I am a teenager, male. How to manage dizziness and high BP?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a teenager, male. I am going through a breakup and have been experiencing a consistent heart rate of around 105, peaking at about 125. My blood pressure has been steady at around 140/80, peaking at 143/89. I am also experiencing dizziness, shortness of breath, and blurry vision. Because of these symptoms, I have only been able to sleep about three to five hours and have not had any proper food intake, as I feel like I am going to vomit. However, I have been keeping up with hydration, drinking about two liters of water since this morning.

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The symptoms you are describing sound very much like a severe anxiety or panic reaction triggered by the emotional stress of your breakup, especially since you already have a history of chronic anxiety and panic attacks.

The rapid heart rate (105 to 125 beats per minute), elevated blood pressure (140/80 to 143/89 millimeters of mercury), dizziness, shortness of breath, poor sleep, and loss of appetite are all common physical manifestations of anxiety and acute stress. While these symptoms are frightening, they are usually not dangerous in an otherwise healthy young person, but they can make you feel unwell and exhausted. Since this has lasted for more than 24 hours, your body is essentially stuck in a fight-or-flight mode.

I would suggest the following measures:

Calm your body down: Try slow, deep breathing (inhale for four seconds, hold for four, exhale for six to seven), or guided relaxation or grounding techniques (such as focusing on five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, etc.). This will help bring your heart rate down.
Eat something light: Even if you feel nauseous, try bland, easy foods like toast, a banana, or soup. Low blood sugar worsens anxiety and dizziness.
Sleep hygiene: Put away screens before bed, dim the lights, and try calming music or a relaxation app. Short naps can help if you can not sleep fully.
Hydration: You have done well to drink water, keep sipping regularly, but do not overdo plain water without food.
Physical activity: A brisk walk or gentle exercise can help reset adrenaline levels and calm the nervous system.
Avoid stimulants: No caffeine, energy drinks, or nicotine, as they worsen heart rate and anxiety.

You need to seek medical help immediately:

If your heart rate stays above 130 beats per minute persistently.
If you faint, have chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or vision loss.
If symptoms do not ease despite calming strategies.

For now, your symptoms are most consistent with an anxiety-driven episode. However, since you are also feeling dizzy and your blood pressure (BP) is elevated, I recommend that if this does not settle in the next 12 to 24 hours with rest and calming measures, you should be checked in person by a doctor to rule out other causes and to make sure your heart and blood pressure are safe.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.