Inconsistent blood pressure

My 100% Afib burden was discovered in July, when I presented myself in the emergency room feeling light headed. My systolic blood pressure was over 140. So the doctor doubled my Lisinopryl dosage to 20mg. She also told me to quit drinking coffee among other things.

I quit drinking six cups a day of coffee. And was feeling a bit strange. So I took my blood pressure again, and the systolic was down around 100. I went back to my 10 mg dose of Lisinopryl; and eventually stopped it altogether since my blood pressure stayed below 120 without it. I chalked the reduction up to quitting coffee. (And I know that diastolic number is important too, but it doesn't stay in my memory like the upper number does.)

But now I just had a physical where I was above 140 again. It remained somewhat elevated even after I got home. So I went back on 10mg of Lisinopryl for a couple weeks. Feeling droopy again this morning, I just rechecked myself at 100/73, with a pulse of 76.

So my question is: Does Afib frequently cause fluctuating blood pressure?

After typing this, I guess the obvious thing to do is ask the doctor for a prescription of 5 mg. of Lisinopryl. But I don't know how we will settle on a proper dose with this fluctuation going on.

Been waiting some time for an ablation, as decided not to use the local EP for that. Also, I did not tolerate Beta blockers well ten years ago when I tried them, so I don't want to try them now.

Interesting, my question would be: Is there a difference between blood pressure in and out of afib? I don't recall every having my blood pressure taken when I was in afib. With two successful ablations 13 years apart, I currently have no afib, but I had over 200 documented episodes years ago.

Dr's office readings are notoriously high, sometimes by 15 points. Take three readings a couple of minutes apart when you are calm and secure, say at home, and average them. That is your true baseline, especially if you do this twice a week for three months and average all of those. A single doctor's office reading is almost certain to be several points high.

Thanks for responses. My answers are I have been in 100% afib since diagnosed, so that is the only condition I can check it in. I did have a cardioversion this fall, but normal sinus rhythm lasted less than a week. Maybe less than a few hours, or even until I got home.

Secondly, I am aware of the doctor's office spike, and have a good blood pressure machine I can use at home to get an average. Also, up until 2 weeks ago, my blood pressure even at the doctor's office was below 120 while on no BP medicine. Lately I was over 140 at the doctor's office, and high 130s at home.

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Ken
Interesting, my question would be: Is there a difference between blood pressure in and out of afib?

There can be for some people. I've known people who get light headed and even faint due to low BP during afib.

My BP is lower when in AFIB, and I assume it is because the drugs I use for rate-control are in fact high BP Medications (Bystolic and Diltiazem). In other words, when I have an episode I take more BP meds than normal, in order to control my HR while in AFIB, this in turn causes my BP to be comparatively lower while in AFIB.

I'm experilencing something similar. I was under medication for high bp (Valsartan),whiile in paroxyml afib. Now, almost overnight, bp is too low (like 110 over 60, feeling faint, and stopped valsartan. Afib no up to 75%.

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gbaileytx
Afib no up to 75%.

Did you mean to say you're in afib 75% of the time?

Yes, and that's way up from only a month ago.

Then I'd say it's time to address the problem before it becomes 100%. It's not likely to be due to your BP.

Hypertension does cause 'stretching' and enlargement, and the ensuing fibrosis in both the atria and the ventricles, and those changes do factor into the onset or the progression of AF according to literature I saw recently. The enlargement, itself, can cause mitral valve prolapse which is an assumed contributing factor to subsequent AF.

Hypertension does "cause" afib but that's over a long period of time and due to atrial stretching, as you said. Unlikely that it's causing afib in an acute sense.