124 over 46...........?

Question

i went to see the nurse today and she told me that i had a very low blood pressure, 124 over 46, and that i need more iron, Can't have iron tabs cause it makes my IBS ( constipation ) even more painful.

Should i be worried about my low blood pressure ?.Any ideas of how i can get more iron into my diet ?Not a good meat eater as it affects my IBS.

No Dr F, not me confusing the two, the nurses idea completely

No Dr F, not me confusing the two, the nurses idea completely

Answer 1

owddamyroom,

In short, eat spinach, beans, certain cereals (see at the end), and what chicken and fish you can, and take a Ferrous Fumerate supplement along with Vitamin C and folate. The C helps us to absorb iron, and the folate aids in producing red blood cells.

OK, now:

How old are you? Age makes a bit of a difference in blood pressure.

1. Since you found out that you have low blood pressure by going to the doctor, may I conclude that you didn't know that before? Which means that you don't have any signs of low blood pressure? You weren't fainting or having dizzy spells or anything?

In that case, I would say that you most likely have nothing to worry about.

It really wasn't that long ago that we thought that a blood pressure of 160/90 wasn't bad. Today we see it as dangerous, and believe that below 120/80 is good. We don't know where we will stop thinking that a lower blood pressure is better, but that's the trend we've been on for some decades. Don't think that you are in trouble just yet.

And I'm not too sure about that blood pressure-iron connection.

However, just so you don't run out of things to concern yourself about:

2. If the reading is accurate, I would keep an eye on it, because the difference between your systolic and diastolic pressures is fairly large. If the difference is higher than 60, you might want to ask your doctor (not a nurse. While they know much and do great work, there are clinical issues they have not studied) about "pulse pressure." A large pulse pressure (yours is borderline large) can be an indicator for a slowly developing problem that you can "head off at the pass" since this is the first that you've seen of this.

Your systolic pressure isn't high enough to be a case of Isolated Systolic Hypertension, so you don't need to actually worry about your blood pressure, but do keep it in view for a while.

And do not make any long-lasting decisions based on one blood pressure reading. Blood pressure fluctuates quite naturally--once I even had a reading of 140/90, but it was a fluke. All the other times I've been under 120/80. Yours might just be a low-side fluke.

I'm a little surprised that the nurse would suggest iron based on a blood pressure reading. But let's say that she is right and that you should take iron.

If you can take any iron at all: since you limit meat, try a combination of Ferrous Fumerate and Vitamin C. Back when I took iron I preferred this form since it is easier on the system than Ferrous Sulfate--the more common form of iron in multivitamins--and doesn't cause any digestive side effects that I have seen. Ferrous Sulfate can be irritating and cause constipation, and with your IBS you might want to stay away from it), and eat a little (can you at all?) chicken, fish, and lots of spinach.

If you can't eat any meat, there is iron in plants that we can absorb, especilly in the dark green leafy ones like spinach. Also beans, lentils, peanuts (including peanut butter, but watch the usual stuff. It has hydrogenated oil in it), eggs, dried fruit, prune juice, and don't forget iron-fortified cereals.

They make a really good lasagna, too, if you do it right. I rather enjoy spinach lasagna.

Answer 2

Blood pressure is related to age. 124 is fine, 46 is dangerously low. It's possible the BP reading is an error. The nurse's advice was wrong. You need a blood test to see what your iron levels are. But you do need to see a doctor if that is the correct reading.

Answer 3

A diagnoses of "low iron" is not possible by taking a Blood Pressure. If the Nurse was worried about your Blood Pressure, did she take it with you standing, then sitting, then lying? Did she ask you any questions about fluid loss such as vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding? If you looked and felt fine at the time, the BP probably wasn't accurate in the first place. Personally, as a medic, if I took someones BP and it was 124/46, I would ask them the above questions, take their BP again in the different positions, and if there were no changes, I would hardly be concerned at all about such a BP.

Answer 4

Your systolic pressure is fine. Your diastolic pressure is low. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 but with many variables.

You need to speak with your doctor, not the nurse. Your doctor would be able to suggest ways to get more iron in your diet and ways to manage your blood pressure.

Answer 5

Wow what a load of rubbish. 124/46 is a slightly odd reading the diastolic 46 is unusually low with a normal systolic. First thing I would do is check it again.

Low BP needs no treatment and there isn't any, firstly it is a good thing and reduces stroke risk, secondly there is no possible relationship between it and iron levels. Perhaps you are connecting the 2 issues rather than the nurse. Go back and check!

Answer 6

Note to Dr F - some good points but I'm a little concerned if you're a GP and you don't treat hypotension (not that I'm suggesting this is a case of it, sounds more like a nurse who needs to recheck her readings). Hope you simply mispoke yourself when saying low BP is not treatable!!!

Answer 7

Any dark green leafy veg eg spinach,kale,cabbage will boost your iron levels,as will soya milk,some nuts and pulses(kidney beans) Try to do some regular exercise and if you've never had any problems with your blood pressure before then I wouldn't worry too much. It can be a prob if you need a general anaesthetic though.

Answer 8

your upper number is fine, the lower number , however, is drastically low. Not good. Are you light headed? Did the nurse use a manual or electronic cuff. Something could have been wrong with them. She should have taken it again with another cuff. I would suggest buying a manual cuff and stethoscope and learning how to do it yourself. I for one would be worried and if i felt dizzy in anyway would go to the emergency room.

Answer 9

I really like both fruits and fresh vegetables better, regardless how they look and taste. You desire a little of both.

Answer 10

In the event that it's a fruit they have seeds, otherwise it's a vegetable. And vegetables are usually grown in the ground while fruits are grown in trees.