What causes fluctuating BP readings in an elderly person?
Patient: Hello, My 78 yr old brother-in-law has been having Hypertensive episodes. He is on meds for this and recently has been 179/91 when up and about when resting 128/83. He has had a past cardiac event and at that time had a defibrillator placed in case of another life-threatening rhythm. He has been very stable with this and it has never activated. He has had a shingles outbreak and it has affected an eye, he uses a steroid eye drop? What could be causing his irregular BP readings? Doctor: Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.  You have not mentioned the BP reading here, little fluctuation is there if the BP being reading by non medico person it is the error count, and just to rule this out it has to be read by physician, if this is the hypertensive patient then it can be the cause of irregular blood pressure, age is also one factor, actually diastolic pressure matters the great, if the fluctuation of blood pressure is within normal limit then it is nothing to worry.  Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.