Ask Dr. Rowena

Photo Dr. Rowena Your questions about high blood pressure answered by a board certified doctor. Browse the categories in the left menu.

Relationship Between HBP & Heart Disease

Q:  What is recommended if a person is showing stiff coronary arteries and increased vascular resistance?

 

A:  When something gets bigger it expands in size. When a blood vessel gets bigger this is known as vasodilatation.  When something gets smaller it shrinks in size. When a...

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Is the Resting Heart Rate a Sign of Heart Disease?

Q: Is the resting heart rate in women a determining factor in heart disease.  Aside from exercise and good diet, what other methods help to lower the resting heart rate?

A: A high resting heart rate is a risk factor for heart disease in both sexes....

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Does Blood Pressure Go Up or Down During a Stroke?

Q: Does your blood pressure and heart rate rise or fall during a stroke? If so, why does it do this?

A: Blood pressure may be high during a stroke. However, it is possible to have a stroke with normal blood pressure.

There...

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What If Someone’s Blood Pressure Dramatically Increases During Minimal Exercise?

Q: My boyfriend (age 53) takes medication for high blood pressure. At rest his blood pressure is always on the low end of the normal range like 100/64 to 110/70. However when he exercises his blood pressure goes up to 200/110 with hardly any exertion...

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Fluctuating blood pressure after donating a kidney.

Q: 8 years ago I donated my kidney. My blood pressure went up and troublesome to control. Finally with trail and era and increasing doses of differant meds it becomes stable. Remaining kidney was not happy being alone. All was well until 6 months ago....

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Hardening of the blood vessels.

Q: As an older person, I sometimes have a spread of 70 points between diastolic and systolic pressure. (60 under 130) with medication. Is this a problem with hardening of the blood vessels?

A: The difference between your systolic and diastolic blood pressure is known as...

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Neck therapy causing jump in blood pressure.

Q: When I have my stiff neck worked on by a therapist, it sets my stomach gurgling and my therapist tells me this comes from the Vegus (sp) nerve, which affects the stomach. After treatment, my blood pressure jumps 50 points, both diastolic and systolic....

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How to relax your heart at night.

Q: I have high systolic blood pressure, and want to relax my heart at night. Which is best: head up, feet up, hammock position, flat or inverted hammock position?

A: The best position for you is the one that makes you most comfortable and affords you...

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Possible causes of high blood pressure.

Q: I am a 68 yr old female. Three yrs ago, I had a heart attack and had three stints put in. My blood pressure has always been good then suddenly it is 164/90! In May, my son, his wife and two little ones moved...

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Cause of irregular heartbeat.

Q: I am a 36 years old female. I don’t smoke or drink and am not over weight. Unfortunately I have been diagnosed with HBP. I am currently on Atenolol (5mg). I have noticed that a week before my monthly cycle, I get shortness of...

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