It’s normal for blood pressure readings to have some variations. But it’s not normal for those readings to have a wide range of numbers. When you notice that your blood pressure begins swinging between low and high, it’s time to have it checked out to be on the safe side.
Doctors used to place a greater amount of concern on blood pressure numbers that were high and remained in the high range. It was thought that these high numbers were where the danger to the heart was.
While this is true that high blood pressure numbers are dangerous and can damage the heart, swings in blood pressure can also do that. Erratic blood pressure swings have come under scrutiny and the reason for this is because marked swings in blood pressure readings can be a warning sign.
These swings can signify that a TIA or stroke could be imminent. Sometimes, these warning signs are an indication that something is going on with the heart because your blood pressure will change when something isn’t right there.
The blood pressure is directly related to how well the heart rate is doing – whether your heart is beating too fast, too slow and in rhythm. Erratic blood pressure readings may be a sign that something is off with the cardiovascular system and it should never be ignored.
Doctors will sometimes put patients on beta blockers, diuretics and other medicines to try to control the numbers. Usually, these medications work well and do bring the blood pressure numbers down.
Sometimes, however, certain medications can cause a problem with the heart – such as tachycardia, bradycardia or an arrhythmia. This in turn can then raise the blood pressure.
This is why readings that swing too low and too high need to be brought to your doctor’s attention. You’ll want to pay attention to when your blood pressure is spiking higher than it normally does because the time it occurs can be a clue that something else is having a direct result on your blood pressure.
Knowing the time of day its occurring can be a clue. For example, if you’ve noticed that your blood pressure has started having high swings in the morning, this can be a sign that’s indicating that you could have a problem with your adrenal glands or your kidneys.
If you’re having blood pressure that’s erratic, your doctor may want you to wear a 24-hour blood pressure monitor. This device will take your blood pressure throughout the space of 24 hours and it can give your doctor a look at what’s going on with your blood pressure over time.
