Blood Pressure
 

Hi, just need some advice really, I have been feeling extremely weak and tired today, so decided to take my bp, it was 130/88 on lying and 97/62 on standing... Been having a few heart palpitations too. It's not low low when standing, but it's low for me.
Had a very bad 3 weeks with eating, and a on/off rough 6 months with it, I'm not underweight though, just wondering what I should do... nothing, go to docs next week, or go tonight... what do you think? I've searched the net and it says this type of hypotension often occurs in AN but doesn't say what to do!
Thanks, Em

Well, it's sort of obvious what to do! Eat properly! And see your doctor in the mea time if you're worried about your blood pressure. He/she will let you know what changes you need to make to your diet/if anything needs monitoring.

When you take your BP when you are stood up is it immediately after you stand? That makes a huge difference as often people's drops quite a lot if they get up (especially quickly) if they have been sat or especially laid for some time.

A BP of that level should really be checked as yeh, the sitting one is ok but if you are standing, the cuff is properly in place and it is the right size cuff (these are important factors) then the standing one really should be quite a bit higher than that and there definitely should be closer to each other (which makes me think you've done it straight after you've stood). The diastolic value (which means the value where the BP is between heart beats (and is the 2nd number (so on yours the 88 and 62)) and should really stay around constant and it is a change in that which is more of a concern as that should not be affected by much). You need to get checked out. Yes, AN (Anorexia Nervosa) with the factors involved in it and the fact you've not been eating will drop it to some degree but having it low is not good for you and puts strain on your body. As well as that, it may be something other than the Anorexia that is causing it or a factor of that that needs to be looked at properly. Also make sure you are drinking properly as that can hav a big effect on it and if you're not then that will affect the whole of your body.

If you've been restricting DON'T start eating what is normal for everyone else straight away as that can do damage. Really you need to slowly build your intake over a number of weeks and do it via several small meals and really the help of a dietician so yep, though I would suggest that you make sre you eat more, don't suddenly start to eat a large amount, and try to drink more too. But yep, get this checked and otherwise I would relax and not do anything strenuous such as sport until you've been checked out as that could also cause more problems and make it likely that you faint.

thanks, I might make an appointment with my gp tomorrow, (takes about 3 weeks to see him tho) I'm just... reluctant... cos all he's gunna say is eat more, and I know I won't... my systolic was 84 this morning :/ and my diastolic too low to read tonight... what else could my gp say/do apart from tell me to eat more? :s

Are you drinking? A postural drop like you're describing make me wonder about whether you're properly hydrated.
When we do a lying -> standing BP in the hospital we always want lying BP AND heart rate + BP and heart rate immediately on standing, then the same at 1min and 3 minutes. Some people will drop their BP immediately, but then correct quickly which is slightly better (But all that's for your Dr to worry about)
You need to go to your doctor because they need to check things like your electrolytes before making a decision on what to do (it could be dangerous for you to start drinking lots of water quickly, just as it could be dangerous for you to start eating all of a sudden). Your doctor can also assess a number of other things to decide if you are dehydrated or if there is something else going on.
Most important for you in the interim (before you see your doctor) is that you are really careful when standing up. You're at a risk of fainting if you stand up too quickly. Before standing up tense your calves/thighs a few times, stand up slowly, rolling up with head coming up last if you find that standing straight up makes you dizzy.
Go to your doctor tho,there's other things to be done than just say "eat"
Hugs
xx

As your BP is becoming that low you NEED to get checked out because, as said above, if it is a true reading (which it may not be), that is really dangerous and it can cause fainting quite easily and could also lead to fitting as well as considerably reducing how well you can do things and putting stress on the heart. Really as it is that low then it would be a good idea to get checked out at hospital. If you are really not keen about that idea then if you phone the doctors 1st thing in the morning (soon after they open) then you can get a same day appointment if it is urgent, so tell them how low your BP is and things. If not then they will often get a nurse or doctor to ring you and then if they feel necessary get you to go down there. It's not the same as getting a normal appointment though and I know you can only discuss that one aspect. But yep, a BP that low needs to get checked.

Also, what I will say is unless you start to feel like you're going to faint then I would get you to try and resist taking your BP as that in itself may be stressing you out and also it may become a compulsion and could cause problems later on. Also, if you're going to check it when sat/ laid and then when you're stood leave a few minutes gap betwen the 2. Make sure you keep yourself rested and don't stand up too quickly. Also, if you do faint then I suggest you go to hospital, don't drive yourself, and call an ambulance to take you there if you have no other means and don't have the money for a taxi (or if you feel really unwell or your heart is not beating normally).

This does need to be taken seriously. It isn't just a little problm you can ignore, it can cause a lot of problems and it does need to be checked out to find the cause, which may not be because of anorexia, and also to see if theyu ca do something to bring it back up as yep, this will affect all the bloodflow going to your organs and ultimately mean that your kidneys, amongst other organs, won't be able to work as well (which in turn damages them).

I went - Mum didn't want me to, but did take me in the end. He confirmed it was too low. He said to eat salt and do bloods in a couple of weeks, also i am on very low dose nifedipine (which i haven't taken for a few days cos of bp) for my oesophagus so he said def stop that for a while. And I'm seeing my psychiatrist on Weds (next day she's working) and he is going to tell her what I told him. Thanks for the advice, I've been in hospital so much I know really it's too low... I just didn't realise it was really that much of a problem.