Coffee and severe hypotension

[KevinTheKoala]

I felt a bit weird (light headed and palpatations) so I checked my BP on my home machine (has been really accurate before this) because it also measures heart rate and I was more concerned about that. The stats have come up:
160/103 and 114 bpm
153/103 and 108 bpm
150/105 and 114 bpm

Taken 5 minutes apart each time. Now I have drunk more coffee than usual today - 3 instead of my usual 1, but can too much coffee really cause that alone? Or should I be a bit more concerned?

*I have an at home blood pressure monitor because I had pre-eclampsia with my daughter that lasted for a couple of weeks after her birth but otherwise I don't generally have high blood pressure.

I think you mean hypertension? Hypotension is low blood pressure. A quick google tells me coffee can cause quite dramatic increases in blood pressure if you're unused to it or if you drink more of it than you're used to.

Take it again in a day or so. If it's back to normal and your bp is normally ok, then you probably don't have hypertension.

I've been on meds for bp since my last pregnancy 13 years ago. Low dose because it's only a bit higher than it should be these days. I only drink decaf now, as proper coffee makes my heart race, makes me jittery and messes with my sleep. I used to drink it with no problems.

Yes sorry hypertension I will keep monitoring it.

That is high. Cut out the caffeine. Check it tomorrow. If still that range, tell GP. Hope you feel better soon.

Agree with the advice above.
Just out of interest, how do you know your machine has been really accurate in the past?

The readings were checked against my doctors when I first got it.

You can manage your hypertension w diet. I have had high readings in the past. I manage mine with diet and no medication. Today I had the lovely reading of 106/66 :)