Does anyone know about blood pressure?

[rosamundjohn]

I am worried about my father's blood pressure. It is 96/43. He is 81,6'6", very thin, keeps getting dizzy and falling over. Has been on Warfarin for 10 years due to Mitral Stenosis.
He has asthma, emphesema and an allergy to mites. He is difficult and depressed.

[Velvetee]

His blood pressure sounds quite low. The optimal blood pressure is 120/80, but it does tend to increase with age.

You should probably take him to see his GP, his low BP could be why he's dizzy, but he may also have an inner ear problem, which is affecting his balance, hence he's falling over.

[cruella]

Have to agree with Velvetee,
His BP sounds it is far too low and needs to be investigated.
That could be the cause of his dizziness.

[ethandron]

i agree with what's been said. the bottom figure - 43 - is very, very low. the top figure - 96 - is at the very bottom of the 'low normal' range. if he were my father i would call the doctor out tomorrow, especially given his age and other problems. sometimes it's necessary to take decisions out of elderly parents hands and do what's right.

[rosamundjohn]

Thanks for your answers. He is a law unto himself. How can he raise his blood pressure.? I think he should return to his heart specialist. It is a difficult situation. He will not be told

[stonekicker]

rosamund - ultimately, he will not be told! he is a man and of the elder generation - two of the least likely to bother the dr. you could call the gp out on his behalf after explaining your worries and concerns, but then your dad would probably resent that. the advice given so far is sound - both parts of the bp are too low and could be due to any number of things, but as he has circulation and breathing problems, these avenues should be checked out first. you could always try the tack of 'if you don't do anything and fall over etc. you'll end up in a+e and may not have control over what happens to you then' in a bid to win him round. keep trying and talk to his gp tomorrow. good luck!

[sqad617]

What medical conditions can give an 81 yr old low BP? I cannot think of any, so I would question the validity of these figures. The BP readings need monitoring perhaps twice daily to get accurate readings. 81 yr old man with mitral valve disease, I would think of arteriosclerosis. He needs to see his cardiologist again.

[Jugglering]

Rosamund - I would agree with the others, those results are far too low, plus I suspect he is not eating properly, no wonder he is difficult and depressed ! I must assume that he still lives on his own and is used to getting his own way. If you cannot persuade him to ask for some help (difficult, I know !) then maybe your husband/partner could suggest he gets a visit from your GP (it sometimes comes over better if it's from another fella). If he is not eating properly, he will become malnutritioned and dehydrated and what that does to one's body chemistry is awful,,, no wonder the poor guy is suffering from depression.

[rosamundjohn]

I do thank you for your replies. He has a dry mouth and is VERY thin and wasted. He Is not stupid and think that perhaps he should have his mistral valve operated on. Quality of life is not good.

[rosamundjohn]

he also has anemia.
Any doctors around?

[sqad617]

What sort of anaemia ?iron deficiency anaemia or B12 deficiency?(pernicious anaemia) but still don't believe the BP readings. Again back to see your cardiologist.

[Panic Button]

My Mother in Law was on warfarin for years and years, then another doctor said stop - it should never be taken for long periods.

[LoftyLottie]

Ethandron - unfortunately a doctor will not and cannot by law come out to see an elderly patient unless the patient agrees unless they are too ill to make that decision themselves. We all have the right to refuse to see a doctor. It can be very difficult and frustrating when you know an elderly person is ill, but (sometimes unfortunately) their wishes have to be respected.

[ethandron]

actually, i speak from experience, having got the doctor out myself when my own dad wasn't well a few years ago and he didn't want to 'bother' the doctor. sometimes these 'old school' parents of ours need to have the burden of making some decisions taken off them by caring children. whilst i totally agree with you about respecting peoples wishes, to the point of allowing them to die if that's what they want, i also firmly believe that sometimes elderly, ill folk need to have decisions taken for them, which they are actually relieved to have taken out of their own hands.
i absolutely hear what you're saying lofty lottie, but i know what i would do (and indeed did do) if this old gentleman was my dad. some things are good in theory, but in practice we have to follow what we know to be right.

[Sir Alec]

Your father's symptoms sound remarkably like my Mum's. She was diagnosed with coeliac disease - thus malnutrition. Has this been mentioned by his GP?

[LoftyLottie]

Ethandron, I agree that we should look after our old folk and help when we can and am 100% with you on this - I have been a carer for an elderly mother. However, if a parent is in sound mind and doesn't want to see a doctor, by law they 'should' not come out on a visit. I had a lot of trouble with this on very many occasions, where doctors would not come out unless they had the permission of my mother!!

Obviously some doctors adhere more strictly to this than others. I am not saying the law is right on this matter.

[LoftyLottie]

Doctors also should not be able to discuss details an elderly patient's health (or anybody elses for that matter) with anyone, except the patient themselves, if they are of sound mind and able to make a decision themselves.

Sometimes the law is an ass!

[theonlyone]

I'm a carer and if the old chap is not well
I get the GP to do a house call ...always
better safe than sorry ...our surgery now
does a yearly health review at home for
the elderly ..disabled etc ...maybe yours
does ? Maybe worth a phone call ...