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Avatar universal

Change in BP trend & also PP

Hello, I am bedridden with severe ME/CFS but am concerned about my blood pressure readings which are very unusual for an ME patient. I was bedridden in 2013, although slightly more active than I am now (I could manage to walk to the bathroom and around my room, whereas now I can not), as well as feeling generally better, both on exertion and at rest.

As stated, my main concern right now is blood pressure. The fact that my baseline has lowered overall, but pulse pressure/gap between systolic and diastolic has become wide. I am male, 29 years old, 5'10" and 11 stone. My diet is the same, as is everything else compared to 2013 (except feeling worse).


The following BP readings are typical of the comparison between now and 2013, as well as the trend in my BP now. i.e. My diastolic is almost always low, while my Pulse Pressure is almost always wide. Should I be concerned? Thank you so much for reading.



November 20th, 2013
6pm - 139/90 - 68bpm

November 23rd, 2013
8pm 127/86 - 70bpm

December 3rd, 2013
8pm. - 132/89 - 80bpm

December 4th, 2013
8pm - 127/84 - 76 bpm



January 10th, 2015
9pm - 126/64 - 72 bpm

January 26th, 2015
7pm - 130/70 - 74 bpm

February 11th, 2015
6pm - 126/64 - 78 bpm

February 18th, 2015
8pm - 120/69 - 75 bpm
3 Responses
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Avatar universal
I don't know what article to which you are referring.   Average pulse pressure is around 40 mm Hg, but it is not uncommon for it to be higher.   My doctor told me he worries when its 100 mm Hg.  

Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic.  

I'm so sorry you are bed-ridden; that must really be awful. Your BP readings as posted are all quite normal.    Are they usually not with ME/CFS?  

Are you sure of that diagnosis?   I guess what I mean is, has a doctor told you that is what is definitely wrong?  I assume you have had the usual battery of tests.

If you're being monitored by a physician, let THEM worry about your blood pressure.    Were you told to take it every day?  

I find it makes me anxious to take it that much. Every other day or even once a week is about right for me.   It is easy, when you're sick and scared, to obsess or the "numbers."   Try not to take your BP so much, and focus on good nutrition, as much exercise as you can handle, and following your doctor's instructions.  

There MUST be support groups for folks with your condition...have you found any?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for replying and clarifying what is a legitimately wide pulse pressure. I just thought it was slightly odd that my diastolic is, on average, 15-20 points lower in the same circumstances as two years ago. I was also under the impression that 50-60 resting PP was "bad" after reading an article which suggested this. Sorry if the question is a stupid one. I'm just trying to figure out what's going wrong after being bedridden for three years and doctors not having a clue as to why I continue to deteriorate.

Can pulse pressure increase for no reason, then? Might it even be typical of deconditioning? I would almost always have a resting PP of 40-45 in 2013, whereas now the resting PP is almost always 50-60.

It would be such a relief to be able to forget about BP/PP and to try to find answers elsewhere.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Your pulse pressure is not wide.   170/70 is a wide pulse pressure.  Yours is in normal range...
Helpful - 0
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