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Sudden sustained high blood pressure and AFIB
No diagnosed heart problems until Sept 2024 when I was lighheaded and weakness in my right arm. ER diagnosed TIA but no damage done to brain or heart. I wore a monitor for 2 weeks and had several stress tests including a nuclear stress test. All normal readings.
When I woke up yesterday, I did not feel well. Fatigued. Fitbit had recorded potential AFIB during the night which continued into the middle of the afternoon. My blood pressure has always been within range. Never a problem.
Yesterday, high blood pressure most of the day along with the AFIB. 202/117 at 7:21 pm. At 10:30 it was back to 127/83.
Slept well last night. No sign of high blood pressure or AFIB.
I have a call into the doctor.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? I have not taken any new medicine, food or change to routine. Thanks for sharing.
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All I can share, as an individual with AF in control via a catheter ablation two years ago, is that some patients experience night-time AF, and not so much during the day. My sister-in-law is like that. As soon as she lies down in bed, bam! I was the opposite prior to my ablation...in bed was where I was 100% reliably able to rest and fall asleep.
I don't know much about the modern FitBit...had one maybe 10 years ago, so I am out of touch. I use a Samsung Galaxy watch. I can take an ECG and send it to my electrophysiologist. There is an inexpensive (I use the term inexpensive reservedly because everyone has different financial circumstances) device called a Kardia that is widely used. It can come with a single lead, or with up to six if I have that correct. You can download an ECG from it as well. Might be worth taking a look. They're widely available.
It is not uncommon for arrhythmias to alter blood pressure. It's one of the first indicators that the ER staff will check.
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1 ReactionJanuary 26th, 2025 woke up from nap, with Fitbit notification of pre AFIB. Started Bp monitoring several times a day. All readings were 150-178 SYS over 80-90s on DIA. Irregular rythums continued several days. Went to Walkin Clinic on 29th as couldn't see my NP until Feb 5th. WIC Put me on 10 MG Lisinopril and had an ECG done. On 5th NP indicated rythums off. Scheduled Treadmill ST for Mar 10th. Prescribed Flecainide Acetate 50 MG 2x day. Continue Lisinopril. After continued Bp monitoring and Flecainide I had Lisinopril uped to 20 MG. 1x daily. On Feb 22, Fitbit indicated racing heart rythums. I was weak, nauseous and went directly to ER. Admitted and assigned a wonderful Cardiologist. Given Apixaban 5 MG 2x daily. Taken off Flecainide when in ER. Sotalol Hcl 40 MG 2x daily. Cardioversion Feb 24, 360 joules. Echo Transesophageal to ruleout blood clots before Cardioversion. Heart back in rythum. Discharged home with meds. The journey continues towards heart health.
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2 ReactionsI continued to do some research today. I had breast cancer in 2016 receiving chemo and radiation which is known to cause AFIB and ventricular tachycardia. I also have taken Letrozole for 8 years for the cancer and read it can cause a fast heart rate. Recently I have been diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer and am being given Octreotide every month. I read that it can increase blood pressure. It seems that the TIA may have been an effect of the cancer treatment. However not sure why a one day change would happen with high blood pressure and consistent AFIB for a 18 hour occurrence and then go away. I am fine today.
You need to get confirmation of what the Fitbit is reporting. I have a Fitbit and bouts of Persistant afib. My Fitbit reports have been right on about my afib. If you are in afib you need to get on a blood thinner like Xarelto right away. Being in afib puts you at high risk for blood clots. TIAs are many times caused by small blood clots. They are another reason why you should be concerned about clots. View the TIAs as a warning.
Don't fool around with this. See if you can get in to see an EP cardiologist a.s.a.p.
If afib is confirmed, ask about diltiazem. Diltiazem slows the heart rate generally, and also has an effect on lowering blood pressure.
I also recommend the KardiaMobile as seen above. They are $99.00 for the 2 lead and well worth it.
I wish you the best. Good luck.
Thank you for your input. I was put on Eliquis 5 MG 2x day for blood thinner before my Cardioversion and remain on it now. Also taking Sotalol 40 MG 2x daily. Will see cardiologist next week. This is all new to me. One month in now.