Help, advice, support 26 y/o female with high BP

Heart health and blood vessels
1

Hi,

I am a 26 year old (as of sep 2014) female, healthy, active, slim at only 50kg, don't smoke and eat very well.

Back in July I went for a routine check up and BP reading for my contraceptive pill and my BP reading was through the roof and of concern. Two days later I was admitted to hospital for having a BP reading of 194/126. Tests were ran on my blood, urine, I had an ECG and apart from a high heart rate (over100 BPM resting) I was considered fine and discharged. Following this event I continued with very high BP readings between 160/95 to 180/120 on average. I had a 24 hour BP monitoring done, a 24 hour urine collection, ultrasound on my kidneys and adrenal glands and everything came back normal (apart from my high BP obviously). At this point I went onto drugs, ramipril (increasing weekly with clear blood tests) and lercanidipine. The lercanidipine did not suit me at all so I came off that and went onto beta blockers, bisoprolol (which again, didn't suit me at all) followed by propranolol. I have now just changed from ramipril due to side effects, onto losartan as of today. 

So now i take losartan and bisoprolol. 

In terms of side effects, WOW the headaches. I have now gone from radial headaches to sever pinpointed headaches on the left side of my head, sharp shooting pains which make me sensitive to noise and light and make me want to throw up. I have developed a persistent dry cough (hoping this will go now i have stopped ramipril) and my fingers get so cold i can barely move them. 

I took a prescribed sumatriptan 100mg for the headache today for the first time and although i felt a bit wierd (heaviness in my chest and limbs, tingly prickly skin) the headache did lessen.

I am currently under the specialist at the hospital who has arranged for an ultrasound of my heart. There has been mention of tachycardia and cardio myopathy. I don't want to read too much into these as obviously they are not pleasant to have.

Anyway, I just wanted to know if there was anyone else out there who is young and healthy and has high BP and knows the cause? My high blood pressure and high resting heart rate has the GP and specialists baffled. This has been going on for months now and my BP is still high. Even on ramipril 5mg and propranolol 3x a day my BP readings today were coming in at 164/110. My resting heart rate has come down to about 60-65 BPM on average. On my way home from the doctors today I almost had a cry as I have just had enough now, i am sick of taking pills and having headaches so bad that they are affecting my job and social life and general overall happiness. 

Please, any advice on this would be appreciated. 

Thanks

 

2

Oh dear,  so sorry to hear all that. Hopefully the medics will get you sorted but you obviously don't fit the normal criteria for hyperension ie. you are female and young, not overweight, active and don't smoke. 

Do they say it's the medication that give you the headaches or is it the hypertension itself? Are these readings taken in the surgery [white coat syndrome] or on a home monitor?

Other than say that daily brisk exercise, cutting out salt, sugar and alcohol [up to a point] helped me reduce mine from 160/90 at a health check down to <125/75>with just a ditsy dose of Losartan to help it along. Ramipril gave me a dreadful cough too. I do hope they manage to sort  you out very soon.

 

3

Some contraceptive pills may cause your blood pressure to rise. In most women, the rise in blood pressure due to the oral contraceptive pill is small, but unpredictable. Progestogen-only pills are thought to have no effect on blood pressure at all.Many women with high blood pressure can take the oral contraceptive pill but will need to have their blood pressure closely monitored. If your blood pressure does rise while you are taking the contraceptive pill you may be asked to try a different form of contraception. If you are taking a contraceptive pill and have high blood pressure then if you also smoke or are very overweight this will greatly increase your risk of health problems. It is best to stop smoking and lose some weight if you need to.

4

Hi Jane,

Thanks for your response. Sorry, I said I am on losartan and bisoprolol, I meant propranolol ! That is what I take now with my losartan. 

They don't know what's causing the headaches, I had radial pain pre meds assumed to be as a result of hypertension, but post meds the pain changed to very pinpointed in the same place on my head. It disturbs sleep and I have it every day. Some days it is ok and manageable, other days it is so bad it makes me wince when I get the shooting pain (every few seconds). On average 3-4 days a week I suffer with severe pain. I did get relief with the sumatriptan today though. 

I've been working from home (the doc wanted to sign me off work but I was against that) so I really have been resting, but sometimes I just have to log off my computer and lie down it hurts so much. 

I forgot to mention, I have had symptoms of syncope and have fainted on numerous occasions. I probably near faint 4 times a year and actually faint 1-2 times a year. This has happened since my late teens. However, this is usually when I exert myself and has Never before been picked up on as an issue. About 3-4 weeks ago now, I was in Nandos and passed out when paying for my meal. Usual symptoms that I get, hot, very sweaty and clammy, dizzy, nauseous, hearing goes, pulse in my ears. Followed by fainting. My housemate said I just went into slow mo mode. This is the first time it has happened when I haven't been exerting Myself. The other night I fell asleep, woke up ten mins later and I was gasping for breath and couldn't hear again for a few minutes. 

My bp readings are done at home on my own monitor, they're done at the doctors and in hospital too. I have to email my doctor my readings a couple of times a week (I need to take them 2-3 times a day). 

I have no idea what's going on. I just don't know what to do anymore ! 

I've cut salt (I don't add salt to my food anyway as I don't like the taste), I exercise (gently at the moment as been advised to not go to the gym which I usually do 3-4 times a week so just going for countryside walks at the minute), I'm trying not to drink and if I do it is only 1-2 at weekends but only say one weekend in 3, I have cut sugar from foods (drinking water mainly and I make all meals fresh) and I am trying to sleep more and relax my mind as best I can.

Honestly, I don't know what else I can do ! According to the way I live, I should be fit as a flaming fiddle ! 

5

Hi Derek,

Thanks for your response. I had to stop taking the contraceptive pill I was on and am now on a progesterone only pill called cerazette. The blood pressure is still very high. I do not smoke, I am actively fit and I weigh just under 8 stone and of athletic build. 

6

Yes you certainly should be as fit as a flaming fiddle living as you do! There does sound to be something really mysterious going on. As for the fainting, I may be wrong but I was under the impression that fainting or even just feeling light headed was likely to be due to LOW BP not high?

7

Oh I'm so sorry to hear of the problems you are having - it's one thing us 'oldies' having high BP but quite another when you are so young.  The only young people I know on pills for high blood pressure are people with familial high BP (parents who have had high BP from a young age) - does that apply to your family perhaps?

Is there any other medication you are taking apart from the contraceptive pill, and have you been checked out for an sudden allergic reaction to the contraceptive itself - something that might be contributing to the head pain.  However, as you have only just switched from Ramipril once that gets totally out of your body, perhaps the head pain will improve. I developed severe head pain on Ramipril.

The shooting pains in the side of the head that you describe sound very much like neuralgia pain.  There is also something called TMJ which can cause terrible head pain but I think that causes jaw pain as well.

The sooner the specialist carries out the ultrasound and gets to the bottom of this, the better.  The very best of luck to you, I hope that whatever it turns out to be can be treated quickl and restore you to good health. 

 

8

Hey! Unfortunately I do not have an answer to your situation. I am a 24 year old female in a very similar situation. If you find any answers please let me know. I have been practicing breathing exercises hopefully that will show some results soon. Maybe you could try it. smile Good luck to you.

9

Try to eat Celery Stalk, it lowers blood pressure: An active compound called phthalides in celery has been proven to boost circulatory health. Raw, whole celery reduces high blood pressure.

 

10

Hi Jane,

Spot on, usually a symptom of low blood pressure. This is when discussions surround cardio myopathy were raised as using the medical term, my heart may be doing 'weird things' haha. 

These episodes come on randomly or if I have been doing something strenuous or have been ill. Two days before by bp was tested in July, I almost passed out in the am ironing my blouse before work. Then I was ok until I went on hols end of August, I was ill and fully passed out. Then I passed out in Nandos in October. Then I had symptoms but lay down till I felt ok again following sex with my partner (sorry, TMI). It wasn't even THAT active ! 

So yes, not entirely sure what's going on. My bp is constantly high though, today I've had readings 158/110, 152/110, 158/106 and 164/110 so who knows. 

The GP today referred me to a specialist at another hospital who I will see a week on Tuesday so only time will tell I suppose.... What are the risks of high BP? Is it just stroke and heart attack? 

11

Hi mrs O,

Thanks for your response, your insight into head pain have been really helpful ! Thank you !! Desperately hoping the head pains stop now, I'm taking my first dose of losartan tonight. 

I was discussing ramipril and headaches with the doc today. As I know ramipril works by widening your veins, I also know migraines can occur through widening of the veins in your brain. However, I know there is a barrier to the head which may prevent the effects of ramipril being carried up into your brain. The doc said he was going to research and we can discuss next week. 

No family history of high bp, parents are slim and healthy (ish) not as active as they could be. But neither of them take any prescribed meds. 

I came off my combi pill of cilest when this all started so unlikely to be that but I will discuss this with my doc next week when I see him smile 

12

Hi Lucy, glad to hear I am not the only young person suffering with high BP ! My mums a counsellor and has given me a book on mindfulness which I've been trying too. It has ways to manage stress and anxiety and includes things like breathing exercises etc. 

Thing is I am totally happy with everything in my life. Nothing leaves me feeling stressed (other than this health situation!!!) so I just don't know. 

Hopefully we will both get to the bottom of it soon smile 

13

Thanks smart card, I'll try and get more celery in my diet smile 

14

It may not cheer you up but my BP has most days since 2000 been higher than yours but most evenings it then goes down to below normal. I do though have the excuse that I was 66 before I became hypertensive and even then had been doing all the right things for years, No smoking, no salt or prepared meals, little sugar and always active and walking as I don't drive.

I had all the tests you have had and many more drugs. At least at your age they will take more notice of your symptoms and eventually stabilise it.

I had an MR scan of my kidneys last week in yet another attempt to find a reason. A lot of research is going on at the moment on non drug options to control BP. Renal denervation looked promising and I tried to get on their trial program but it has now been halted for more research. Another is Rox flow coupler where a device inserted into your groin diverts some of the blood flow from the heart. 

15

The BBC series Trust Me I'm a Doctor has recently (see iPlayer)  been testing different foods for their effect on BP. They all had some effect but not enough to be a cure.

16

Hi Derek,

Eek sounds extensive !! The cardiologist I saw on Monday was discussing putting a monitor in for my heart which will leave a big scar on my chest. I was definitely not keen on that idea sad 

My bp tends to be slightly lower in the morning, but these are when my headaches are at their worst. Then as the day goes on it tends to get higher. 

I've read the patient leaflet for my losartan which I am starting today, and this says it could be 3-6 weeks before it has a decent effect on my BP. it's all such a long haul hey !

I hope they get to the bottom of your problems soon smile 

17

I have been taking Losartan for most of the last thirteen years with ibrestartan, ramipril and perindopril  for short periods making me into a dull headed zombie.

Initially Losartan made me light headed when standing up. That took quite a long time to stop. I noticed when stopping it that a vauge itching feeling stopped. My GP said that its effect on the kidneys causes that in some people. 

This morning my BP was 209/90 50. Lunch time 163/93 63. Dinner ime after having been out most of the afternoon 112/64 51. What they call labile hypertension for Mrs O and I.

 

18

Beetroot was one of them I remember Derek. They concluded that it can lower the BP by a few % [forget the number] but as the BP fluctuates all the time I couldn't see how they could know or even what the point was. The other 2 things they tested weren't as effective as the beetroot. Fine if you like beetroot; tough if you don't !! I do like the stuff but once tried the juice and found it horrible.

19

Beetroot was one of them I remember Derek. They concluded that it can lower the BP by a few % [forget the number] but as the BP fluctuates all the time I couldn't see how they could know or even what the point was. The other 2 things they tested weren't as effective as the beetroot. Fine if you like beetroot; tough if you don't !! I do like the stuff but once tried the juice and found it horrible.

20

r35506, I dare say you've been prescribed the Losartan as it is supposed to be the one with that causes the least side effects according to my wonderful pharmacist, especially as you've suffered side effects from a few others.  Are you taking the Losartan alongside the Propranolol and Bisoprolol or have you discontinued one of those now.  I've had horrid side effectsfrom many of the BP pills over the last 18 months.  Losartan seems to suit me but unfortunately is not reducing my BP sufficiently, sometimes hardly at all.  I am on just the 50mg but unlikely to be prescribed a higher dose as I only have one kidney which itself is low functioning.

I'm trying the daily stick of celery, daily beetroot and two cloves of fresh crushed garlic (used to have one but the recent TV programme  recommended two).  They didn't say how much beetroot one should eat.  Mind you my usually very healthy and organic diet has fallen by the wayside over the last few days as I've had a tummy problem and had to stay near the loo - hubby cooked baked figs last Saturday evening (think I must have had a bad one) so I'm blaming him!cry  Anyway after a couple of days on only dry toast, banana, apple puree, arrowroot biscuits and boiled chicken and rice, things seemed to have returned to normal (whatever normal is!)

Another thought going round in my head is whether you have had blood tests to check whether you have any inflammation showing in your body - namely ESR and CRP blood tests?

Have a good night and I hope the Losartan will work its magic as soon as possible.