
What does labile mean in medical terms?
Definition of Labile. Labile: Unstable. For example, labile blood pressure is blood pressure that abnormally increases and decreases frequently.
Is 126/86 good blood pressure or high blood pressure?
Your blood pressure reading of 126/86 indicates a High Normal blood pressure and is also classified as Prehypertension. In most cases a high normal blood pressure is still considered normal. However, under some circumstances or with pre-existing conditions or diseases the high normal blood pressure can be a problem.
Which diet is best for a person with hypertension?
Spices
- Basil has been shown to lower high blood pressure for brief periods of time.
- Cinnamon may help reduce blood pressure in diabetics when used daily, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
- Cardamom added to meals has been shown to lower blood pressure in those with stage 1 hypertension when used daily over several months.
What is the best medicine for hypertension?
- Alpha blockers. Alpha blockers prevent the hormone norepinephrine (noradrenaline) from tightening the muscles in the walls of smaller arteries and veins, which causes the vessels to remain open and relaxed.
- Alpha-beta blockers. Alpha-beta blockers work similarly to beta blockers. ...
- Central-acting agents. ...
- Vasodilators. ...
- Aldosterone antagonists. ...

What causes labile hypertension?
Labile hypertension is typically caused by situations that make you anxious or stressed. For example, the anxiety people experience before a surgery. Eating foods high in sodium or consuming a lot of caffeine can also trigger a temporary increase in blood pressure above normal levels.
How is labile hypertension treated?
There is currently no treatment specifically for labile hypertension. Medical professionals may instead focus on helping a person reduce situation-specific anxiety and stress. They may prescribe short-term anti-anxiety medication for people to use only when they are experiencing symptoms of anxiety.
What are the symptoms of fluctuating blood pressure?
Labile hypertension is a condition where your blood pressure fluctuates more than normal....If you suspect you have labile hypertension, you may experience the following symptoms:Facial flushing.Intermittent headaches and tension headaches.Heart palpitations.Shortness of breath.Fatigue.SweatingFeeling uneasy.
What is labile hypertension ICD 10?
Elevated blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis of hypertension.
How is labile hypertension diagnosed?
Your doctor will pursue a labile hypertension diagnosis by giving you a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor. If the results show unusual spikes in blood pressure, your doctor will search for the underlying cause.
What does labile mean in medical terms?
Labile: Unstable. For example, labile blood pressure is blood pressure that abnormally increases and decreases frequently.
What time of day is blood pressure highest?
Blood pressure has a daily pattern. Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before a person wakes up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure typically drops in the late afternoon and evening.
What is the best time to check your blood pressure?
Take it first in the morning before eating or taking any medications. Take it again in the evening. Each time you measure, take two or three readings to make sure your results are the same. Your health care provider might recommend taking your blood pressure at the same times each day.
Why is my blood pressure lower the second time I take it?
A blood pressure reading taken in the evening may read lower due to reduced sympathetic activity. Having a full stomach when your blood pressure is taken may cause a lower reading.
Does labile hypertension go away?
Labile hypertension can be asymptomatic or can be accompanied by symptoms such as headache, palpitations, or flushing. The BP usually falls spontaneously without intervention.
What is labile hypertension of the elderly?
Blood pressure in some elderly hypertensive patients is characterized by marked lability. This affects quality of life and may deteriorate prognosis. Conventional anti-hypertensive medication does not lead to stabilization of blood pressure. We call this form of hypertension "labile hypertension of the elderly" (LHE).
Can blood pressure be high temporarily?
Your body produces a surge of hormones when you're in a stressful situation. These hormones temporarily increase your blood pressure by causing your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to narrow.
What is labile hypertension of the elderly?
Blood pressure in some elderly hypertensive patients is characterized by marked lability. This affects quality of life and may deteriorate prognosis. Conventional anti-hypertensive medication does not lead to stabilization of blood pressure. We call this form of hypertension "labile hypertension of the elderly" (LHE).
How much fluctuation in blood pressure is normal?
If there is a difference of more than 5 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), the readings should be checked again. To sort these issues out, a healthcare provider may recommend home monitoring or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
How do you know if you have white coat syndrome?
How is white coat syndrome diagnosed? Your healthcare provider can diagnose white coat syndrome when you have at least three in-office readings that are higher than normal but requires either 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or home blood pressure monitoring.
Can blood pressure be high temporarily?
Your body produces a surge of hormones when you're in a stressful situation. These hormones temporarily increase your blood pressure by causing your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to narrow.
Ask the doctor
Q. I have high blood pressure and have been checking my blood pressure more often since my doctor added another drug. But lately, my readings have been all over the place. For example, one morning it was 127/70, but then it was 170/100 in the late afternoon. What's going on?
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What is labile hypertension?
The word labile refers to something that can change quickly and spontaneously.
How to minimize labile hypertension?
A person seeking to minimize their risk of labile hypertension should consider: trying to control their levels of stress, avoiding stressful situations, or learning how to manage them more effectively. managing their anxiety levels with meditation and other relaxation techniques, or through prescription medication.
What is the condition that causes blood pressure to fluctuate?
A similar condition to labile hypertension is paroxysmal hypertension. This may cause a person’s blood pressure to fluctuate dramatically between normal and high.
What is white coat hypertension?
White coat hypertension. White coat hypertension (WCH) is a condition in which a person’s blood pressure fluctuates in a medical setting. For example, it may only increase when they are at a doctor’s appointment. If a person has WCH, the blood pressure readings a medical professional takes may not accurately reflect that individual’s true blood ...
Why is it important to monitor blood pressure?
Because labile hypertension is most often caused by anxiety, it is also important that people manage anxiety as best they can.
What is a person's blood pressure that is not constantly within normal ranges but also not constantly high?
Labile hypertension is where a person’s blood pressure is not constantly within normal ranges, but also not constantly high either.
Why is it important to see a doctor for labile hypertension?
When to see a doctor. Because untreated labile hypertension can cause an increased risk. Trusted Source. of health problems, and because the condition can be hard to detect, it is important for people to have their blood pressure checked regularly.
What are some examples of labile hypertension?
Examples of such medical conditions include: Sleep apnea. Cardiovascular disease.
What does it mean when your blood pressure is high?
. Unusual, and sometimes unexplained, spikes in your blood pressure — called labile hypertension — may indicate something is wrong with your health. Diagnosing labile hypertension is very qualitative.
What does mmhg mean in blood pressure?
Here, “mmHg” stands for millimeters of mercury because the traditional blood pressure gauge — called sphygmomanometer — contains mercury used for measurements. Elevated blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure is indicated by 120 to 129 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic measurements.
What does the second number mean in blood pressure?
The second number represents diastolic blood pressure, which indicates the amount of pressure your blood puts on the walls of your arteries in between heartbeats. Abnormalities in either of these readings can lead to a diagnosis of high blood pressure, but the systolic reading is often more important.
What is a situational spike in blood pressure?
Labile hypertension is usually situational. Spikes in your blood pressure happen in response to stressful life situations. Examples include:
What is the stage of hypertension?
Hypertension stage 1. If your blood pressure begins to consistently measure between 130 and 139 mmHg systolic or between 80 and 89 mmHg diastolic , you’re in hypertension stage 1. Your doctor may recommend a specific diet and certain lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure.
Why is it important to talk to your doctor about blood pressure?
Many times these conditions cause damage before you even realize it’s happening. That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding your blood pressure.
What Is Labile Hypertension?
Hypertension is a common condition that affects half of all adults in the United States. 1 In adults and children age 13 and older, a normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. Hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure is consistently 130/80 or higher.
What is paroxysmal hypertension?
Paroxysmal hypertension is an older hypertension type concept. It is characterized by severe fluctuations in blood pressure thought to be due to activation of the sympathetic nervous system in response to repressed emotion. 5
What is the name of the syndrome of paroxysmal hypertension?
The syndrome of paroxysmal hypertension is known as " pseudopheochromocytoma ," because the sudden hypertension mimics a catecholamine-secreting tumor, called pheochromocytoma, when no such tumor exists.
How long does a blood pressure cuff last?
In ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, a cuff is worn continuously for a period of time, such as 24 to 48 hours. The cuff automatically measures blood pressure intermittently throughout the day and night. This type of monitoring can be particularly helpful for the diagnosis of white coat hypertension and masked hypertension.
Can labile hypertension be managed?
Labile hypertension can be challenging to manage, especially when spikes or dips in blood pressure cause symptoms. Your healthcare provider will work with you to find a treatment regimen that works to keep your numbers under control.
Is labile hypertension a diagnostic term?
There is no formal diagnostic criteria for labile hypertension since it is more of a descriptive term than a separate diagnosis.
Is masked hypertension the opposite of white coat hypertension?
Masked hypertension can be considered the opposite of white coat hypertension.
What are the factors that contribute to labile hypertension?
Extrinsic factors such as physical activities, insomnia and intake of sodium are likely to increase the occurrence of labile hypertension. Reduced arterial compliance and baroreflex failure may contribute to trigger a response as well.
What are the risk factors for labile hypertension?
Risk factors. Cardiovascular disease, stroke. Diagnostic method. Blood pressure measurements. Prevention. avoidance of smoking, limited alcohol intake, reduced intake of salt and caffeine. Labile hypertension occurs when there are unexpected changes in blood pressure. The term can be used to describe when people have blood pressure measurements ...
How does smoking affect labile hypertension?
Labile hypertension can occur through exposure to everyday lifestyles. Some of these include are the usage of tobacco. Tobacco significantly increase blood pressure and heart rate temporarily and can damage the artery walls caused by the chemicals that are contained in tobacco. Chemicals in tobacco include nicotine and carbon monoxide interferes with the cardiovascular system (CVD). Nicotine is a stimulant that releases vasopressin, and can cause the blood vessel to constrict and thus can reduce the amount of blood to flow. Carbon monoxide is a toxic chemical that binds haemoglobin (molecule in the blood that carries oxygen) will decrease the amount of oxygen delivered to the cells and cause damage to other organs in the body.
How long does it take to diagnose labile hypertension?
Diagnosis is typically by 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to which measurements can be taken at home without having to visit to the physician’s office. Labile hypertension can be a primary risk factor that may contribute to stroke or cardiovascular disease (CVD).
What causes paroxysmal hypertension?
Paroxysmal hypertension: Occur randomly during the day but it is said that paroxysmal hypertension are caused by repressed distressed emotions such as intense fear due to past trauma. Some of the physical symptoms that accompany include headache, weakness and fear. Paroxysmal hypertension is different from panic disorder in which they are characterised with extreme elevation of blood pressure that is not triggered by fear. In panic disorder, elevation of blood pressure is generally mild and is normally triggered by fear or panic. There is a small percentage, approximately 2% who raises suspicion for have pheochromocytoma, a tumour in the adrenal glands. This involves the sympathetic nervous system and treatment for paroxysmal hypertension is available.
How does beta blocker help with hypertension?
Beta blockers are medications that often prevent par oxysmal and labile hypertension as they interact with the sympathetic nervous system. Beta blockers help reduce blood pressure by blocking the effects of hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. The effect of taking beta blockers can help lower the heart rate as well as help improve the blood flow by opening up the blood vessels widely. Doctors may prescribe beta blockers as one of the medications that help reduce blood pressure , including diuretics and calcium channel blockers.
What are the two types of hypertension?
There are two different types of hypertension, though, the underlying mechanisms to which the blood pressure fluctuates from being normal to abnormally high remains the same. Labile hypertension: Normally occur during emotional or social stressors and may not physically show symptoms.
What is BP in medical terms?
Blood pressure (BP) is a physiological parameter with short- and long-term variability caused by complex interactions between intrinsic cardiovascular (CV) mechanisms and extrinsic environmental and behavioral factors. Available evidence suggests that not only mean BP values are important, but also …
Is blood pressure a physiological parameter?
Blood pressure (BP) is a physiological parameter with short- and long-term variability caused by complex interactions between intrinsic cardiovascular (CV) mechanisms and extrinsic environmental and behavioral factors. Available evidence suggests that not only mean BP values are important, but also BP variability (BPV) might contribute to CV events. Labile hypertension (HTN) is referred to sudden rises in BP and it seems to be linked with unfavorable outcomes. The aim of this article was to review and summarize recent evidence on BPV phenomenon, unraveling the labile HTN concept along with the prognostic value of these conditions.

What Is Labile Hypertension?
- Hypertension is a common condition that affects half of all adults in the United States.1In adults and children age 13 and older, a normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. Hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure is consistently 130/80 or higher. Having high blood pressure increases the risk of: 1. Stroke 2. Heart attack 3. Heart failure 4....
Similar Conditions
- White Coat Hypertension
Some people have high blood pressure measurements at their healthcare provider's office but normal blood pressure measurements at home. The blood pressure cuff used at home must be checked to ensure it is giving accurate and not falsely low readings. People with white coat hype… - Masked Hypertension
Masked hypertension can be considered the opposite of white coat hypertension. In masked hypertension, blood pressure measurements at the healthcare provider's office are normal, but those at home are elevated. This is called "masked," since the normal readings at the healthcare …
Labile Hypertension Symptoms
- Labile hypertension may not present with any symptoms. However, some symptoms may include:6 1. Intermittent headaches 2. Flushing 3. Palpitations 4. Shortness of breath 5. Fatigue
Causes
- Labile blood pressure can be caused by a number of things, including: 1. High salt meals, particularly for people who are sensitive to salt intake 2. Stress or increased emotion (which increases the sensitivity of the blood vessels) 3. Excessive alcohol use 4. Cocaine use 5. Medications like decongestants 6. Certain eye drops 7. Anxiety that leads to checking blood pre…
Diagnosis
- There is no formal diagnostic criteria for labile hypertension since it is more of a descriptive term than a separate diagnosis. Hypertension can be diagnosed with blood pressure measurement both in and out of a healthcare provider's office. Blood pressure can be measured intermittently at home with a standard automatic blood pressure cuff or with ambulatory blood pressure monitor…
Treatment
- Treatment of labile blood pressure can be challenging, since it is continually fluctuating. All people with high blood pressure should make lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure, including:3 1. Eating a healthy diet 2. Limiting salt intake 3. Exercising 4. Avoiding excess alcohol use 5. Avoiding medications that trigger high blood pressure 6. Supplementing with potassium It…
Summary
- Labile hypertension is a phenomenon in which blood pressure fluctuates widely on different measurements. This blood pressure variability can increase the risk of certain complications and may be challenging to treat.
A Word from Verywell
- Labile hypertension can be challenging to manage, especially when spikes or dips in blood pressure cause symptoms. Your healthcare provider will work with you to find a treatment regimen that works to keep your numbers under control. If you use a blood pressure cuff at home to measure blood pressure, it's very helpful to bring the cuff to a healthcare provider visit to ensu…