Why do I have dangerously low and dangerously high blood pressure?

I have brittle blood pressure high and low. I have a special type of cardiologist called an electrophysiologist.

Hi @larryhayes, I moved your question about fluctuating blood pressure to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/heart-blood-vessel-conditions/) where you will be able to connect with others discussion heart-related issues.

If you are looking for expert answers from Mayo Clinic specialists, you can submit an appointment request using this online form: https://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

It appears that the specialists you've seen are not concerned with the fluctuations in blood pressure that you experience. However, you describe the readings as "dangerous." That must be worrisome. What is dangerously low and dangerously high in your case? How long do you have to be inactive or active to change the readings? Do you feel symptoms or are you using a home monitor to measure your blood pressure?

@colleenyoung Thank you for moving my question to the most appropriate group

I am looking for expert advice; however, being a retiree on Medicare, I may have to get a referral from my family doctor. I just need to know whom to ask my doctor to refer me to. I’m about 6 hours away from Jacksonville, but to get help, I would deal with that.

My perception of dangerously high/low are numbers such as 163/109 and 90/65. I experience numbers like these if I don’t discipline myself very strictly regarding how long I rest or how long I work, balanced with High BP meds. Such discipline becomes harder when the weather is unfavorable, when we are traveling, or involved in something that just doesn’t allow it. High blood pressure is fairly easy to drop in a short period of time, such as a brief half-mile walk or 30 minutes of hard work. However, the low blood pressure is harder to get back up. It can take a couple of hours of rest unless I do something like eat something really salty. The above numbers are an example of what I experienced during the recent storm 2 or 3 times. The high BP was after about 3 hours of reading one cold morning, followed by the low after going outside and manually wire-brushing over and painting a utility trailer. That took about an hour at the pace I worked. If I feel symptoms as I do with such numbers as those above, I use a home monitor to check my BP. Other than that, I just pace myself as best I can. Symptoms that prompt me to check it are a burning sensation to my face or ears, an increase in my tinnitus @a higher ringing sound than normal, or a headache. These “almost” always proved to be high BP. Other symptoms that prompt me are dizziness or seeing spots in my eyesight, which have always proved to be low BP.

@larryhayes I have a similar problem..mornings 103/58, evenings high last week went to 204/109 . clonidine brings it down in about 30 minutes..did call 911 that night..high seems to be around 5-6pm (typical happy hour) but I have given up drinking..occasional afib, twice in 6 mos lasting only minutes ,had an ablation about 10 years ago. my primarys been helping me but my cardiologist, not so much.! I'm 83, female, in excellent health. workout 3 times a week. Living in Key West it's difficult to find doctors and competent hospital. I'm thinking about flying to Mayo in Jacksonville to find a cardiologist. Hope we can both find some help!!!

@larryhayes you’re stressing yourself out unnecessarily over nothing. Our BPs fluctuate throughout the day as we do activities. The idea of taking your BP throughout the day just to see what it is, is not helpful for medical purposes. As someone said you’re a healthy person who’s stressing over blood pressure regulation. Maybe figure out the reason for your worry would be more helpful.

@bobbelu
If you get accepted as a patient at Jacksonville they might
also suggest some neurological tests.
Your autonomic system controls BP in conjunction with
cardiac output. They use a 24 hr continuous BP and Holter
ECG as well as tilt testing of your rate and pressures.
Medication changes are important to evaluate.

@jenatsky I'm afraid you have very limited knowledge about how moderate hypertension can become "labile" , Larry. This is not normal hypertension as you're used to.

@jardinera25 OOps, I addressed that comment to Larry, it was meant to go to @jenatsky.

Yes, that sounds somewhat similar to my "labile hypertension," which I developed after 4 months of being on Aromatase Inhibitors for breast cancer. In my case I can go very high and very low, from 90/60 or so, up to 220/110. But I am not triggered by rest or lots of activity as you are, Larry. I used to have moderate BP controlled by 2 meds; now I'm on 3 daily with an emergency pill of Hydralazine to bring it down from the heights. I see a cardiologist, an internist & nephrologist for help with dealing with it. There are things like adrenal gland problems that can cause L. Hypertension too, so sounds like seeing a good internist or cardiologist for tests would be a good idea. It's certainly not fun. Good luck to you.

My cardiologist is not too concerned with highs and lows, but tells me to take it twice a day and average the readings over a month. I also have had a lot of cardiac testing and adrenal testing that was all normal. I take 3 BP meds. My average is pretty average.