I am 72, female, not taking any drugs except occasionally pain medication for my osteoarthritis. I keep feeling dizzy on and off and my BP, when I am now feeling quite unwell, is 143/85, with 88 pulse. Is this okay or should I consult a doctor. In the past, I have had sudden BP rates of over 210/110 etc - thus happened about 4 times last year.
Hello Welcome to Chat Doctor Your symptoms of dizziness, readings of high BP and four times history of very high BP suggests that you have been suffering from high blood pressure for a long time. With your last 4 episodes of 210/110 known as accelerated hypertension, its unusual that the doctor has not started you on BP medications. Or either you took them for a short while and then stopped. Your BP remains consistently high, and your symptoms are due to high BP. Such high BP can cause target organ damage which includes the heart, brain, kidney and the eye among other organs. The sudden BP rise to 210/110 can also cause am artery to rupture in the brain and case life-threatening stroke. Long-standing high BP can also cause heart chamber enlargement, kidney disease leading to kidney failure and retina detachment of the eye. You must be started on medications for high BP. Please see your doctor a get it's done asap. Wishing you good healthRegards