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Question:
Should anything be done about my 21 y/o daughter's blood pressure and low pulse?
Hi...I have a 21 year old daughter. In high school she would have spells where she would feel lightheaded and almost get faint and at times have a little tightness in her chest area. About two years ago she saw a heart specialist but nothing was ever found...maybe a slight murmur. However, every time she has a sports physical (college athlete)...her blood pressure seems low and her pulse...yesterday her blood pressure was 125/55 and her pulse was 55. Should we be alarmed? The physician who examined her yesterday told her not to worry about it. What can we do to elevate the pulse and blood pressure? She only drinks water...no soda...no tea...I read somewhere where caffeine may increase it??? But how much should she consume or is there some sort of medication to take? Thanks so much!
submitted by Laura from Illinois on 2/24/10
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Christopher M. Frank, MD
The normal range of systolic blood pressure ranges from around 90 to around 125, and diastolic from around 60 to around 80, so I would consider a blood pressure of 125/55 entirely normal. Pulse normally ranges from 60-90 or so, but is often lower in athletes - in fact, having a low resting heart rate in active young patients is a strong marker for better than average heart health. Symptoms such as are described can sometimes reflect either a transient arrhythmia (electrical problem of the heart) or a problem known as "neurocardiogenic syncope," which is an abnormality of the reflexes controlling blood pressure. If the symptoms are bothersome to the patient, an extended period of monitoring can be undertaken in an effort to capture an arrhythmia episode, or a test known as a tilt table test can be performed in an effort to provoke the abnormal blood pressure reflex of neurocardiogenic syncope.
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Updated March 2010
