Low Diastolic High Systolic Blood Pressure

What Are The Treatments For High Blood Pressure

Treatments for high blood pressure include heart-healthy lifestyle changes and medicines.

You will work with your provider to come up with a treatment plan. It may include only the lifestyle changes. These changes, such as heart-healthy eating and exercise, can be very effective. But sometimes the changes do not control or lower your high blood pressure. Then you may need to take medicine. There are different types of blood pressure medicines. Some people need to take more than one type.

If your high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition or medicine, treating that condition or stopping the medicine may lower your blood pressure.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

High Systolic Blood Pressure

The heart muscle pushes out blood with higher pressure when a person is exercising, under stress, or at any time when the heart rate is increased. The systolic pressure goes up with it.

In these cases, the increased pressure is normal. However, when the pressure is high while a person is resting, that is not normal and is considered high blood pressure.

Since your blood pressure can go up when you’re active, it’s important to take your blood pressure during periods of quiet rest to accurately diagnose high blood pressure .

High systolic blood pressure is usually caused by the narrowing of the arteries, which makes the heart have to work harder to push blood through them.

Even within the high systolic pressure range, there are different stages:

• Systolic BP of 130-139 is Stage 1 hypertension, which may be reversed with temporary meds and lifestyle changes.
• Systolic BP of 140 or higher is Stage 2 hypertension, which can drastically increase the risk of stroke or heart attack, may require a prolonged regimen of medication.
• Systolic BP of 180 or higher means that you’re in hypertensive crisis and should call your healthcare provider right away.

Your healthcare provider will help you determine the best course of action for treating your high systolic BP.

Who Gets Isolated Systolic Hypertension

Older people are more likely to have it, because systolic blood pressure usually goes up as you age.

• More than 30% of women over 65 and more than 20% of men have this condition.
• If your parents had high blood pressure, you may be more likely to have it.
• African-Americans are more likely than other groups to have high blood pressure.

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What Happens If Systolic And Diastolic Are The Same

If systolic pressure goes up even if the diastolic pressure stays the same the patient is at risk for developing serious cardiovascular conditions. What Is Pulse Pressure? The term pulse pressure might be new to you it’s the difference between your systolic pressure and your diastolic pressure.

What Do Blood Pressure Numbers Mean

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:

The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.

The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

If the measurement reads 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, you would say, 120 over 80, or write, 120/80 mmHg.

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High Systolic Low Diastolic Pressure Dangers

If your readings stay at 140/90 mmHg over time, your doctor in most cases will want you to start a treatment program where you will be required to change your lifestyle and also get medication.

In any way, if you get the blood pressure reading 180 mmHg for systolic and 110 for diastolic and if you try again and find out that it is reading the same, you need to get medical attention immediately for hypertensive crisis that may be fatal and serious with time.

Doctors: Beware Of Low Diastolic Blood Pressure When Treating Hypertension

• Low diastolic blood pressure linked to heart damage. –
• Physicians, be aware of not dropping the bottom blood pressure number. –
• Overtreated high blood pressure could be dangerous in certain patients. –

The researchers caution that their findings cannot prove that very low diastolic blood pressure a measure of pressure in arteries between heartbeats when the heart is resting and also the lower number in a blood pressure reading directly causes heart damage, only that there appears to be a statistically significant increase in heart damage risk among those with the lowest levels of diastolic blood pressure.

A summary of the findings was published Aug. 30 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and coincides with the release of a similar analysis at the European Society of Cardiology Meeting by physicians from Hôpital Bichat in Paris, France.

Released last fall, the SPRINT trial showed protective cardiovascular benefits to patients when physicians aggressively treated high blood pressure down to 120/80 millimeters of mercury, with a primary emphasis on keeping systolic pressure the top number, representing arterial pressure when the heart is pumping at no more than 120.

Researchers followed the participants for 21 years in a series of five visits, with the last check-in in 2013. Each visit included blood pressure measurement, and several included blood testing.

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Is Systolic Or Diastolic More Important In The Elderly

Over the years, studies have shown a greater risk of heart disease and stroke in people with elevated systolic pressures compared to high diastolic pressures. This is especially believed to be true in elderly people . For this reason, doctors tend to pay may more attention to the top number. The difference may be related to the immense force exerted on the large arteries when blood is pumped out from the heart.

What Is Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic pressure.

Your blood pressure reading uses these two numbers. Usually the systolic number comes before or above the diastolic number. For example, 120/80 means a systolic of 120 and a diastolic of 80.

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What Is High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities. Having blood pressure measures consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure .

The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Your health care team can diagnose high blood pressure and make treatment decisions by reviewing your systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and comparing them to levels found in certain guidelines.

The guidelines used to diagnose high blood pressure may differ from health care professional to health care professional:

• Some health care professionals diagnose patients with high blood pressure if their blood pressure is consistently 140/90 mm Hg or higher.2 This limit is based on a guideline released in 2003, as seen in the table below.
• Other health care professionals diagnose patients with high blood pressure if their blood pressure is consistently 130/80 mm Hg or higher.1 This limit is based on a guideline released in 2017, as seen in the table below.

systolic: 130 mm Hg or higherdiastolic: 80 mm Hg or higher

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, talk with your health care team about your blood pressure levels and how these levels affect your treatment plan.

Which Is More Important: Systolic Or Diastolic Blood Pressure

Related Resources – Which Is More Important: Systolic or Diastolic Blood Pressure?

When it comes to measuring high blood pressure , many wonder whether the number on top is more important than the number on the bottom .

Typically, systolic blood pressure is given more attention as a risk factor for heart disease. However, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure are equally important in monitoring the health of your heart.

What the numbers measure

• Systolic blood pressure indicates the amount of pressure being exerted on the walls of your arteries when your heart beats.
• Diastolic blood pressure indicates the amount of pressure being exerted on the walls of your arteries in between heartbeats.

Blood pressure ranges

• Normal: Under 120/80 mm Hg
• Elevated: 120-129 systolic, under 80 mm Hg diastolic
• Hypertension Stage I: 130-139 systolic, 80-89 mm Hg diastolic
• Hypertension Stage II: Over 140/90 mm Hg
• Hypertensive crisis: Over 180/120 mmHg. This is a dangerously high reading and requires immediate medical attention.

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How Is It Treated

If your systolic blood pressure is too high, your doctor may prescribe medicine to help bring it down. Drugs used to control blood pressure include:

• Diuretics to help your kidneys flush water and sodium from your body
• Beta-blockers to make your heart beat slower and less forcefully
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers , or calcium channel blockers to relax your blood vessels
• Renin inhibitors to keep your kidneys from making a chemical that can lead to higher blood pressure

Your doctor also may recommend you do a few other things:

• If you smoke, stop. There are lots of good reasons for this, but nicotine in cigarette smoke can raise your blood pressure.
• Lower the amount of salt in your diet.
• Cut back on alcohol if you drink.
• Get to or stay at a healthy weight.

Treating Isolated Low Diastolic Blood Pressure

If low diastolic blood pressure is caused by medication, your doctor may adjust your dosage or change your prescription.

They will address any contributing lifestyle factors and also evaluate for serious underlying causes of your low blood pressure.

Lifestyle changes can also help, including getting exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and refraining from smoking.

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Can High Blood Pressure Affect Pregnancy

High blood pressure complicates about 10% of all pregnancies. There are several different types of high blood pressure during pregnancy and they range from mild to serious. The forms of high blood pressure during pregnancy include:

Chronic hypertension: High blood pressure which is present before pregnancy.

Gestational hypertension: High blood pressure in the latter part of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia: This is a dangerous condition that typically develops in the latter half of pregnancy and results in hypertension, protein in the urine and generalized swelling in the pregnant person. It can affect other organs in the body and cause seizures .

Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia: Pregnant people who have chronic hypertension are at increased risk for developing preeclampsia.

Your provider will check your blood pressure regularly during prenatal appointments, but if you have concerns about your blood pressure, be sure to talk with your provider.

What Can I Expect If I Have This Condition

Since high blood pressure doesnt cause many symptoms at first, you probably wont feel any different with a high blood pressure diagnosis. But its important to follow your providers instructions to bring your blood pressure down so it doesnt cause serious illnesses later in life.

How long does high blood pressure last?

If you have primary high blood pressure, youll need to control it for the rest of your life.

If you have secondary high blood pressure, your blood pressure will most likely come down after you receive treatment for the medical problem that caused it. If a medication caused your high blood pressure, switching to a different medicine may lower your blood pressure.

What is the outlook for high blood pressure?

You can get seriously ill if you dont treat your high blood pressure. However, if you take the medicines your provider ordered, you can control your blood pressure. Exercising and eating healthy foods also helps lower your blood pressure.

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Heart Tissue Damage And Heart Disease

Researchers have found a link between low diastolic blood pressure and heart damage.A 2016 study that lasted more than 3 decades and involved more than 11,000 people found that a diastolic blood pressure below 60 mm Hg is dangerous.People with this level are 50 percent more likely to have heart damage. This is compared with those who have a low diastolic pressure level between 80 and 89 mm Hg.Heart disease is another concern. The same study found that those with low diastolic blood pressure were 49 percent more likely to develop heart disease.

What Are The Health Risks Of High Blood Pressure

Recent studies have shown that both high systolic blood pressure and high diastolic blood pressure pose health risks:

• High systolic reading: Increases the risk of heart disease. Systolic blood pressure is linked to heart attacks, heart failure, kidney disease and overall mortality.
• High diastolic reading: Increases the risk of aortic disease. The aorta carries blood and oxygen from the heart to the abdomen and chest. People with an elevated diastolic reading are more prone to developing abdominal aortic aneurysm, an enlargement of the aorta that can lead to rupture and a high risk of death.

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What Time Of Day Should I Check My Blood Pressure

Many experts suggest recording blood pressures that are taken over an extended time before diagnosing high blood pressure.

You should also know that your blood pressure will be different throughout the day. It tends to be highest in the morning and lower at night.

Your provider may want you to take your use a blood pressure monitor multiple days a dayusually once in the morning and once in the afternoon or evening. Try to avoid taking it early in the morning right when you wake up or right after dinner.

Instead, try to take your morning reading before your breakfast and your evening reading when you’re getting ready for bed .

Once you decide what time you’ll check your blood pressure, it’s important that you’re consistent. You’ll get the most accurate results and comparisons if you take your blood pressure at about the same time every day.

What Should I Do If I Have High Blood Pressure

If your healthcare provider has diagnosed you with high blood pressure, they will talk with you about your recommended blood pressure target or goal. They may suggest that you:

• Check your blood pressure regularly with a home blood pressure monitor. These are automated electronic monitors and are available at most pharmacies or online.
• Quit smoking and/or using tobacco products.
• Work on controlling anger and managing stress.

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Systolic Vs Diastolic Blood Pressure

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers your systolic blood pressure and your diastolic blood pressure. But what do these numbers actually mean?

The first number is your systolic blood pressure. Its a measurement of the amount of pressure placed on the walls of your arteries when your heart beats.

The second number is your diastolic blood pressure. Its a measurement of the pressure on the walls of your arteries between heartbeats.

What Are The Causes Of Isolated Systolic Hypertension

Blood pressure involves how much blood your heart pumps every minute, as well as the pressure exerted on the walls of your arteries by that blood.

As you age, your arteries lose some of their natural elasticity and are less able to accommodate the rush of blood. Plaque, which is fatty deposits on the artery wall, can also contribute to the stiffening of the arteries.

Blood pressure particularly systolic blood pressure naturally tends to increase with age. Because of this, there may be no identifiable cause of high blood pressure.

However, there are some medical conditions that can cause you to develop ISH. These conditions can affect your circulatory system, which can damage your blood vessels or contribute to artery stiffening.

Some of these conditions include:

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Stroke And Brain Problems

High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke. Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement, and other basic activities. A stroke can also kill you.

Having high blood pressure, especially in midlife, is linked to having poorer cognitive function and dementia later in life. Learn more about the link between high blood pressure and dementia from the National Institutes of Healths Mind Your Risks®external icon campaign.

How Can I Tell If I Have High Blood Pressure

According to the American Heart Association:

• The normal blood pressure range is a systolic reading of less than 120 mmHg and a diastolic reading of less than 80 mmHg.
• Your blood pressure is elevated if the systolic number is between 120 and 129 mmHg and the diastolic pressure is less than 80 mmHg.
• If your systolic and diastolic pressure is 130-139 and 80-89 mmHg, you have stage 1 hypertension.
• If your systolic and diastolic blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or above, then you have stage 2 hypertension.
• A hypertensive crisis is blood pressure readings of 180/120 mmHg or higher. This is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. If your numbers are 180/120 mmHg or higher, recheck your blood pressure after 5 minutes. If you continue to have elevated blood pressure, you should contact your doctor immediately.

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