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What Does High Diastolic Blood Pressure Mean

When Youve Just Been Diagnosed

Diastolic Blood Pressure
I’m fit and healthy, so why do I have high blood pressure?

For many people, there is no single specific cause of their high blood pressure. Your genes can play a role: youre more likely to develop high blood pressure if youre from an African-Caribbean or South-Asian background or people in your family have had high blood pressure.

You can lower your risk of high blood pressure by leading a healthy lifestyle. If you have high blood pressure, medicines and a healthy lifteyle will help to lower it.

  • to record the electrical activity of your heart
  • which is a type of ultrasound scan.

These tests help your doctor to:

  • see what your blood pressure is like outside of clinic, over a longer time period
  • see if your high blood pressure caused any damage in your body
  • find out if there is an underlying cause for your high blood pressure
  • get a better idea of your overall health and if theres anything that could mean certain treatments arent suitable.

You may need more detailed investigations, your doctor will discuss these with you. Find out more about if you have high blood pressure.

Reduce And Manage Stress

The body releases chemicals and hormones that can narrow the blood vessels temporarily when we are under stress. Stress also gets our heart beating faster. Long-term stress is thought to increase the risk of getting heart problems, such as stroke and heart attacks. Taking time to relax and practice stress-reducing exercises can be very helpful.

What Does The Systolic Blood Pressure Number Mean

When your heart beats, it squeezes and pushes blood through your arteries to the rest of your body. This force creates pressure on those blood vessels, and that’s your systolic blood pressure.

Hereâs how to understand your systolic blood pressure number:

  • Normal: Below 120
  • Stage 1 high blood pressure : 130-139
  • Stage 2 hypertension: 140 or more
  • Hypertensive crisis: 180 or more. Call 911.

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How Can I Raise My Diastolic Blood Pressure

TreatmentUse more salt. Experts usually recommend limiting salt in your diet because sodium can raise blood pressure, sometimes dramatically. Drink more water. Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration, both of which are important in treating hypotension.Wear compression stockings. Medications.

Huawei Watch 2 For Blood Pressure

My Biomedical Notebook: Cardiovascular Function and dysfunction

Huawei is the second on the list for the 7 smartwatches that can measure blood pressure. The Huawei Watch 2 provides a sleek design that is ideal for both style and functionality, making it one of the best smartwatches for women. Its case material is made of metal, plastic, and stainless steel.

In terms of health monitoring and other features, the Huawei Watch 2 has an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, barometer, blood pressure monitor, gyroscope, and heart rate monitor. This accessory has a fingerprint sensor and GPS. One of the best things about this device is water-resistance, making it ideal for water adventures.

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What Does Low Diastolic Blood Pressure Indicate

Low diastolic blood pressure means pressure recorded below 70 mm of Hg. It is considered as low blood pressure or hypotension. It may be slightly low, a reading between 80 to 70 mm of Hg in some individuals and can be a normal finding. However, when the diastolic blood pressure falls below 70 mm of Hg, it can lead to health problems.

Raised or normal systolic pressure and low diastolic blood pressure means the difference in both or the pulse pressure is high. Low diastolic pressure can affect blood vessels causing stiffening of arteries and deposition of atherosclerotic plaques on the lining of arteries. It can sometimes cause death of cells due to insufficient blood supply and lack of sufficient oxygen . Low diastolic blood pressure or diastolic hypotension may also indicate serious underlying medical conditions like malignancy or cardiomyopathy. Occasionally, diastolic pressure may indicate disturbance in dosing of anti-hypertensive drugs taken for the treatment of hypertension.

Low diastolic blood pressure may indicate underlying health concerns, which need to be evaluated and treated. Persistently low diastolic blood pressure can cause reduced blood flow to the major organs and can even cause damage to the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. Some studies suggest that lower the diastolic blood pressure, greater is the risk of cardiovascular disease. Such cases need immediate aggressive medical treatment.

How To Manage High Diastolic Blood Pressure

1. Lifestyle Changes

If you have hypertension or prehypertension, it is advisable to implement the following lifestyle changes:

  • Adjust to healthy diet â fresh vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products and low salt intake
  • Sustain healthy weight
  • Exercise regularly â at least 30 minutes of moderate activity every day

2. Medications

The doctor might prescribe the following medications:

These are water pills that flush out excess sodium and water from your body and lower your blood pressure. One option is thiazide since it has minimal side effects.

  • Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

They make blood vessels widen. This is done by inhibiting the formation of angiotensin hormone.

  • Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

They block angiotensin, making the blood vessels relax.

They work by blocking a specific nerve and hormonal signals to the blood vessels and the heart.

  • Calcium Channel Blockers

They prevent calcium from moving to the blood vessels and heart, relaxing the cells and decreasing your diastolic pressure.

  • Renin Inhibitors

Renin is produced by the kidneys and it increases blood pressure. Renin inhibitors reduce the ability of renin.

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Why Is Your Blood Pressure Important

Your blood pressure is important because if it is too high, it affects the blood flow to your organs. Over the years, this increases your chances of developing heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, eye disease, erectile dysfunction and other conditions.

Very occasionally, people with very high blood pressure are at serious risk of problems and need urgent treatment in hospital to reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Current Australian guidelines recommend that if you have persistent raised blood pressure over 160/100 mmHg, but are at low risk of having a stroke or heart attack, you should talk to your doctor or specialist about taking medication to lower your blood pressure.

For further information, visit the Choosing Wisely Australia website.

If youre over 18, you should have your blood pressure checked by your doctor at least every 2 years, or more often if advised.

If You Need Two Medications

Which Is More Important, Systolic or Diastolic Blood Pressure?

Many types of blood pressure drugs work best when taken together. When taking two drugs together, diuretics have been shown to lower blood pressure with a beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor and an ARB. A calcium channel blocker lowers blood pressure with the same drugs that work well with a diuretic. Other drug combinations are necessary when taking three or more blood pressure medications. There may be other reasons why your doctor may prescribe two blood pressure medications. For example, after heart attacks, doctors will prescribe a beta-blocker and an ACE inhibitor, but this is not primarily to reduce blood pressure.

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How Blood Pressure Is Measured

A doctor or nurse will measure your blood pressure with a small gauge attached to an inflatable cuff. It’s simple and painless.

The person taking your blood pressure wraps the cuff around your upper arm. Some cuffs go around the forearm or wrist, but often they aren’t as accurate.

Your doctor or nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through your artery.

Theyâll inflate the cuff to a pressure higher than your systolic blood pressure, and it will tighten around your arm. Then theyâll release it. As the cuff deflates, the first sound they hear through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. The point where this noise goes away marks the diastolic blood pressure.

In a blood pressure reading, the systolic number always comes first, and then the diastolic number. For example, your numbers may be “120 over 80” or written as 120/80.

What Causes High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure can also happen during pregnancy.

You can manage your blood pressure to lower your risk for serious health problems that may affect your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.

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High Diastolic Blood Pressure Consequences

You may have noticed the diastolic pressure has been high more often than normal. A frequent question to ask is, should I worry if my diastolic is high?

Having a consistent high diastolic number is a concern. High diastolic pressure increases the risk of developing high systolic blood pressure as a person ages. Higher diastolic pressure increases the risk of death from ischemic heart disease and stroke.

High diastolic pressure alone may be used to determine a diagnosis of high blood pressure.

Previous studies of more than one million people have shown increased risks with higher diastolic numbers. The results involved individuals aged 40 to 89 years. For every 10 mmHg increase in diastolic pressure, the risk of mortality from ischemic heart disease and stroke doubled 10.

In addition, the Framingham Heart Study examined 6,859 people who were initially free of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. They compared people with blood pressure between 130-139/85-89 mmHg to people with less than 120/80 mmHg.

The individuals with higher systolic and diastolic pressure doubled their risk of cardiovascular disease 11.

Why Both Numbers Are Important

High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

Your blood pressure reading is composed of two numbers . Systolic blood pressure, or the top number, is the amount of force put on the arteries as the heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure is the amount of force on the arteries when the heart is resting.

This article delves into the differences between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, why both numbers are important, and what your blood pressure readings mean.

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High Blood Pressure And Older Adults

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High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major health problem that is common in older adults. Your bodys network of blood vessels, known as the vascular system, changes with age. Arteries get stiffer, causing blood pressure to go up. This can be true even for people who have heart-healthy habits and feel just fine. High blood pressure, sometimes called “the silent killer,” often does not cause signs of illness that you can see or feel. Though it affects nearly half of all adults, many may not even be aware they have it.

If high blood pressure isn’t controlled with lifestyle changes and medication, it can lead to serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease such as heart disease and stroke, vascular dementia, eye problems, and kidney disease. The good news is that blood pressure can be controlled in most people.

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.

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When To See A Doctor

A blood pressure reading is typically taken as a normal part of a doctors visit. Many people find out they have hypertension in this setting. If you have hypertension, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan thats optimal for you.

There are also many types of blood pressure monitors available for purchase so you can take your blood pressure at home. If you choose to do this, bring your monitor to your next doctors appointment so they can show you how to properly use it to obtain accurate readings.

A single high blood pressure reading at home shouldnt be a cause for concern. Be sure to log the reading and continue taking your blood pressure on your normal schedule. If you continue to receive high readings, make an appointment with your doctor.

How Do You Treat High Diastolic Blood Pressure

Which Blood Pressure Reading is More Important, Systolic or Diastolic?

Treatment aims to lower your blood pressure to decrease the risk of health issues caused by high blood pressure.

If you have a blood pressure reading between 120/80mm Hg and 130/80mm Hg, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes to help bring your blood pressure down to the optimal range. At this stage, medication is rarely prescribed.

Stage I hypertension

If your blood pressure is lower than 140/90mm Hg but above 130/80mm Hg, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes with one hypertensive medication.

Stage II hypertension

If your blood pressure is above 140/90mm Hg, your doctor may recommend you start taking rigorous medications and follow strict lifestyle changes. Typically, one medication is used at first. Your doctor may start you on another if you have consistently elevated blood pressure above 160/90mm Hg or stage II hypertension.

Beta-blockers

These medications slow down your heart rate and help relax the heart.

Diuretics

These help your kidneys eliminate some salt from your body, so your blood vessels don’t have to retain as much fluid, as you can maintain blood pressure.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

ACE inhibitors work on your kidneys, reducing your body’s sodium retention. They also work on blood vessels directly, causing them to relax.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers

These work similarly to ACE inhibitors.

Alpha blockers

Calcium channel blockers

Renin-inhibitors

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What Does It Mean When The Systolic Number Is High

In practice, systolic blood pressure should be regarded as more important than diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the force generated on the inside of the blood vessels called the arteries when the heart contracts. According to a recent study, having a high systolic reading increased the risk of heart attacks and heart disease.

Systolic blood pressure is linked not only with heart disease and heart failure but also with kidney disease and overall mortality. Research favored high systolic readings as most predictive of a harmful cardiovascular outcome. As a result, these readings were given more weightage in cardiology guidelines and risk estimation.

Improving Blood Pressure Reading Accuracy

Your systolic and diastolic pressuresthe highest and lowest points of your heartbeatchange depending on your activity level, stress, fluid intake, and other factors.

You need to do your best to limit how these other factors might change your pressure when you’re taking a blood pressure reading.

For the most accurate reading, check your blood pressure when you are in a calm, warm space after you have been able to rest quietly for at least five minutes.

You should be relaxed, with your arms at your sides, and the cuff should be placed on your arm at about the level of your heart. Your legs should be uncrossed, and your bladder should be empty, as both of these factors can affect your reading.

Measuring blood pressure this way is a challenge in a busy provider’s office. Your provider might suggest you take your blood pressure at home.

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What Is A Healthy Blood Pressure

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When the heart is squeezing blood into the arteries, the pressure is high. When the heart is relaxed, the pressure is lower.

Your blood pressure is a measurement taken of the highest reading and the lowest reading . It is given as 2 figures highest over lowest or systolic over diastolic. Blood pressure is measured in mmHg, which refers to millimetres of mercury.

Your blood pressure varies from day to day, even moment to moment. Most doctors would say that a healthy blood pressure is higher than 90/60 mmHg but lower than about 140/90.

Checking Blood Pressure At Home

What Is Diastolic Blood Pressure

Keeping track of blood pressure at home is important for many people, especially if you have high blood pressure. This helps you and your doctor find out if your treatment is working.

Your doctor may also suggest that you check your pressure at home if they think you may have “white coat hypertension.” It’s a real condition. The stress of being in a doctor’s office raises your blood pressure, but when you’re home, it’s normal.

Ask your doctor to recommend an easy-to-use home blood pressure monitor. Make sure the cuff fits properly. If your arm is too big for the cuff, the reading may be higher than your blood pressure really is. Ask your doctor for a larger cuff or make sure you buy a home monitor with a cuff that fits you.

You also can use a wrist blood pressure monitor, but they often aren’t as accurate. Follow the directions that come with the device to make sure you are using it correctly.

No matter which type of blood pressure monitor you have, it’s a good idea to take it to your doctor’s office. You can compare its reading to the numbers your doctor gets. Avoid caffeine, cigarettes, and exercise for at least 30 minutes before the test.

When you take your blood pressure at home, sit up straight in a chair and put both feet on the floor. Ask your doctor or nurse to show you the right way to position your arm so you get accurate readings.

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