Higher blood pressure after COVID shots and why it happens

This article aims to bring awareness about the increase in blood pressure (BP) noted after getting COVID shots.

A study in Italy showed that among 113 health care workers who received the Pfizer vaccine, six subjects (5.3%) showed an average rise in systolic or diastolic blood pressure at home by ≥ 10 mmHg during the first five days after the first dose of the vaccine when compared with the five days before the vaccine.[1]

Five out of six have a history of hypertension and are taking medications, and four out of the six were females. The BP rise required intensification of BP-lowering medicines in 4 subjects. Two subjects with a BP rise after the first dose experienced a BP rise also after the second dose. [1]

The second study obtained their data from VigiBase, which contains adverse events of drugs reported worldwide. VigiBase is an international pharmacovigilance post-marketing database of the World Health Organization.[2]

Among 4,863 adverse events, hypertension was reported in 283 or 5.82%. Hypertension and severe hypertension were associated with vaccine use in almost all age groups and genders.[2]

The third study is from the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. The data is from the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) and gathered from January 1, 2021, to May  10, 2021. The goal is to find out if a particular vaccine causes more episodes of hypertension.

They found 1,776 cases of hypertension that involved Covid-19 vaccines. Broken down as follows

Pfizer-Biontech vaccine (Tozinameran)

• Pfizer was associated with the highest risk of hypertension.
• 1325 reported hypertension. The average age is 62 +/-18 years,
• 76% females
• 5% are taking antihypertensive
• 1% are taking antidiabetics
• Most hypertension with tozinameran is delayed: 39% occurred after 24 hours, 26% after 48 h, and 20% after 72 h.

AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria)® 

Three hundred ninety-two cases reported hypertension with an average age of 59.1 +/-13.9 years, 64%, occurring after 24 h, 7% after 48 hours, and 1% after 72 hours.

58 with Moderna (mRNA-1273) – average age 71.9 +/- 15.9 years with 88% of hypertension occurring after 24 h, 10% after 48 h, and 3% after 72 h

Janssen, Johnson, and Johnson (NRVV-Ad26) one case only

There was no significant statistical association between hypertension and the AstraZeneca and Moderna shots. However, the number of people who had the Moderna shots is low, affecting the reporting.

Severe hypertension after mRNA shots

The fourth study is a case series of stage III hypertension among people who received mRNA CoV-2 vaccines during the first 30 days of the vaccination. (January 11- February 9, 20221). Stage 3 hypertension is a severely elevated systolic pressure range over 180 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure range of 110 mm Hg.

Nine patients with stage III hypertension were documented within minutes of vaccination, and eight were symptomatic. Eight had the Pfizer-Biontech (BNT162b2) and one with the Moderna mRNA-1273. The Moderna (mRNA-1273) vaccine was only introduced in Switzerland in late January.

Eight of 9 patients had a history of arterial hypertension, with most patients on antihypertensive therapy. All patients recovered but required at most several hours of monitoring at our tertiary center’s emergency department.

The elderly were the first to receive the shots in Switzerland; there are no data about the younger ages.

The table below shows the nine people who had severe hypertension.

What causes hypertension?

Whitecoat syndrome, anxiety, and vaccine excipients are possibilities. However, many studies show the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on the blood vessels.

Hypertension and blood vessel diameter

Blood pressure is dependent on how much blood the heart puts out (cardiac output) and the resistance of the blood vessels (systemic vascular resistance).

Vascular resistance depends on the vessel diameter (or radius), vessel length, and blood viscosity. The most important is the diameter of the blood vessels. If the arteries and capillaries are inflamed, their diameter decreases, and resistance increases. (Poiseuille’s equation).

Five ways that spike proteins increase vascular resistance

1. Spike proteins can go to the bloodstream.

One study showed that the spike proteins could enter the bloodstream and elicit an inflammo-thrombotic response that narrows blood vessels.[5]

RNA splice study shows why AstraZeneca and Janssen jabs are clot shots

2. Spike proteins disrupt pericytes and endothelial cell functions.

Another research showed that spike proteins in the bloodstream could disrupt the function of pericytes that line the capillaries of the whole body. Disruption of the pericytes affects the endothelial cells and leads to vasoconstriction and elevated blood pressure. The endothelial cells line the inside of all blood vessels and maintain vascular integrity and functions, including dilation of the blood vessels. [6]

Study shows spike proteins affect cardiac pericytes and explain why soccer players collapse.

3. Spike proteins elicit cell signaling

A peer-reviewed study showed that the spike protein and the ACE2 receptor interaction could activate the MEK, which activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). The result is a thickening of the blood vessel wall, and the thicker arteries become more rigid than rubbery, causing higher pressures.[7]

Pulmonary Hypertension, Heart Disease, and Stroke from SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Cell Signaling

4. Vaccine contents can elicit an allergic reaction

Vaccine excipients like Macrogol, a form of polyethylene glycol, are present in the Pfizer and Moderna shot. Polysorbate 80, also known as Tween 80, is found in the AstraZeneca vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson.

These excipients can cause an allergic reaction that causes narrowing of the blood vessels. The narrowing can cause hypertension or rupture an unstable cholesterol plaque leading to a heart attack.

Kounis syndrome can explain vaccine-related heart attacks.

5. Amyloid formation with spike proteins

Amyloids are proteins, and they are associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s dementia. A study showed that amyloid proteins could form with the clots inside the blood vessels. The amyloid in the blood clots makes it different and resistant to prescription blood thinners and intravenous anticoagulants.

That is why you will see many people with amputated legs and arms after getting the COVID-19 or the shot. Amputation is the last resort and means that the administered medications did not work.

• JAB HORROR Man has leg amputated after suffering rare blood clot three weeks after first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine
• Stamford man vows to battle back after losing his leg weeks after receiving AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination
• Student Gets Leg Amputated After COVID-19 Vaccine, Dies Of Brain Blood Clots

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can form amyloids seen in the lung, blood, and nervous system disorders.

Prolonged hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. It is why to check and address it.

I like an electronic blood pressure machine that goes around the arm—that way, one person can do it alone.

How to Measure the blood pressure

Below is the proper way to get the blood pressure for Harvard Health.

• Don’t drink a caffeinated beverage or smoke 30 minutes before the test.
• Sit quietly for five minutes before the test begins.
• During the measurement, sit in a chair with your feet on the floor, and your arm supported so your elbow is at about heart level.
• The inflatable part of the cuff should completely cover at least 80% of your upper arm, and the cuff should be placed on bare skin, not over a shirt.
• Don’t talk during the measurement.
• Have your blood pressure measured twice, with a brief break in between. If the readings are different by 5 points or more, have it done a third time.

There are lifestyle changes that can lower blood pressure.

• How to do Intermittent Fasting
• How to Get Physically Active

Take Away Message

It is always prudent to measure blood pressure regularly—especially one week after getting a COVID shot. Talk to your doctor if you see an unexpected rise in blood pressure.

 

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References:

1. Zappa M, Verdecchia P, Spanevello A, Visca D, Angeli F. Blood pressure increase after Pfizer/BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Eur J Intern Med. 2021;90:111-113. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2021.06.013
2. Jeet Kaur R, Dutta S, Charan J, et al. Cardiovascular Adverse Events Reported from COVID-19 Vaccines: A Study Based on WHO Database. Int J Gen Med. 2021;14:3909-3927. Published 2021 July 27. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S324349
3. Bouhanick B, Montastruc F, Tessier S, et al. Hypertension and Covid-19 vaccines: are there any differences between the different vaccines? A safety signal. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2021;77(12):1937-1938. doi:10.1007/s00228-021-03197-8
4. Meylan S, Livio F, Foerster M, Genoud PJ, Marguet F, Wuerzner G; CHUV COVID Vaccination Center. Stage III Hypertension in Patients After mRNA-Based SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Hypertension. 2021 Jun;77(6):e56-e57. Doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.17316. Epub 2021 March 25. PMID: 33764160; PMCID: PMC8115421.
5. Kowarz E, Krutzke L, Reis J, et al. “Vaccine-Induced Covid-19 Mimicry” Syndrome: Splice reactions within the SARS-CoV-2 Spike open reading frame result in Spike protein variants that may cause thromboembolic events in patients immunized with vector-based vaccines. Research Square; 2021. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-558954/v1.
6. Avolio E et al.  The SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein disrupts human cardiac pericytes function through CD147 receptor-mediated signaling: a potential non-infective mechanism of COVID-19 microvascular disease. Clin Sci (Lond). 2021 Dec 22;135(24):2667-2689. doi: 10.1042/CS20210735. PMID: 34807265; PMCID: PMC8674568.
7. Suzuki YJ, Gychka SG. SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Elicits Cell Signaling in Human Host Cells: Implications for Possible Consequences of COVID-19 Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel). 2021;9(1):36. Published 2021 January 11. doi:10.3390/vaccines9010036
8. Kounis NG. Coronary hypersensitivity disorder: the Kounis syndrome. Clin Ther. 2013 May;35(5):563-71. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2013.02.022. Epub 2013 March 13. PMID: 23490289.

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