Blood Pressure

[Sandi K]

Hi everyone,

Wondering if blood pressure is considered a cause for an SAH or is it just something to be monitored after an SAH so as not to stress the body systems further? Does everyone who has an SAH have high blood pressure generally?

I was asked to monitor my BP for a few weeks after my PM-NASAH and it would be high sometimes but generally it was really good. I was fitted with a 24 hour holster and wore it while I had returned to work. It was a very stressful time, I wasn't feeling well, my brain was not working, and my boss had an important meeting that day in which I had to provide some information which we didn't have ready yet. Very stressful but the BP report came back ok. In fact the BP report said it was good. However, my GP said the neurologist might want my BP lower than the general 'normal' because I've had a brain bleed.

Is this a 'what comes first, the chicken or the egg' question?

Sandi K.

[donnamarie]

Ive always had normal to borderline blood pressure and its been low ish since ......

[myratas]

Hi Sandi

My BP has always been very high, in fact just 2 weeks before my SAH my doctor wanted me to go into hospital for it, I said no (I am too stubborn) and then I had the SAH.

I am on 5 different medications for it at the moment but there is a long history of high BP in my family.

I really don't know if the high BP is one of the causes of aneurysms/SAH/NASAH especially the ones that ruptured.

I am now see a cardiologist for high BP and also my heart muscle had weakend since SAH, they don't think it is related to the actual SAH but again there is a genetic link in my case.

[Louise]

Hi

Im on 3 types of Bp meds. I dont know before the SAH but I was told that because of the SAH you can develope high BP...

I used to get the 24hr attached hated it, now I get a monitor home for the medcentre take a reading twice a day (I think it is) thats a much better way....

[Nessie]

I had a high blooodpressure since i was 22.

On and off medication for it.

Used loads of different stuff.

I was told that the height of BP is not always the issue, as long as it is stable.

the medication I am on now (and used between 2002 and 2007) is candesartan and it is the only one that doesn't give me ANY!! side effects.

I switched to labetolol and L-methyldopa while we were trying to get pregnant. it gave me a year of headaches, then alomst 2 years of no side effects, but then.. Got the SAH. since the SAH I wanted my old meds back. And they suit me fine now!

[Super Mario]

I personally think there is a link. Think about a balloon and what happens when you put more air in it thus increasing the internal pressure. Liken that to an anni, a thin walled balloon formed on an artery, increase the pressure and pop it goes.

I have always had a BP on the low side, never ever high, but my bleed was preceded by an event that would have raised the calmest person's BP.

[Surfer34]

From the studies I have read there appears to be a link between high blood pressure and aneurysms and aneurysm rupture. Therefore, I think monitoring and controlling blood pressure for those patients is very important.

However, there doesnt seem to be any link between blood pressure and non aneurysm perimesencephalic SAH. In fact, it appears there are NO identifiable risk factors for PMNASAH. There are a few studies on that specific topic, i'll try to find and post them.

For me personally (i had non aneurysm SAH) I had normal blood pressure before my SAH (120/80) and since my SAH I have had even lower (110/70).

I know that while in the hospital they almost always give BP lowering drugs because the stress alone from the event can raise BP significantly.

[Anya]

When I visited the gp some months pre sah, she thought my BP should be monitored as it was raised, but I buried my head in the sand on this, believing it would go away & stepped up the exercise. I remember going to see her about a crippling pain in my neck (two weeks earlier) which caused me to lie on the floor it felt so bad. In retrospect, think this was a sentinel bleed, but wasn’t picked up. On my discharge day, the gp phoned my home she was so anxious to apologise.

I’m kept on a small dose of cozaar, but it does have a tendency to creep up even on this. The last time it was measured it seemed to be behaving. In my case, there is a hereditary link. I can’t remember where I heard it, but if you’ve suffered pre-eclampsia in pregnancy (I did) you have a tendency in the future to develop hypertension. BP’s also affected by cholesterol so have tests for this too. Last month it was thought sensible to start me back on statins, which reluctantly I’ve resumed.

I think on the whole sah patients are only prescribed pills if they present with high blood pressure but it isn’t standard otherwise to prescribe them.

Edited March 4, 2011 by Skippy
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[kempse]

I firmly believe that my blood pressure rose, causing my aneursym to burst, due to the stress I was under at the time, although when the paramedic came it was raised but not sufficently for him to be alarmed, possibly why he left me home alone:roll:

On leaving hospital I was told to have it checked every 6 months but when I went in for my second coiling I was told by my consultant to have it taken weekly for the 6 weeks prior to my op. It must have been ok then, but more recently, again due to stress, has been higher and at my request (don't want to risk my other annie rupturing) I have been put on Atenolol which I have been taking for a week now. I go to the docs next Thursday where presumably he will take my bp again.

I think it wise to have it checked regularly anyway and am glad that mine is being monitored as it has been so up and down:roll:.

Sarah

[Surfer34]

Kempse - you might want to consider a home blood pressure monitoring machine. I bought one for my dad and I use it all the time. They are sold at most drug stores and mine cost about $70 (american).

[JayKay]

I didn't have high BP, but it was creeping up and I was told to keep an eye on it because it was borderline. HOWEVER, I believe I had spikes of high BP due to the stress of working with certain people, and indeed the day of my SAH I had a meeting with HR about it.... The surgeon told me I had no risk factors for SAH so stress seems to be the only factor. I was taken off my arthritis NSAIDs because they can raise BP, although I haven't had it taken recently. Hmmm that reminds me - I should ask GP next time, eh?

[Trish]

I didn't have high BP, but it was creeping up and I was told to keep an eye on it because it was borderline. HOWEVER, I believe I had spikes of high BP due to the stress of working with certain people, and indeed the day of my SAH I had a meeting with HR about it.... The surgeon told me I had no risk factors for SAH so stress seems to be the only factor. I was taken off my arthritis NSAIDs because they can raise BP, although I haven't had it taken recently. Hmmm that reminds me - I should ask GP next time, eh?

My blood pressure has always been very low which my GP assures me is the best way to be therefore I don't think BP was a contributory factor to my SAH. I personally feel that my SAH was stress related and also the result of me thinking I was 'super woman' trying to keep all the ball in the air. After my SAH the 'super woman' days are gone and the pants are always worn inside the tights instead of over them!!

[donnamarie]

I personally feel that my SAH was stress related and also the result of me thinking I was 'super woman' trying to keep all the ball in the air. After my SAH the 'super woman' days are gone and the pants are always worn inside the tights instead of over them!!

trish i totally agree with this i was always on the go working 50 to 60 hrs a week in my own job helping my dad with his work.partying at the weekend 2/3 nights i can just about manage 1 then im in bed for 2 days :lol: i still struggle with this slower me now and will try to do what i used to do every so often

donna

[KelBel]

Hiya

I am sure I have read that there is a link between SAH and high BP, although that may be SAH caused by aneurysm rupture rather than NASAH.

I personally suffered borderline high BP for up to 10 years maybe (with BP at approx 145/90) which only went normal after losing nearly 5 stone in weight many years ago... then I was put on BP medication 6 months prior to my SAH (as it had gone up to 150/90) which then lowered it back to normal (approx 120/80).

When I saw an emergency Dr 2 days after my initial SAH my BP was 175/98.

It has since been checked regularly and has been okay. It hasn't been checked for a while now but I have an appointment next friday for a check-up.

Kel x

[Sandi K]

Like Surfer I bought a home monitor and was checking pretty regularly for a few weeks. The hospital 24 hour holster showed my pressure to be more stable than what the home monitor was showing.

I think I jump up and down and I think that's what caused the bleed. The jumping up in BP is from stress (adrenaline). Doctors seem reluctant to point to stress, they want us to quit smoking, quit drinking, eat well, and exercise. I already do all that. I had loads of stress at work and I was absolutely exhausted. I see that now in retrospect. 'hindsight is 20/20' right!

The trouble with this is my BP problem comes from the natural flight or fight response. So how does one change that natural reaction? This is going to take some time and thought. I already know that I can't go back to the same pace and that I must do things differently. Now I need to start defining how. This is such an eye opening time for me. It's such an opportunity to make things better!

Sandi K. Xoxxo

[paul99]

the normal systolic b/p is roughly 100 plus your age heart on pumping and the dystolic bp in a healthy person is normally 60-70 hence normal perameters as the heart is resting the dyastolic is safe to 85 but any higher is cause of concern lins was 200/110 right after bleed then slowley reduced it is now 120/65 i know lins bp went through the roof when it happened hope this helps

[JayKay]

My blood pressure has always been very low which my GP assures me is the best way to be therefore I don't think BP was a contributory factor to my SAH. I personally feel that my SAH was stress related and also the result of me thinking I was 'super woman' trying to keep all the ball in the air. After my SAH the 'super woman' days are gone and the pants are always worn inside the tights instead of over them!!

LOL!! Well the specialist nurse said that every single patient with SAH that she talks to says "I was working 7 days a week" or "I was in a very stressful job" - and that's not scientific, that's just her observation. ... I certainly worked with a cow of a woman and her sidekick, and it was a very stressful situation that I thought I could cope with.

Actually, a little aside: drawing on the fact that I'm "brain damaged" I confronted the woman in question the other day, over at the hospital where she still works (although she's the subject of a disciplinary!): I went to her office, peeked through the door, went "oh you're still here. Are you happy with yourself?" She looked surprised, asked me why, and I said "thanks to you I came this close to dying, to losing everything. This close!!" and walked out closing the door behind me. She looked stunned, as if she had no idea what I was on about, but I felt surprisingly good. LOL!! (I really didn't want to stoop to her level but since the SAH I'm less worried about what people think )

[paul99]

oh jen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you naughty girl smacked bum for you but as it made you feel that good well done he he

[goldfish.girl]

Well said Jen, that made me laugh! x

[Happydawn]

Hi everyone,

Wondering if blood pressure is considered a cause for an SAH or is it just something to be monitored after an SAH so as not to stress the body systems further? Does everyone who has an SAH have high blood pressure generally?

I was asked to monitor my BP for a few weeks after my PM-NASAH and it would be high sometimes but generally it was really good. I was fitted with a 24 hour holster and wore it while I had returned to work. It was a very stressful time, I wasn't feeling well, my brain was not working, and my boss had an important meeting that day in which I had to provide some information which we didn't have ready yet. Very stressful but the BP report came back ok. In fact the BP report said it was good. However, my GP said the neurologist might want my BP lower than the general 'normal' because I've had a brain bleed.

Is this a 'what comes first, the chicken or the egg' question?

Sandi K.

When I have attended meetings with Consultants in Neuro, they seem to believe there is a link with b/p. I have a b/p monitor and find it good to check for myself. My GP check it every six months as recommended. I never suffered with b/p before the SAH it was always good when it was checked. My b/p was higher after the SAH and I required b/p tablets for years until know when its about back to what it was before the b/h. Hope that helps

[Karen]

I've not had high BP before or after the SAH event ..... would imagine that high BP wouldn't help the situation if there was a weakness in any artery wall and therefore being made to work even harder.

[Anya]

When I have attended meetings with Consultants in Neuro, they seem to believe there is a link with b/p. I have a b/p monitor and find it good to check for myself. My GP check it every six months as recommended. I never suffered with b/p before the SAH it was always good when it was checked. My b/p was higher after the SAH and I required b/p tablets for years until know when its about back to what it was before the b/h. Hope that helps

Hi Happydawn, Yes I've heard this is the case. Are you no longer now taking medication for b/p, whereas you were soon after your event? What changes were made to enable your b/p to revert to a normal reading? Was it dietary or through exercise? I am very interested to know this!!

Anya

[Sandi K]

Hi everyone, just wanted to advise what the neurologist told me in my appt last week when I asked about BP. He said the NASAH and blood pressure are in no way related and there is nothing to show that bp caused the bleed. He explained that they don't know what causes perimesencephalic brain bleeds. Sorry everyone, we didn't talk about other types, just the type of bleed I had. He told me to carry on with a healthy lifestyle and don't change anything.

It's unsettling to have no known cause and I still can't help but think my head exploded from stress. I just really hope that I'll be better at prioritizing and understanding what's worth worrying about when I go back to work. I sure don't want another one of these!!

Sandi K.