After surviving a rare coronary artery dissection and massive heart attack while nine months pregnant, Nefertari has devoted her life to uplifting other heart patients and promoting heart health awareness.See all posts »
My Fluctuating Heart Pressure
After my initial diagnosis of congestive heart failure, my doctors put me on several medications to control everything from my heart rhythm to my fluctuating blood pressure.
During the first few months of taking my blood pressure medicine, I was monitored very closely. There were times when the nurse was unable to get an accurate blood pressure reading because the medicine worked so well that my blood pressure was actually too low for the electric machine to pick up.
There were also times when my blood pressure was high. At one point my doctor thought I was experiencing "white coat syndrome." This happens to those of us who feel anxious or nervous when we know that the doctor "wearing the white coat" will soon enter the room.
When my blood pressure is elevated during the time of my office visit, the nurse will usually have me wait for a few minutes before she checks it again. This usually does the trick to get an accurate reading.
I also must remember to take my medicine before my doctor's appointment. If I forget to take my medicine, my blood pressure will be much higher that it would have been had I taken it. This affects the accuracy of the reading as well.
Although there are many environmental factors that can cause blood pressure to fluctuate, I try to minimize the risk by doing my part. Taking my medicine and staying calm are two important steps to ensure my blood pressure stays regulated.
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