I am a 79 year old woman and have had a pacemaker since 2004. My blood pressure monitor keeps showing big differences for my right and left wrist, 210/103 and 150/85 respectively. The GP and the cardiologist shrug their shoulders and say that this can happen. However, I don’t know which blood pressure is the right one. What could be the cause? I take blood pressure lowers.
Female (79)
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
If there is a clear and persistent difference in both arms, there is often a narrowing in the artery on the side with the lowest blood pressure. That would also mean that the actual blood pressure is the higher of the two. In that case I would say you need more blood pressure lowering medication. Such a narrowing can often be solved with angioplasty. A balloon that is inflated at the site of the narrowing then stretches the artery.
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