What causes elevated blood pressure levels?
Patient: husband was in ER last night with BP 215/110. took dose of clonidine and it slowly came down so they sent him home. Was seen by a PA in small hospital. This evening took BP and it is 227/94 sitting and resting in chair. He doesn t want to go back to ER just to get sent home again. Takes clonidine 3xqd BP shoots up high then comes down after pill. Then shoots back up again before next dose. Doctor: Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.  If the single molecule is not working in hypertension then second molecule can be added or changing the drug is the trend physician are doing. The best and effective combination are diuretic and betablocker, it gives excellent result and you can discuss with your physician for that. If patient does not have any symptoms then it is nothing to worry. Reading the blood pressure by non medico person with electronic machine may give much error. Blood pressure always needs to be read by doctor with authentic sphygmomanometer.   Hope I have answered your query, let me know for further assistance.