Blood pressure and pulse are two measurements that a doctor may use to monitor your heart and overall health. While they’re similar, they can each say very different things about what’s happening in your body. Show
Pulse, also called heart rate, refers to the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Typical pulse measurements range from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Blood pressure is an estimate of the force your blood is exerting on your blood vessels. A typical value for blood pressure is 120/80. Doctors consider blood pressure to be elevated when it’s between 130 and 139 systolic (the top number) over 80 to 89 diastolic (the bottom number). If you have high blood pressure with a low pulse, it means your blood is putting increased pressure on your blood vessels, but your heart’s beating fewer than 60 times per minute. Read on to learn more about what this combination means for your health. To consider how your pulse and blood pressure can affect each other, think of your pulse as an electrical system and your blood pressure as plumbing. Your pulse is mostly controlled by electrical impulses. These impulses travel through your heart, telling the chambers to beat in even time. Exercise, stress, fear, and other factors can speed up your pulse. Being sedentary can slow it down. This electrical system stimulates the pumping motion that propels your heart’s plumbing system. When the “pipes,” or blood vessels, aren’t blocked, blood easily flows through them. If your blood vessels are narrow or have some kind of obstruction, your heart has to either squeeze harder or beat faster to pump blood. This results in high blood pressure. When your blood pressure and pulse are out of balance, it strains your heart. You might also experience a range of symptoms, including:
In very extreme cases, low heart rate and high blood pressure can lead to cardiac arrest. Several things can cause a combination of high blood pressure and low pulse. Thickened heart tissueLong-term high blood pressure can potentially lead to low pulse. High blood pressure can cause your heart’s tissues to remodel. For example, the tissue may become thicker in an attempt to beat harder. It’s harder for this thickened tissue to conduct electrical impulses. As a result, your pulse might slow down because it takes longer to transmit electrical impulses. Blood pressure medicationsSome medications used for high blood pressure, particularly beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, can also cause a low pulse. In order to lower your blood pressure, these medications decrease your pulse, reducing the workload placed on your heart. Traumatic injuries or internal bleedingA traumatic brain injury or bleeding around your brain can also cause a combination of high blood pressure and a low pulse. Both injuries and bleeding increase pressure on your brain, leading to something called the Cushing reflex. The symptoms of Cushing reflex include:
If you’ve recently had any sort of head injury and notice these symptoms, contact a doctor right away. If you’re taking blood pressure medication and have slightly high blood pressure and a low pulse, this generally isn’t anything to be concerned about. But if you’re not taking any medication, it’s best to work with a doctor to figure out what’s going on. This is especially true if you have symptoms of a low pulse, such as dizziness or shortness of breath. The typical range of 60 to 100 beats per minute is both the average pulse measurement as well as the rate at which most people’s heart needs to beat to pump enough blood through their body. Some people may simply have a lower pulse. Examples include athletes or those in very good shape. They’ve conditioned their heart muscle to be stronger. As a result, their heart pumps more effectively, meaning it doesn’t need to beat as often. Learn more about why athletes have lower pulses. Exercising can also temporarily raise your blood pressure. So, if you exercise regularly, you may have a naturally low pulse and higher blood pressure right after you work out. High blood pressure and a low pulse tend to happen when you’re taking medication for high blood pressure. But it can also be a sign of a serious injury or untreated high blood pressure. Your doctor can help you narrow down whether it’s anything to be concerned about based on your medical history and symptoms.  However, there are pathological conditions causing low blood pressureand high heart rate, such as when the neural connections between the heart and the brain become dysfunctional, often leading to fainting spells. This condition, as well as others, should be assessed by a trained physician to find the underlying cause. Causes of low blood pressure and high pulse rateThe human body relies on a balanced level of both blood pressure and heart rate, with both depending on each other to varying extents. The heart needs to pump blood between 80 to 100 beats per minute to ensure that organs and tissues are receiving appropriate perfusion. The heart rate can modify itself, as if it senses that a part of the body is not getting enough blood, it will begin to speed up, developing a heart rate over 100 beats per minute (tachycardia) to compensate. While this a considered a normal phenomenon, there are instances where this can occur due to a secondary cause or be the result of a chronic disorder affecting the heart or the brain. The following are some origins of low blood pressure and high heart rate. Neurally mediated hypotension (NMH): Due to faulty brain signals that fail to accurately recognize a state of low blood in the ventricle of the heart while standing. This condition often results in pooling of blood in the lower extremities and fainting (syncope). Vasovagal syncope: Also referred to as vasodepressor syncope or neurocardiogenic syncope, this condition leads to a drop in blood pressure, which is quickly followed by a faster then slower heart rate. Because this leads to poor blood and oxygen flow to the brain, those affected often suffer from a temporary loss of consciousness. Atrial fibrillation: Characterized by abnormal contractions of the atrial chambers of the heart, causing it to beat very quickly in relation to the lower ventricles. Because the ventricles do not have enough time to fill up normally, the amount of blood effectively pumped out of the heart is reduced. Medication: Commonly used medication may cause the unwanted side effect of tachycardia and low blood pressure. These may include calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and various types of antidepressants. Other causes include:
Symptoms of low blood pressure and high pulse rateSymptoms will mostly depend on the particular cause leading to low blood pressure and high pulse rate, but the following are some of the most common symptoms observed.
Diagnosis of low blood pressure and high pulse rateA condition involving low blood pressure and high pulse rate is often transient in nature and not likely to be diagnosed during a routine doctor’s visit. However, if it is due to an underlying condition, it may be reproducible through testing or have certain markers that can be identified. The following are various testing modalities that help doctors reach a diagnosis.
Treatment for low blood pressure and high pulse rateTreatment will depend on your underlying cause, with most requiring their own unique form of therapy. For example, neurally mediated hypotension (NMH) is often treated with a combination of blood pressure medication and increased salt and water intake. However, this will not cure the condition, but rather help you manage it. Treatment for NMH will require persistence, commitment, and willingness to try several other drug and therapy combinations to help control the problem. Drugs known for improving NMH include fludrocortisone (Florinef), beta-blockers (atenolol), disopyramide (Norpace), fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, theophylline, methylphenidate (Ritalin), and midodrine. If your condition is benign and not due to any serious underlying problem, the following changes to your lifestyle may provide some help with low blood pressure.
Therapies employed to remedy cases of low blood pressure and high heart rate often do not cure the problem and should be managed with the guidance of an experienced physician. If you were to suddenly stop any prescribed treatment plans, symptoms may return or even worsen. It is important to recognize situations that may lead to symptom exacerbation and to avoid triggers. However, many of the conditions leading to low blood pressure and high pulse rate have not been extensively studied, with more research being required. Related: Resting heart rate chart: Factors that influence heart rate in elderly How do you treat low blood pressure and high heart rate?Treating low blood pressure and high heart rate requires figuring out what is causing these symptoms. Treatment may include staying well-hydrated, eating frequently, adjusting your medications, and treating any underlying medical conditions.
What is considered a dangerously low blood pressure?A sudden fall in blood pressure can be dangerous. A change of just 20 mm Hg — a drop from 110 mm Hg systolic to 90 mm Hg systolic, for example — can cause dizziness and fainting. And big drops, such as those caused by uncontrolled bleeding, severe infections or allergic reactions, can be life-threatening.
At what heart rate should you go to the hospital?If you're sitting down and feeling calm, your heart shouldn't beat more than about 100 times per minute. A heartbeat that's faster than this, also called tachycardia, is a reason to come to the emergency department and get checked out. We often see patients whose hearts are beating 160 beats per minute or more.
Should I go to the hospital if my heart is beating fast?If you feel like your heart is beating too fast, make an appointment to see a health care provider. Seek immediate medical help if you have shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting or near fainting, and chest pain or discomfort.
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What does low blood pressure and high heart rate mean
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