Could high BP be due to nervousness?
Patient: I had a mammmogram today and right after the appt I used an electronic BP machine. My BP was 130/81 and pulse was 104. My BP is typically 110-120/60. I'm 45 yrs old. 5'3" & weigh 115 lbs. Could the results been high because I was nervous or because my arms are so small in the machine?? Doctor: Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern. First, good luck with your mammogram. Blood pressure is a highly variable component of the human functioning system. It can go up and down again within few seconds. These extreme changes can be detected especially when one is having fear, a lot of psychological stress, physical activity, or hormonal and neurohumoral substance flushes in the system. So, basically, fear is a type of anxiety, and all anxieties cause the adrenalin levels to spike, and the rest - dizziness, high heart rate, high blood pressure, shortness of breath - are all symptoms of its effects on almost all organ systems in the organism. My opinion is that this is the case, where the fear of a result from an important medical test, also results in higher than average blood pressure figures and heart rate figures. Furthermore, my opinion is that there is nothing to worry about, and this is only physiological high blood pressure, not a pathological or abnormal one. Take care. I hope this helped. Regards, Dr. Meriton