How can you have an elevated heart rate, yet the BP is going down? -

I have been on medication for hypertension...and it has been working. However, my resting heart rate has remained elevated (90-92) even though I have been taking valium (only once per day). I was interested in any insight.

Heart rate is the speed in which the heart beats per minute. Having a rate of 90 at rest is not good. You should talk to your doc to get that down with beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. I am not sure if valium is the right med. Blood Pressure is the pressure in which the blood travels through our body. Usually high blood pressure and increased heart rate go together, like your case. Treating one does not treat the other.

Actually, increasing the heart rate is the body s response to low blood pressure. If your blood pressure drops, you are not pumping blood around the body efficiently. So, the heart has to increase its workload to make up the difference, it does this by beating faster. Valium is not used to control blood pressure, so I am assuming that you are taking it inconjuction with your BP medication. you might want to speak with your doc and see if he thinks your BP is dropping too low with the medication. He may want to adjust the dosage.