Low blood pressure high heart rate

Can a high heart rate be caused by low blood pressure?
(October 11, 2010)

Relationship Between Heart Rate And Blood Pressure

Many people are under the impression that there is a direct relationship between heart rate and blood pressure; however this is not entirely true. A slow heart rate measurement is not an indication of a high or low blood pressure and one would have to separately measure ones blood pressure to know the correct value. Similarly while discussing heart rate vs blood pressure one should also keep in mind that an increase in one’s heart rate does not cause one’s blood pressure levels to rise at  a similar rate. This is mostly because although ones heart tends to beat more times in a single minute, the healthy blood vessels get larger or dilate so as to allow an additional amount of blood to flow easily through.

When an individual exercises, the heart rate tends to increase so as to enable the blood to reach the muscles where it is required at a faster rate.


In fact it is entirely possible for ones heart rate to practically double safely while ones blood pressure level increases by only a modest amount. One should also keep in mind that measuring ones pulse rate before and after any strenuous activity is not linked in any way to ones blood pressure levels. In fact during the course of any exercise one may notice that their heart rate tends to increase rapidly and even when they stop exercising the heart rate or the pulse rate does not return to normal immediately, in fact it returns to its normal resting level gradually over a period of time. One blood pressure is typically controlled by three main factors, the first one being the heart rate or the speed at which the heart beats. It has been observed that the faster the heart beats the higher the blood pressure may increase but not necessarily in direct proportion.

The factors that tend to influence ones heart rate are any strenuous activity, hormonal changes, diseases and medications. Another factor that influences ones blood pressure is the quantity of blood that is pumped out of the ventricles after each heart beat which is medically known as the stroke volume. The third factor that tends to influence ones blood pressure levels is the width or the caliber of the arteries. This is because it is difficult for blood to travel through arteries that are narrow as compared to blood vessels that are wider. The difference between heart rate and blood pressure may be clearly understood by knowing the definition of both blood pressure and heart rate. Blood pressure is basically the pressure that is exerted upon the walls of the various blood vessels by the blood that is being circulated. Usually the term blood pressure is used to refer to the pressure of blood that is measured at the upper arm of a person on the inner side of the elbow on the brachial artery which is the major blood vessel of the upper arm. Heart rate on the other hand is the number of heartbeats measured per unit of time.  

It is actually the other way round. High heart rate affects the blood pressure. They have a direct relationship. As the heart rate increases, the blood pressure also increases and vice versa. But, this does not rise proportionately. Heart rate is the frequency of heart beats in a minute. Blood pressure is the pace at which the blood hits the arterial walls and is denoted as diastolic and systolic pressure. The normal blood pressure is 120 by 80 mm Hg. The heart rate increases due to stress. The rate is less, while resting. The heart rate at rest is between 60 and 75 beats per minute. The level is high at the time of birth, as high as 130. It decreases to 80, by the age of 12. The levels reach 60 to 75, by the time of adulthood. Individuals on regular exercise, have a lower heart rate at rest.

Heart rate above 100 beats per minute is referred to as tachycardia. Symptoms of tachycardia include palpitation. Dizziness, breathlessness, anxiety and chest pain are the other symptoms of high heart rate. It is life threatening, as the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide is affected. Other causes of tachycardia or increase in heart beat are heart cell abnormalities, emphysema or lung disease, overactive thyroid, hot triggers and stimulants, such as alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. Minute malfunctioning of the atrial muscles and abnormalities in the electrical properties of the cells are also some more causative factors of tachycardia. Individuals on certain medications, such as allergy and asthma are at high risk for tachycardia. It is also seen in individuals with underlying conditions, such as heart disease, congenital defects, lung disease or coronary artery disease.

The rise in blood pressure is not the same as the heart rate. This is due to the dilation of the blood vessels. During exercise, the heart rate increases and thereby allows more blood flow. In certain individuals, heart rate doubles during exercise, though a moderate rise in blood pressure is common. Energy drinks help during exercise session. They are a storehouse of taurine and caffeine. Taurine is an essential amino acid that helps in improving alertness and concentration. They are equally harmful, especially for those with heart problems. The cause and kind of tachycardia, determines the treatment procedure. The underlying cause is treated to decrease the risk of high heart rate. Delay in treatment affects the individual and results in a number of complications.