B/P Medication Atenolol (Tenormin)

A Review

My Experience

Here I was at 28 years old when I suddenly awoke with a splitting headache more severe than I had ever experienced. The headache was accompanied by mild chest pain, shortness of breath and sweating. My heart rate was too high for me to count. I feared I was having a heart attack or stroke or something. I SHOULD have called 911 but instead, I hopped in my car and drove to the local hospital. I walked up to the nurse's desk and described my symptoms. She took one look at me and they brought me right back. One was starting an IV, one was hooking me up to a heart monitor and EKG, one was taking my vital signs and one was asking questions. Then I spot one person wheeling what appeared to be a big red tool box near me. That was the "crash cart" containing a defibrillator and other medications and tools in case I went into cardiac arrest. (that made me feel good). I was told that my pulse was beating at 210 beats per min (normal is 80-100) and my blood pressure was 240/120. Now I've worked as a paramedic in the past and I have a respectable medical background. I've seen people in the middle of a heart attack with better vital signs than that. I was pretty nervous to say the least.

After some blood tests that checked my cardiac enzymes and other things, I was told (much to my relief) that I had NOT had a heart attack. "whew". After some IV medications, my pulse and blood pressure went down. My pulse went down to about 120. (Still too fast but not life threatening.) but my blood pressure only lowered to 164-110. (much better, yes, but still WAY too high and NOT acceptable). I was admitted to the hospital for further tests. Doctors were concerned. I was a bit heavy and could stand to loose a few pounds but i wasn't HUGE or obese. My cholesterol was a bit high but not too bad. Basically with the exception of my vital signs, I was pretty healthy on paper. Now I should add that I don't smoke or do drugs and I RARELY drink alcohol and have SELDOM been drunk. I don't eat right (I HATE vegetables and don't dig most fruit).