Dangers of High Blood Pressure for Fibromyalgia Patients
Many fibromyalgia patients suffer from high blood pressure. Sometimes it’s the pain that causes the high blood pressure and sometimes it’s the various medications that cause it. Another common reason for elevated high blood pressure, being overweight. A number of patients are taking medications that lower their metabolism. Others have a poorly functioning thyroid, both lead to weight gain.
No matter the cause, however, the dangers are the same. Chronic high blood pressure is a high-risk condition that should be addressed immediately, especially in those with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, who are taking multiple drugs that could elevate BP or counteract with any other supplement or medication to control BP.
Hypertension (the medical term for high blood pressure) can be “quiet” over many years, damaging your body in the process. Left untreated, hypertension can lead to a major disability and even a fatal heart attack.
Let’s take a quick look at what blood pressure actually is before getting too detailed about its dangers. BP is the pressure of blood in the arteries that’s pumped from the heart. It’s measured with two numbers, systolic and diastolic. Systolic, the top higher number of your reading, is the pressure when the heart contracts or pumps. Diastolic, the lower bottom number of the reading, is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest in between beats. Normal levels are considered to be less than 120/80 mmHg. Anything higher than that number on a consistent basis puts you at risk of hypertension.
Arteries are usually flexible and elastic, with smooth inner linings so the blood can flow easily. The blood is moved via the arteries all over the body, supplying all the organs with the oxygen and nutrient-rich blood. Constant high pressure in the arteries can destroy that strength and elasticity of the artery lining and cause narrowing, constriction, damage, and aneurysm (a large bulge in the artery that will eventually rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding).
Constant high blood pressure will thicken the arterial walls, make them stiff, and cause arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
This kind of damage is a snowball effect because hypertension is not just caused by medications, but by poor diet, low activity levels, and chronic pain. Pain increases the blood pressure because it puts you in a state of stress, in which the heart pumps more rapidly. This type of arterial damage can cause a number of problems like chest pain, stroke, heart failure, heart attack, eye damage, aneurysm and death.
High blood pressure puts you not just at cardiovascular risk, but could damage all other vital organs and functions as well, since blood supplies the life to everything. I’ve mentioned above what it can do to your heart. To your brain, it can cause an transient ischemic attack, or a mini stroke, which is a brief disruption of blood supply to the brain. This is usually a warning that you are on your way to a full-blown stroke. A TIA is caused by a clot, or atherosclerosis (a collection of fats from your diet that form clots in the arteries). You can also develop a full-blown stroke, dementia, and cognitive impairment as a result of various levels of disrupted blood supply to the brain.
To your kidneys, when they don’t get proper blood supply, they can’t excrete the fluid and waste from the blood properly. Therefore, there is potential for some kind of nephropathy (kidney disease) to occur such as kidney scarring, kidney failure, and kidney artery aneurysm. All of these are highly dangerous and potentially fatal.
Additionally, hypertension can affect the eyes, bones, sexual function, and sleep, so there are multi-dimensional issues associated with uncontrolled hypertension that need to be addressed immediately.
Blood pressure is very easy to monitor. You can purchase a device for home or check it weekly at your local pharmacy or drug store. Keep a diary of your readings and if you are consistently high at various times of day under various levels of stress, then talk to your doctor about what is causing the hypertension.
Don’t let them just prescribe you another medication, especially if you are already taking several for a current medical condition!
It is highly likely that, if you are taking several different kinds of medication, your hypertension is being caused by those rather than anything else. Mobic and other non-steroidal anti- inflammatory meds (NSAIDS), can cause high blood pressure, so can Ritalin, Wellbutren, Effexor, Cymbalta, Savella, and other antidepressants.
To start, make sure that you are on a healthy diet of reduced fat and processed foods. A diet rich in grains, lean meats, and fresh fruits and vegetables is going to be vital to lower blood pressure. With daily exercise, this alone may cure your hypertension. If it doesn’t, however, you will need some sort of intervention to avoid long-term ramifications.
Finding and fixing a low thyroid condition could be the answer. Losing weight, my patients typically lose one half to a pound a day on my anti-inflammatory weight loss diet. My patients who need to lose weight, typically lose 20,30 40, or more pounds and best of all reset their metabolism so that the weight they lose never returns.
Losing weight, even 10 pounds can have a dramatic positive effect on your blood pressure!
Taking a good high dose multivitamin/mineral supplement, like the CFS/Fibro Formula will often reduce high blood pressure, so will increasing your magnesium intake. I recommend my fibro patients take 500-800mg of magnesium a day. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant.
If you have high blood pressure I encourage to read my book, Heart Disease: What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You
I have had high blood pressure for years. At first the doctor said it was my weight, loose weight and it will come down. I have lost 100 lbs. and kept if off for 7 years. Still have high blood pressure. Now they say it is inherited. I had an MRI in 2006, it showed I have an empty cella. I was sent to a neurologist and he said my pituitary gland is smashed up against my skull and I have had many strokes. However I have no impairment from said strokes. I have been told I have fibro/CFS. I was tested in 2011 and I have reactivated mono, ebstein barr, measles virus and parvo. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I have ordered the jump start program and can’t wait to get it and try it. Nothing else seems to be helping.
Hello Dr. Murphree, I have been misdiognoised since my early 30’s. I am now 64 yrs. old. I have severe hypertension,Fibermyalgia,,hasimotoes,-hyperthyroid..I have sjogrens SSA antibodies-positive; I have sever gastro–IBS, acid reflex, immobility esphosgeal, with a diverticulm, rapaid transit of the stomach, diverticulosis and ulcer lesions, and had active H_pylori 3 times in the past. I also have Raynauds and horrible pheriferal neurapathy nerve pain all over my body.. In 2011 I demanded DNA testing. I am a Sephardic Jew. I am the only member in my family that was DNA tested. for 26 yrs. my OBG dr. told me I had Herpes 2 simplex..I have horrible lesions all over my outer body, scalp, and genital area and oral-mouth..filled with puss and blood..My DNA tests showed I was positive for being a carrier of Familia Mediterran Fever, I’m positive for Behcets Diease, and also positive for Heriditary Folate Genes–2 each for gene # C-677T. both my parents were deficient!.
I need genetic counseling help –which I cannot find in Seattle, Renton area. I was told that my Fibromyalgia could be the problem with all the inflammation and the sjrogens attacking my blood pressure and thyroid and gut.I have lost severe weight from 149 lbs , size 7-8 in the year 2000 to my weight now is 99 lbs. size 3. I have very bad muscle loss all over and leg weakness.
Is the fibermyalgia causing these health problems more??
I was diagnoised with fibermyalgia in 2007 at the Swedish Insitute of pain. I cannot take any FDA medications like Lyrica due to the fact that I’m on 8 bp pills a day and my body wont tolerate all the side effects of prescription drugs….I’m very sensitive. Im on Ambiem CR 12.5 pills to help me sleep since I have had severe insomnia since my Hysterectomy at age 36 yrs. I’ve had 2 sleep studies and and 2 saliva tests show I have low meletonen levels at Bastyr University.
I tried taking Meontone by pill form and cream and it gave me horrible headaches.
I would appreciate any help concerning my genetic issues and my fibro. issues..
Thank you for your time..Beverly
I don’t think so not a common association however there are a lot of conditions and symptoms that can come underneath the fibro banner.
Hi Dr. Murphree,
I just turned 69 and never dealt with high blood pressure until this past week (consistently 144/80). In fact my normal blood pressure used to be 120/70 or less. This normal blood pressure had been the norm even when I was dealing with intense pain from chronic angina from C.E.D.
I recently was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. My weight is excellent. (I”m 5’61/2″ -weight 130-133 lbs.) I have been eating healthy foods, mostly organic for a very long time. I do not eat gluten, dairy, soy and have avoided sugar for decades and eat a low salt diet.
The only medication I take is Synthroid for Hashimoto’s and Walgreen’s Tension Headache OTC which helps my chronic night time headaches and daily flu-like symptoms and intense fatigue.
Can Fibromyalgia cause an increase in blood pressure? Any recommendations?
Thanks so much for whatever insight, help you can offer.
Fibromyalgia doesn’t cause high blood pressure. Pain can cause high blood pressure, so can Hashimoto’s. Try Petadolex for headaches and for HBP, increase magnesium critate up to 600mG or until loose BM then reduce dose.
Hello Dr. Murphee. My husband has been diagnosed with fibro and has high blood pressure, depression, IBS, inflammation in his intestines seen on an ultra sound, rectal pressure, chronic fatigue and polycythemia vera. He is only 39. We don’t even know where to start. It feels like we have tried all kinds of things over the past 7 years. We don’t have a lot of money and are receiving state aid for health insurance so most drs won’t help us.
Lisa, I’d love to help you discuss options. If you’d like to schedule your free initial pre-consult fill out the form at fibroconsults.com