My BP peaked at 170/100 today at the vaccination center. I feel like dying

Marnie · Jun 4, 2021

wow - I was nervous enough about getting the vaccine - if I had to have my blood pressure checked too, mine would have been the same as yours. I hate having mine taken. I know its that white coat thing but still - they look at me like "you really have a problem" when I know that its only high when its being taken. Im sorry this happened to you b.c it just adds to the anxiety. Glad you got the vaccine - maybe the cardiologist will be helpful.

Worlding101 said:
For more than 10 years, I've (30M fit guy 160 lbs, 5'10) battled on and off health anxiety. I also what I think is whitecoat hypertension which is getting high BP readings when taking your BP. Basically, I fear of getting high numbers and end up getting them! But on hindsight, I do think I also have BP issues because it runs in the family and my anxiety simply worsens it.

Long story short: Here in our country, the vax procedure requires you to have a stable BP. So they take your vitals before injecting you. I've dreaded this day for months ever since I found out they take your BP prior to vaccination.

The nurse took my temperature and oxygen levels (which were fine) but my pulse rate (they used the device on the finger) and registered at 122! I was very uncomfortable especially during the wait as I see people getting deferred because of high BP ahead of me. I felt pressured to give a stable BP. And lo and behold my first reading was 170/100!

I tried to look calm but deep inside I just wanted to die of the embarassment. The nurse said I was very nervous and set me aside to "calm myself down" and after 15 mins, my BP was 160/100 (I was still feeling anxious and uneasy).

Nurse referred me to the doctor whom I told about my anxiety and told me to calm down. He said I looked and talked very nervous and gave me this anti-hypertensive med which you put under the tongue. After 10 mins, they took my BP and said it was 140/90 and was already good enough. I know it's still high but the moment they said I'm ok to be injected, I immediately felt a wave of calmness and relief.

Anyway, as someone who suffers from health anxiety, I can't help but obsess over these numbers. I cannot bring myself to even measure my BP at home because I will drive myself nuts as I will obsess over the results. I want to but I don't know where to start.

I'm going to a cardiologist next Monday to help me with this and maybe it is about time to finally confront my issue so I can be given proper meds.

Can someone please extend me some success stories with regards to BP or any good stuff while I wait for my appointment? I feel like I will die of heart failure anytime

wow - I was nervous enough about getting the vaccine - if I had to have my blood pressure checked too, mine would have been the same as yours. I hate having mine taken. I know its that white coat thing but still - they look at me like "you really have a problem" when I know that its only high when its being taken. Im sorry this happened to you b.c it just adds to the anxiety. Glad you got the vaccine - maybe the cardiologist will be helpful.

Marnie · Jun 4, 2021

I had a readings the same as yours but have heard of much higher. My mother in law used to be 200/100 when I
would take her to her gp. The fact that it came down is good. See what the cardiologist things.

Iugrad91 · Jun 4, 2021

Simple breathing exercises can help lower heart rate and pressure when you’re feeling anxious. 4-7-8 technique, breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8. Do that several times until you feel things slow down.

cheer_mom · Jun 4, 2021

Breathing exercises definitely help. It takes practices so try them when you aren't anxious so it becomes second nature when you are.

TruthHurts · Jun 4, 2021

Worlding101 said:
For more than 10 years, I've (30M fit guy 160 lbs, 5'10) battled on and off health anxiety. I also what I think is whitecoat hypertension which is getting high BP readings when taking your BP. Basically, I fear of getting high numbers and end up getting them! But on hindsight, I do think I also have BP issues because it runs in the family and my anxiety simply worsens it.

Long story short: Here in our country, the vax procedure requires you to have a stable BP. So they take your vitals before injecting you. I've dreaded this day for months ever since I found out they take your BP prior to vaccination.

The nurse took my temperature and oxygen levels (which were fine) but my pulse rate (they used the device on the finger) and registered at 122! I was very uncomfortable especially during the wait as I see people getting deferred because of high BP ahead of me. I felt pressured to give a stable BP. And lo and behold my first reading was 170/100!

I tried to look calm but deep inside I just wanted to die of the embarassment. The nurse said I was very nervous and set me aside to "calm myself down" and after 15 mins, my BP was 160/100 (I was still feeling anxious and uneasy).

Nurse referred me to the doctor whom I told about my anxiety and told me to calm down. He said I looked and talked very nervous and gave me this anti-hypertensive med which you put under the tongue. After 10 mins, they took my BP and said it was 140/90 and was already good enough. I know it's still high but the moment they said I'm ok to be injected, I immediately felt a wave of calmness and relief.

Anyway, as someone who suffers from health anxiety, I can't help but obsess over these numbers. I cannot bring myself to even measure my BP at home because I will drive myself nuts as I will obsess over the results. I want to but I don't know where to start.

I'm going to a cardiologist next Monday to help me with this and maybe it is about time to finally confront my issue so I can be given proper meds.

Can someone please extend me some success stories with regards to BP or any good stuff while I wait for my appointment? I feel like I will die of heart failure anytime

Try not to let that reading get you down. The reason for it was because you felt fear, adrenaline kicked in etc I felt very nervous myself when I went in for my first covid vaccine the second time around I was a little more calm. I'm the same way the other night I took my blood pressure and got the reading 137/87 at the time I had just drink a diet pepsi and was feeling some anxiety. Simple explanation for the elevated blood pressure but I let it bug me and ended up having a restless night because of it. I checked my blood pressure the next day and it was 113/78 I checked again this morning and it was 103/72. My advice is try to eat more plant based and drink more water.

bin_tenn · Jun 4, 2021

I've had readings that high before due to anxiety / panic attacks. It happens. As long as it isn't consistently that high I don't think it's a huge issue, but do see what the cardiologist says.

bin_tenn · Jun 5, 2021

Worlding101 said:
Thank you bin. I hope you've found some ways to manage your numbers despite the anxiety.

Yeah, I just don't check my BP except on the day of an appointment. LoL!

Matticus1983 · Jun 8, 2021

Mine has been 170/90 when I've been extremely anxious on the verge of panic. It's very normal. Adrenaline gets us ready to run or fight, pushing blood to our extremities for longevity of flight. My doc tried putting me on BP meds, I did take them for a week, but realized my BP stays about 125-130/65-75 most of the time especially when relaxed. So I stopped taking them. Talk to your doc though. I actually have a cardio app. tomorrow due to a blip on an EKG. I know I'll be nervous. BP will probably be high. Pretty normal for me to have white coat syndrome or medication syndrome (fear of side effects) anytime Im around anything medical

SB2017 · Jun 14, 2021

Please post updates when you go. I have a history of HBP after having my daughter. My regular doctor is a cardiologist so I get checked regularly. Last night I decided to check my pressure since I had a headache all day and it was 160/100. I freaked out, and I’m still freaking out.

I checked it again this morning and it was 143/94 and eventually went down to 121/82. Not sure what to think but I’m definitely getting myself all worked up now.

bin_tenn · Jun 14, 2021

SB2017 said:
Please post updates when you go. I have a history of HBP after having my daughter. My regular doctor is a cardiologist so I get checked regularly. Last night I decided to check my pressure since I had a headache all day and it was 160/100. I freaked out, and I’m still freaking out.

I checked it again this morning and it was 143/94 and eventually went down to 121/82. Not sure what to think but I’m definitely getting myself all worked up now.

Probably due mostly to anxiety when you got those high readings. That happens to me every time. I now take my BP three times when I do check it. I discard the first reading (always high) and average the next two and things are always normal. Primary doc and cardiologist both said that's a perfectly acceptable approach (for me).

My BP peaked at 170/100 today at the vaccination center. I feel like dying

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