac Stress Test with Cardiolite the attending Doctor remarked,"Looks good except for the extra heart beat." I looked it up when I got home. It's called Extrasystole or Ectopic beats.

When I went for the test results the doctor said "No signifcant heart problems"

I have felt great up until two weeks ago. I've started to experience chest pains....Again (With emotional stress). I checked my blood pressure during these pains and my BP is always around 80/50, sometimes a bit lower. I thought it impossible for me to be having a heart issue with such "Good" blood pressure and figured the pains must be my large, sagging breast causing it.

When I ran across the above article and wasn't sure how to react to the info.

Dyann · 02-18-2006, 11:56 AM

The blood vessels that actually deliver oxygen to your heart muscle (coronary arteries) fill right after the point the blood exits the heart in the aorta. Like a faucet that doesn't have enough water pressure, if there is not enough pressure to get the blood to get into the coronary arteries and deliver the blood containing oxygen, the heart gets a "muscle cramp" or ischemic. Put that on top of coronary arteries that have atherosclerosis, it makes it even worse. Low blood pressure alone with no other problems or symptoms is no problem. We as humans require a certain perfusion pressure to pump the blood to our vital organs.

A stress test would demonstrate an area of ischemia and estimate how the pump is working. Everyone has extra heart beats at times. If they become frequent or continuous is when they are an issue and they can cause low blood pressure by ineffectual pumping of the heart. I hope all goes away and you overcome the genetics given to us by our families.

Can't help with the sagging breasts...sorry

niki1411 · 02-18-2006, 01:04 PM

yes indeed too low blood pressure can mean heart failure but there is always other symptoms that go along with it. healthy people go around with 80/50 reguarly and they have no heart disease. if you feel sob, really tired, swollen lower legs than maybe you should see a doctor. but if you have no symptoms to go with the low bp then you shouldnt worry. im a nurse i know these things.

Blueyz · 02-18-2006, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peckkale

My blood pressure has taken a huge drop since my surgery. On an average day it measures 80/50.

I recently ran across this article and am curious what you may think about it.

Too Low Blood Pressure May Signal Heart Failure
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Among heart disease patients, a blood pressure reading of lower than normal may be cause for grave concern. According to a report printed in the American Heart Journal, heart patients whose systolic blood pressure tests at lower than 100 mmHg experience a 50% mortality rate. That compares with a significantly lower mortality rate of 32% among those heart disease patients whose systolic pressure tests slightly above the normal range, or approximately 130-139 mmHg. The normal range for healthy systolic blood pressure is 120-129 mmHg. A low diastolic blood pressure (normal is 80 mmHg) was also found to be associated with a higher risk of death from heart failure. The study's findings are based on data from more than 5,700 heart disease patients at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Mine runs low now all of the time. The nurses always tell me it is because I am so little. It was always normal before surgery, now it gets so low sometimes that I can feel it and actually have to put my head in between my legs because I feel like I am going to pass out. Last time I was at Urgent Care for my migraine, it was 110 over 70. The nurse told me "oh, I can'e believe your bllod pressure isn't high because you have a migraine." I told her that was high for me. She just gave me a wierd look.