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25 years
Hi doc. I am askinh regarding palpitation. My blood pressure is 140/90 what should i do? Im palpitate today. Tnx
Mar 15, 2015

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
140/90 mm Hg is an elevated blood pressure reading; but remember that to obtain an accurate blood pressure reading, the measurement has to be done when you are relaxed (i.e., you have not been walking, running, or climbing up the stairs 30 min before the measurement); you should not have smoked or drunk coffee in the 30 min period prior to the measurement, and white-coat hypertension (some people get anxious when seeing healthcare workers in white coats and their blood pressure rises as a result) should be ruled out. One isolated reading of 140/90 is not sufficient to make the diagnosis of hypertension; 3 separated readings on 3 different occasions recording elevated blood pressure values are required to say that someone actually has hypertension. So 1st things 1st: make sure your do 3 readings of blood pressure, and this ought to be performed by an expert, the right way (so not in a pharmacy).
In the presence of persistently elevated blood pressure accompanied by palpitations, you need to be examined by a doctor run a few blood tests to check for cortisol levels (cortisol is the stress hormone) and also investigate causes of elevated blood pressure. 
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