systolic blood pressure and heart rate (beats)

Stayed home today no activity just relaxing in my recliner.
143 70 70
129 71 70
130 70 72
136 72 68
122 79 65
136 78 66
115 79 64
130 77 65
One doctor in Marathon, Fla Keys actually told me to stay for a while while he ate lunch. WE talked about my job, cars and it took about 10-15 minutes when these readings were what he saw. Watching him eat a bag lunch calmed me down. He told me the only problem I had was I didn't like Doctors. I told him I'll bet you feel the same way when your car is towed to the mechanic. :rolleyes:
These numbers are very reassuring at first glance. Still doesn't negate your 250 systolic reading with intense exertion/ emotion.
And that's all I'm going to say.
 
Yesterday the readings were
247 117 100 without cooling
125 75 94 with almost freezing wet hand towel over my head another around my neck
132 79 96
129 85 104
145 78 94
Heart doctor said there is nothing wrong with my heart. Blood pressure is the issue within the last week.
Aneurysm was misdiagnosed by tech doing lung scan from 46 years tobacco use.
Told 4.3 CM after contrast (dye) an heart specific CT scan heart doctor said you have no problem with your heart.
Another pickleball player said his apple wrist watch gave him a heart rate of 170 yesterday.
I also remember a doctor asking Pop if he had had any strokes. If he had he had no memory of them. My great grandfather who fought in the Civil War was told he had heart problems when he was young. His brother was a doctor in the 7th Cavalry after Custer and the one with "heart problems" lived to 73. I was born with a heart murmur and it's still there but the last week heart doctor interview said all heart functions were fine.
I wonder if the head injury could possibly be a source of low heartbeat under stress AND I read that cold temp application should make the heart rate go lower NOT HIGHER as I saw yesterday after the super high reading before cooling techniques. Feel free to say whatever you like. I'm a big 6 foot 207 pound boy who weighed 117 at high school graduation. Shoe size and ring size have increased by 25% in the last 55 years (1968-2025).
 
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Perhaps the OP's body is telling him to slow down and not do certain things in hot weather. Reminders that we are not 30 anymore are never welcome, but sometimes we need to heed the warnings.
 
Point 1
A systolic BP of 250 is NOT white coat hypertension. It is malignant hypertension!
Point 2
Most of what you have told us is pretty concerning. If the facts are correct and your Dr says you'll probably live to be 103, like dad or grandpa or whoever, you are either choosing not to hear what he is really saying, or he is an idiot.
Point 3
You seem to be very confident that you're doing fine. You will probably keep thinking this way until you drop dead suddenly from a catastrophic vascular event.
But what do I know? You seem to know it all so I'm really not sure why you even started this thread.
I'll show myself out.
Wish you well, sir
I was IN the heart doctors office, they inflated the blood pressure machine until my arm turned blue, like a tourniquet and could not get a reading on both of the machines in their office. When I walked out of the office the systolic had dropped to 207. That was the same time they told me my heart was fine but the blood pressure was serious.
The ONLY thing that has CONTROLLED the heart rate was super cold water on towels applied to my head and neck. I will ask my GP about this but I think I have a solution the WORKED, One of the players is a first responder and his words mirrored yours. I have to choose what I think is a solution.
Medication
No stressful activity
surgery
Of the choices I have read about including reading every word posted here and in the instances where I am seeing the catastrophic readings I WILL cool myself the way that works even during intense playing before starting to play that hard.
Tomorrow I go for a abdominal ultrasound on the recommendation of the heart doctor. I'll ask him if there is anything that can be done to get the heart rate to high enough to stop the systolic catastrophic rise. 10 years ago I went to the fire station to confirm the readings on my own meter and they did. They also did at the hospital where I went after the fire station.
I understand this is life or death to me.
Pop went through a similar situation with normal pressure hydrocephilis which was misdiagnosed for 17 years. The solution was with a doctor Riggamontie at John's Hopkin's Hospital in Baltimore. He drilled a hole through his skull and Inserted a magnetically adjustable shunt from behind his ear to below the point of separation (diaphragm) to the abdomen. They put him in rehab (what insurance pays for total waste). He got transferred to Williamsburg Va, called me on the phone and I went there an got him. They tried to tell me I could not do that, I said call the police and they let us go.
 
I asked here to see if anyone had a similar experience. I have found a solution and that is to precool myself BEFORE I start playing my next game. I have included the readings BEFORE and after the cooling was instituted with dramatic results. To whoever says my solution is not a solution that becomes my choice and the systolic catastrophy has been going on for some time. I ask what is your solution to my problem other than the one I have found? If your solution is to sit in my recliner and wait to die like I did today then I would rather not but I will search for other options to make the coordination of heart beat and systolic pressure to work the way it is supposed to work.
Many people in our age group face serious cardiac issues. My issue is serious and I have real proof that I can mitigate it. This is the best solution for ME and means I can keep doing what I love.
I have already told the group of magnificent people who enjoy the game I love that if I drop dead right on the court, I could not think of a better way to go and I meant it.
 
Had a stress test last year, tech also happened to be a paramedic, she canceled the test midway saying "you're more than capable of working yourself into a stroke, and I don't want to do that today." Specific problem remains undiagnosed, but symptom is that blood pressure rises rapidly with exertion. My pulse rate also increases with exertion, so different than what you're experiencing.

I mention this not to make a medical recommendation for you, but to suggest that you ask your cardiologist to do a stress test to replicate the symptoms if he can't otherwise find the problem. May or may not be useful, I'm not a doctor, but it's not expensive.

Your choices might be to play the game you love only indoors for another decade, or play it outdoors for another week. Then again, you might get hit by a bus or I might die of something before I hit send on this post…we never know.

FWIW, 62 and no diagnosed cardiac problems.

Edit: have a nurse read your bp, the machines are good, but not perfect and I expect they are calibrated for average values and you are far from average.
 
One of my theories of life is everyone has an unknow bucket list. You don't know what's on it, but once the list is completed, down you go. Perhaps the OP's unknown list includes dying on a pickleball court.
 
Have you considered the possibility that your wrist cuff may be giving you false reads?

John
My cardiologist told me that drug store arm and wrist BP cuffs are not reliable if you also have PVCs, which I do. The CardioMobile device is better than the Apple smart watches and after my Holter Monitor is evaluated I might get one. Inexpensive less than $100. If doc writes script for it Medicare will cover it.
 
bout 13years ago visited clinic cause wasn't feeling well. First thing they did was check bp at 230/115. This earned me an immediate visit to emergency room, several scripts and a whole lot of additional tests. Heart was failing (congestive heart failure 1/3 full), and after awhile they also diagnosed kidney failure. The high blood pressure earned me several small valve leaks.

250 is in the impending death range, please listen to Onomea
 
I can go to three different doctors' appointments in one day and get three totally different BP readings--some normal, some off the rails. When all three agree, I've got a BP problem.
 
A ruptured aortic aneurysm is not generally considered to be a survivable event, especially when it occurs outside the hospital.
A ruptured artery inside the cranium is survivable if the hemorrhage is not in the mid-brain, such as a closed head injury, but usually involves a long recovery. Mid-brain....forget it.
Systolic values like those above are highly likely to be the harbinger of such catastrophic events.
I suppose the only good thing about any of these disasters is the nearly instantaneously fatal nature of the event. Fortunately, there is very little time to experience a great deal of physical suffering when the thing lets go. No struggle, no pain. Game over.
 
Back in 2007 I was in physical therapy after severely injuring my right leg in a fall. I fell in the worst way, there is a name for it, but I can't remember what it was anymore. This is 3 weeks after:
NVFjVl.jpg

kmaPUM.jpg

What you don't see in the pics, taken on a digital camera with a weak red response, is all the bruises I had all the way up until my rib cage. The actual bruise on my knee above was much larger, you can't see the less intense parts of it in a pic from that camera at all.

The "baconfoot" would last for well over a year, and I had a quart or so of clotted blood at the bottom of my thigh that took a long time to finally dissolve. The ER doc told me to wait to go to PT until I could lift my leg, and that took just over 2 months. At the third PT session, the day before Thanksgiving, I was on the "Totalgym", the thing Chuck Norris plugged, and they said, "Ok, go home, have a happy Thanksgiving, and see you Friday!", and as I was getting off the machine, my right knee folded up like a wet noodle, as it was prone to do since I hurt it, and I went down hard, reinjuring my right knee and doing something insanely painful to my left knee. To say I was "upset" was putting it mildly. I punched the thinly carpeted concrete floor, and yelled, "Now I'm really ___________!". I would have sworn I broke my hand, but no, it just hurt really bad. The same paramedics who picked me up the last time took me to the hospital again. As I was riding in the back of the squad, the arm cuff was very uncomforable, and I looked at the digital readout and it said, "254/190". "WOW! " I said to the paramedic, "Is that really my BP?", and he said, "Yeah, do you feel OK?", I said, "I feel fine, I'm just really (A common word for angry/Upset)!". By the time we got to the hospital, it was down to about 190/130. The doctor told me that 254/190 was " very dangerous", and I told him, "If I could have stood up, I would have ripped that ambulance apart, I've never been as angry as I was an hour ago!". He said I was lucky I just didn't die on the way over.
I was on meds for BP ever since, but the only time it's even been "a little on the high side of normal" is when I either get hurt from a fall, or don't sleep, like when I was in the hospital "Cardiac Observation" unit for 5 days. The noises, people talking and laughing, the coming in and taking your BP twice a night, and drawing blood once, and asking "Are you having chest pains?", enraged me to the point my BP was climbing, even with the meds I was on. I basically had no sleep from Tuesday night before work, until Sun afternoon, when I totally flipped out and chewed out the poor doctors who came into my room to talk to me about my BP. When the first doctor said, "Mr. Hemiram, we are very concerned out your BP!", I was off, yelling at them loudly enough that almost everyone in the building could hear and understand what I was saying. I told them that if they didn't leave me alone that night, no BP readings, no blood draw, and most importantly, no asking me if I was having chest pains, I would leave the next morning, AMA, I didn't care, as I was sure I would die if I didn't sleep. I told them to get the hell out, and the other doctor said, "We would like to run a stress test!". I replied, without unclenching my teeth, "What the ______ do you think the last 5 days has been? GET OUT!". I was the talk of the hospital, a friend's wife heard me but didn't know it was me yelling. She had never heard me angry before, let alone insanely angry as I was that day. They left me alone, and in the morning, just before breakfast was brought in, my BP was 120/80. The next day, they shipped me off to a rehab place, and a whole bunch more nonsense occurred, but my BP was fine, even after I fell there on the 3rd day, and totally tore my left quadriceps. Oh what a fun period Aug 17, 2007 was until just before Xmas.
 
I'd take up another less BP heightening exercise program during the VA hot, humid months; drink more fluids (80 oz not counting coffee) to stay well hydrated; and drop at least 25 pounds to achieve a healthier height to waist ratio.

I'd opt for the surgery now.
 
Back in 2007 I was in physical therapy after severely injuring my right leg in a fall. I fell in the worst way, there is a name for it, but I can't remember what it was anymore. This is 3 weeks after:
NVFjVl.jpg

kmaPUM.jpg

What you don't see in the pics, taken on a digital camera with a weak red response, is all the bruises I had all the way up until my rib cage. The actual bruise on my knee above was much larger, you can't see the less intense parts of it in a pic from that camera at all.

The "baconfoot" would last for well over a year, and I had a quart or so of clotted blood at the bottom of my thigh that took a long time to finally dissolve. The ER doc told me to wait to go to PT until I could lift my leg, and that took just over 2 months. At the third PT session, the day before Thanksgiving, I was on the "Totalgym", the thing Chuck Norris plugged, and they said, "Ok, go home, have a happy Thanksgiving, and see you Friday!", and as I was getting off the machine, my right knee folded up like a wet noodle, as it was prone to do since I hurt it, and I went down hard, reinjuring my right knee and doing something insanely painful to my left knee. To say I was "upset" was putting it mildly. I punched the thinly carpeted concrete floor, and yelled, "Now I'm really ___________!". I would have sworn I broke my hand, but no, it just hurt really bad. The same paramedics who picked me up the last time took me to the hospital again. As I was riding in the back of the squad, the arm cuff was very uncomforable, and I looked at the digital readout and it said, "254/190". "WOW! " I said to the paramedic, "Is that really my BP?", and he said, "Yeah, do you feel OK?", I said, "I feel fine, I'm just really (A common word for angry/Upset)!". By the time we got to the hospital, it was down to about 190/130. The doctor told me that 254/190 was " very dangerous", and I told him, "If I could have stood up, I would have ripped that ambulance apart, I've never been as angry as I was an hour ago!". He said I was lucky I just didn't die on the way over.
I was on meds for BP ever since, but the only time it's even been "a little on the high side of normal" is when I either get hurt from a fall, or don't sleep, like when I was in the hospital "Cardiac Observation" unit for 5 days. The noises, people talking and laughing, the coming in and taking your BP twice a night, and drawing blood once, and asking "Are you having chest pains?", enraged me to the point my BP was climbing, even with the meds I was on. I basically had no sleep from Tuesday night before work, until Sun afternoon, when I totally flipped out and chewed out the poor doctors who came into my room to talk to me about my BP. When the first doctor said, "Mr. Hemiram, we are very concerned out your BP!", I was off, yelling at them loudly enough that almost everyone in the building could hear and understand what I was saying. I told them that if they didn't leave me alone that night, no BP readings, no blood draw, and most importantly, no asking me if I was having chest pains, I would leave the next morning, AMA, I didn't care, as I was sure I would die if I didn't sleep. I told them to get the hell out, and the other doctor said, "We would like to run a stress test!". I replied, without unclenching my teeth, "What the ______ do you think the last 5 days has been? GET OUT!". I was the talk of the hospital, a friend's wife heard me but didn't know it was me yelling. She had never heard me angry before, let alone insanely angry as I was that day. They left me alone, and in the morning, just before breakfast was brought in, my BP was 120/80. The next day, they shipped me off to a rehab place, and a whole bunch more nonsense occurred, but my BP was fine, even after I fell there on the 3rd day, and totally tore my left quadriceps. Oh what a fun period Aug 17, 2007 was until just before Xmas.

I would rather die than go through this. What the h$%^ happened to the Hippocratic oath. You're lucky they didn't put you in a padded room. I just don't have that much faith in doctors anymore. I appreciate what everyone has contributed to my knowledge base in this thread. I guess my circulatory system must be in phenomenal condition. This has been going on for a very long time and I know when it is happening.
 
Well the tests were interesting and the interview with the doctor was fabulous. He meticulously covered any areas of concern and knowing that I had very high systolic rates going back decades, I told him. If someone was attacking my wife My blood pressure would skyrocket until the threat had been eliminated. If they were measuring my pressure under those conditions it would be the same as it was in the Tuesday interview in the doctors office. In that interview the aneurism was basically minimized being 3.8 CM versus the 4.3 CM first reported with the lung scan.
The thoracic surgeon (actual doctor) basically went over every artery in my abdomen and his conclusion was that there was nothing with any significant damage. My health was excellent and to get an abdominal scan yearly to monitor any potential increase in the current size, He basically gave me a thumbs up and told me it looked like my cold towel applications were exactly what was needed if the systolic spike occured, as long as it was controlled.
I have seen those spikes and know the first symptoms.
I took my records and history with me and they checked my pressure before the ultrasound began. I showed them my meter and it was 215 then they hooked their machine and it was 235. Pure anxiety attack. I now have both scans on record, the first ones I have ever had in 75 years. The original aneurism is considered normal for my health condition at 3.8 CM versus the previous 4.3 CM diagnosis. I asked him if the elevated BP was a factor and he told me not enough to worry about.
Sorry to have dragged y'all through this experience The 235 systolic pre ultrasound was down to 178 post ultrasound and the tech was fabulous at making me feel more comfortable. Gave her a big hug when it was over. My weight had dropped 5 pounds in 6 days worrying about this.
Ill be 75 on 11/22/2025 and it looks like I'll be around until my 100th birthday. Doc said you are one tough old man for 75. He also looked at blood pressure readings I recorded 10 years ago that were 214 systolic and confirmed at the fire station and hospital within hours of my recording them on my cuff meter (same one as 10 years ago). That was due to a stupid argument with the wife, an argument I had long forgotten but we are both truly knuckleheads who stand our ground in any disagreement .
I love my pickleball and will continue playing, try to drop 15 pounds and keep in shape. resting 46-55 heartbeat was impressive to the Doctor. He basically said that was why your dad lived to 103.5. He seemed much less concerned with the spikes as long as they are not long term.
He never said anything about any stress test I think I am doing that daily with the current heat and humidity. It's due to return tomorrow.
 
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Look man if you're feeling off and can notice it in your game, have a confirmed systolic pressure of 200+, are counting the minutes it takes to get back to normal resting, measuring your heart rate throughout the day, losing "5 pounds in 6 days from worrying", have an aortic aneurysm, all at 74yrs old, you are the exact type of person who should back off a bit. I mean you are literally counting millimeters of your AA like there is an appreciable difference there.

"I just don't have that much faith in doctors anymore" is what you said two posts previously, and then in the next post delve in depth about how your doctor is telling you how long you'll live, how it was your old man lasted so long, etc. It seems you trust whatever confirms your bias towards you being healthy. What if your AA was measured wrong more than just once?

You presented your issue as though you were experiencing a problem, yet you're rebutting folks trying to contribute with numerous information and data given to you from doctors and other medical professionals.

Very simply, if your BP is actually getting that high every day like you claim, especially with your preconditions and risk factors, you need to make some changes.
 
The aneurysm was misdiagnosed when the tech was checking my lungs for damage from 46 years of tobacco use that stopped 10 years ago. The measurement brought on another scan which confirmed there was no aneurysm. My GP sent me to heart and thoracic specialists and had the appropriate testing done. One test on Monday another This morning. The doctors looked at those specific tests both conducted this week and concluded that I had no immediate danger and recommended that I retest in a year.
Was I expecting these results Monday
Not even a sliver of a chance, told I had an aneurysm.
I do not have one and do not have one in any of the aortic arteries or any other branch of same arteries down to the femoral arteries in my legs.
The initial diagnosis last December initiated these two procedures this week. Both doctors I had never met before referred to me by my GP who I have known for 30 years when he was in medical school and my customer.
A previous doctor told me I would be in chronic pain for the rest of my life over 3 decades ago due to a catastrophic car accident that should have killed me. Scalped then almost burned alive, needed two units of plasma in 8 miles to the hospital. My skepticism of doctors is based in factual evidence. My fathers misdiagnosed condition for 17 years and my own diagnosis from my doctor half a lifetime ago.
The issue with my chosen form of exercise was compounded by the heat this summer. Both of the new doctors basically said preemptively cool yourself and observe the results. if those actions are sufficient then you have mitigated the effects of high temperatures and that is exactly what you need to do.
Basically I only need to have annual ultrasounds to the lower abdomen to confirm stability of certain areas that are NOT classified as aneurysms as of today. If you have any further constructive advice I am all ears.
The two professionals today walked me through specific areas of concern and the only thing they told me to do was to keep and eye on those areas. No one said quit playing a sport I love and I won't. I also won't ignore any indications that my cooling measures are not working. The recovery time from cooling was 0 minutes later in the test, first (and only) event was with no cooling, first game I played. The systolic pressure readings dropped 100 points or more to safe levels after cooling. I will not repeat that mistake but it was intentional to test the cooling procedures that proved effective
My problem is solved. A misdiagnosis initiated this whole process and I got the best results I could have ever dreamed of getting.
Again thanks for the help. The responses here were appreciated.
 
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Results today just got home. These are right after the games finished with a couple minutes cool down period.
151 85 81
147 91 81
142 86 89
132 85 93
First reading on top. I was not even sweating this morning. Left at 85 degrees at 9:45
 

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