Is There A Doctor/scientist In The House?

[wolf63]

I just read (scanned) this article in the Daily Mail and am not sure how much of it is to be believed. I have been on drugs for HBP since my 20s and I am now 49.98 years old now. During this time it has been relatively stable but with a handful of high readings.

http://tinyurl.com/qfmx6f4

I know that many people worry about their blood pressure and I would hate for anyone to panic over something in the Daily Mail.

It would be nice to know if there is any truth in what has been written

[jim360]

I'm afraid I don't know how true, or not, the claims in the article are, but the central point that blood pressure measured loser to the heart is a better indicator of BP problems seems very plausible. The idea has been bouncing around for a while, see for example this BBC article from June:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22812477

This article may also be of interest:

http://www.pulsecor.com/education/central-blood-pressure.html

and contains links to relevant literature, but as a non-specialist I can't vouch for the quality of the source or the literature, especially as the site is trying to sell you something. Best advice? Talk to your GP.

[wolf63]

Thanks for the BBC link - they are usually quite reliable.

I am not worried about this - if there was an issue my GP would drag me in to see him. He is chasing me to get a Lithium serum level check so I might surprise him and go visit him. That'll confuse him!

But I know that people do get very worried about blood pressure problems and the Daily Mail are known for slanting stories every so slightly.

Are you up in the civilised north now? Good luck in your studies - my entire knowledge about physics comes from Stargate and Star Trek. :-)

[Sqad]

Wolf

It has been known for years, that the central BP ( that blood that comes directly out of the left ventricle into the aorta ) is often at a different pressure to that of the arm or peripheral BP, and old physicians and cardiologists could gauge this by feeling the peripheral pulse with the palm of the hand......google " water hammer pulse and Corrigans Pulse.

Does it really matter in the long term, strokes and heart attacks which pressure is taken? No, at the moment, there is only one relevant study and that shows that the end result is no different whichever pressure is taken.
At the moment it is a good research too, but little else.

A rupture of the aorta or an aneurysm of the aorta in the part closest to the heart is rare...a GP will probably have never seen one.

Do not change your medication at all, in my opinion, but if you are concerned consult your GP.