Why Is My Bottom Blood Pressure Number High

Healthy And Unhealthy Blood Pressure Ranges

Learn whats considered normal, as recommended by the American Heart Association.

Blood Pressure Chart

SYSTOLIC mm Hg	and/or	DIASTOLIC mm Hg
NORMAL
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE STAGE 1	130 139
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE STAGE 2	140 OR HIGHER
HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS	HIGHER THAN 180	and/or	HIGHER THAN 120

Note: A diagnosis of high blood pressure must be confirmed with a medical professional. A doctor should also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure readings.

The five blood pressure ranges as recognized by the American Heart Association are:

How Can I Control My Blood Pressure

You can often lower your blood pressure by changing your day-to-day habits and by taking medication if needed. Treatment requires ongoing evaluation and discussions with your doctor, especially if you have other medical conditions such as diabetes.

Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent and lower high blood pressure:

In addition to recommending lifestyle changes, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure to a safe level. Isolated systolic hypertension, the most common form of high blood pressure in older adults, is treated in the same way as regular high blood pressure but may require more than one type of blood pressure medication. You may try several kinds or combinations of medications before finding a plan that works best for you. Medication can control your blood pressure, but it can’t cure it. If your doctor starts you on medication for high blood pressure, you may need to take it long term.

What Causes Low Diastolic Blood Pressure

The decrease in your diastolic blood pressure probably represents age-related stiffening of your arteries. Because diastole is a time when the heart receives blood, low diastolic pressure may compromise the blood flow to the heart. Causes of low diastolic blood pressure are as follows.

• Prolonged bed rest causes a reduction in the tone of the arteries.

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How Can I Lower My Diastolic Blood Pressure Immediately

You can do several things to help lower your overall blood pressure, like taking prescription blood-pressure medication as directed by your doctor and making lifestyle changes such as minimizing salt and caffeine intake.

However, if you’re only experiencing high diastolic blood pressure, you cant address this alone. You’ll have to work closely with your healthcare provider to decrease your diastolic blood pressure while ensuring it doesn’t go below 60mm Hg.

When diastolic blood pressure gets too low, it can result in dizziness and fatigue. It may even cause heart damage and increase your risk of heart disease. According to a study, individuals with low diastolic blood pressure had a 49% chance of developing heart disease.¹¹

Here are some ways to lower your overall blood pressure, including diastolic blood pressure:

Reduce your intake of saturated and trans fats

• Hot dogs and other processed meats

Try focusing instead on eating healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in foods like olive oil, avocados, and nuts.

Eat heart-healthy foods

• Fish, especially those rich in omega-3 fatty acids

• Vegetables, such as carrots, spinach, and broccoli

• Skinless turkey or chicken

• Fruit, such as bananas, oranges, and apples

• Lean cuts of pork or beef

• Whole grains, such as whole-grain bread and brown rice

• Low-fat or fat-free dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese

Exercise

Avoid caffeine

Limit your sodium intake to 1,500mg or less each day, since sodium can elevate blood pressure.

What Causes Diastolic Blood Pressure To Be High

Generally, both blood pressure numbers are elevated when it comes to hypertension. But, when your diastolic blood pressure is above 80mm Hg , and you have normal systolic blood pressure, it’s called isolated diastolic blood pressure.

Causes of isolated diastolic hypertension may include:

High-sodium diet

A diet that’s high in salt disrupts your body’s natural sodium balance, causing your body to retain water. This leads to increased pressure of the pushing of your blood against your vessel walls.

One study found that, for people with hypertension, a ‘no-added-salt diet’ is the best approach. Following this diet for six weeks, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly.³

Obesity

According to a few large epidemiological studies, there’s a link between blood pressure and body mass index in both overweight and normal-weight patients. Gaining weight in our adult years seems to be a particularly strong risk factor for developing hypertension.

Not enough physical activity

The primary treatment and prevention of hypertension is exercise, an important element of lifestyle therapy. Various studies show the beneficial effects of physical activity on hypertension, with as large a reduction as 57mm Hg in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people with hypertension.

Excessive alcohol consumption

Anxiety and stress

Certain medications can cause high diastolic blood pressure. These include:

• Antidepressants

• Oral contraceptive pills

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Drink Alcohol In Moderation

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will increase your blood pressure and raise the cholesterol levels in your blood.

Sticking to the recommended amounts of alcohol consumption is the best way to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.

The recommended daily limits of alcohol consumption are:

• 3 to 4 units of alcohol for men
• 2 to 3 units of alcohol for women.

A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal-strength lager, a small glass of wine or a pub measure or spirits.

More about drinking alcohol reponsibly

How Is High Blood Pressure Treated

Changing your lifestyle can help ease high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, be sure to talk with your doctor about taking these steps:

• Eat healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium. Cut your intake of saturated fat and total fat.
• Cut the salt in your diet. Try to keep your salt intake to 1,500 milligrams a day. Theres already a lot of salt in many foods. Watch the salt content in processed foods, such as canned soups or frozen dinners.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If youre overweight, losing even five pounds can lower your blood pressure.
• Exercise regularly.
• Limit your alcohol. That means one drink a day for women and people older than 65, and two a day for men.
• Manage stress. Practice healthy coping skills, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing. Try to get plenty of sleep.
• Monitor your blood pressure at home.

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What Do Blood Pressure Readings Mean

Blood pressure is measure in millimeters of mercury and recorded as two numbers, systolic and diastolic. Systolic is the top number , which measure the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, so when its muscles contract. Diastolic the bottom number , which measures the pressure in the arteries between heart beats, so when the muscles relax and refill with blood.

The blood pressure chart reflects the categories defined by the American Heart Association. A normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. If your blood pressure numbers are between 120/80 and 139/89, you have pre-hypertension, which means that you are likely to develop high blood pressure. If your blood pressure numbers are 140/90 or above, you have high blood pressure. For instance, if your systolic blood pressure is between 140 and 159, and your diastolic blood pressure is between 90 and 99, you have Stage 1 Hypertension. You have Stage 2 Hypertension if your systolic blood pressure is over 160 and you diastolic blood pressure is over 100. If your numbers are higher than that, you are in hypertensive crisis and need emergency care.

What Blood Pressure Is Too High

If your top number is ever 180 or higher and/or your bottom number is ever 120 or higher, get emergency medical treatment or have someone take you to the hospital right away. This is a hypertensive crisis.

During a hypertensive crisis, you may experience:

• Difficulty with being able to see or talk.
• Pain in your back.
• Weakness or numbness.

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What Treatments Are Available For Patients With High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Without treatment, you can have a transient ischemic attack or stroke, heart attack, enlarged heart, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease , aneurysms, kidney disease, and broken blood vessels in your eyes. Treatment includes making changes recommended by your healthcare provider.

Diet and lifestyle changes:

• Reach and stay at your ideal body weight
• Get regular exercise
• Eat a well-balanced, heart-healthy diet that is low in salt, fat and cholesterol, and contains lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Your diet is an important part of managing your blood pressure. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating plan and limiting sodium help manage blood pressure. Ask your doctor to refer you to a dietitian for a more personalized eating plan.
• Having no more than two drinks containing alcohol per day and no more than one drink per day for women and lighter-weight men. One drink is considered to be 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.
• Manage stress and anger.
• Avoid all tobacco and nicotine products.
• Other lifestyle changes, such as managing lipid levels and managing other health conditions, such as diabetes.

Medications and follow-up care:

Your doctor may ask you to record your blood pressure at home. Follow your doctors instructions for recording your blood pressure.

Benefit Of Treatment Of Ish

In general terms, the beneficial effect of treatment of ISH runs in parallel with that of the treatment of hypertension in the elderly. In general, this issue has been addressed since the 1990s by means of intervention trials. Several trials such as STOP1, STOP2, and MRC Elderly have clearly shown that treatment of hypertension in the elderly protects against the complications of hypertension, particularly stroke . In most of these trials no clear distinction was made between ISH and ordinary hypertension. There is no doubt, however, that a major percentage of the elderly hypertensive patients enrolled in these studies displayed the haemodynamic characteristics of ISH. A few clinical trials have deliberately addressed a population of patients with ISH as such.

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Is A Diastolic Blood Pressure Of 64 Mmhg Too Low

Diastolic pressure lower than 60 mmHg is generally regarded as serious. Thus, a diastolic pressure of 64 mmHg is not too low. There may, however, be individual variations. Hence, if you have any symptoms of low blood pressure such as dizziness, confusion, sweating, blurred vision, or unusual thirst, you must seek medical help.

Low diastolic pressure in the absence of low systolic pressure is called isolated diastolic hypotension. It is defined as a diastolic blood pressure of less than 60 mmHg along with a systolic blood pressure of more than or equal to 100 mmHg.

What Is Isolated Diastolic Hypertension

With hypertension, typically both systolic and diastolic blood pressures are elevated. However, isolated diastolic hypertension occurs when your systolic blood pressure is normal, and only your diastolic blood pressure is high .

IDH is an uncommon type of hypertension, accounting for less than 20% of all hypertension cases. Like other types of hypertension, IDH can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, aneurysm, atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, vision loss, and chronic kidney disease.

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What Researchers Learned

This study is being called the largest of its kind.

Between 2007 and 2016, the research team analyzed 36 million outpatient blood pressure readings from more than 1 million adult members of Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.

They concluded that while systolic blood pressure had a greater impact, both systolic and diastolic pressures influenced your risk factors.

That was true whether measured against the older threshold of 140/90 or the newer guideline of 130/80.

Switch To Dark Chocolate

A 2010 analysis of 15 studies suggests that dark chocolate may slightly reduce blood pressure. Ried K, et al. Does chocolate reduce blood pressure? A meta-analysis. DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-8-39 If youre eating chocolate, choose dark chocolate over other types, and make sure its at least 70 percent cocoa. 12 heart-healthy foods to work into your diet. .

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What Are The Main Causes Of High Blood Pressure

In most cases, doctors cant point to the exact cause of high blood pressure. However, several things are known to raise blood pressure, including:

• Age: The risk for high blood pressure rises as you age. Through early middle age, high blood pressure is more common in men. Women are more likely to develop it after menopause.
• Being overweight or obese: The more you weigh, the more blood you need to bring nutrients to your tissues. As the volume of blood goes up, so does the pressure against artery walls.
• Not being physically active: Inactive people tend to have faster heart rates. That makes the force of blood against your arteries harder.
• Using tobacco: Tobacco use immediately raises your blood pressure on a temporary basis. In addition, the chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls.
• Too little vitamin D
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Stress: High levels of stress can lead to a temporary, but dramatic, rise in blood pressure.
• Certain chronic conditions: Including high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea.

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.

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Do You Have High Blood Pressure What The Guidelines Say

Your blood pressure is an important part of your overall health.

But what is it? Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels. If it is too high, it can put a strain on your heart and blood vessels, and can lead to increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Your blood pressure is measured using a device called a sphygmomanometer that cuff that goes around your arm. The measurement then indicates a unit of pressure known as millimeters of mercury . It shows how hard your heart is working to pump blood.

Your blood pressure is written as two numbers. The top number, known as the systolic pressure, measures the force of the blood against the artery walls when the heart contracts to pump blood out. It is working its hardest at that point.

The bottom number is the diastolic pressure, which shows the force of the blood when the heart is resting in between contractions. That number is lower.

Doctors use standard guidelines to determine if your blood pressure falls into a range known as normal. If it is too high and is consistently higher than the guidelines, it known as hypertension.

Your Blood Pressure Consists Of Two Numbers:

The first number measures the force as your heart beats. This is called systolic pressure.

The second number measures the force as your heart relaxes. This is called diastolic pressure. Someone with a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80 has a blood pressure of 120/80, or 120 over 80.

An ideal blood pressure for an adult is less than 120/80. You have high blood pressure if your top number is 130 or higher, or your bottom number is 80 or higher, or both.

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Which Blood Pressure Number Is More Important: The Top Or The Bottom

Your diastolic blood pressure is shown at the bottom. It is the lowest level of your blood pressure between beats. The top number is more significant since it indicates your likelihood of having a stroke or heart attack. If your systolic blood pressure is 160 over 100, then you should try to reduce your blood pressure.

The numbers on your blood pressure cuff are called readings. Your doctor may want you to have your blood pressure taken several times a day to make sure that you’re keeping it under control.

It’s very important for you to take your blood pressure regularly. This will allow your doctor to identify any changes in your condition and give you appropriate treatment.

If you were to look up blood pressure in the dictionary, it would say something like “the force of blood pushing against artery walls.” That’s really an oversimplification of what happens when you measure your blood pressure. But one thing does push back: your muscle tissue. When we talk about blood pressure, we’re actually talking about two numbers: systolic and diastolic. Systolic refers to the peak point of contraction of the muscle tissue around the blood vessel diastolic refers to the low point between contractions of the muscle tissue.

Common Causes Of High Blood Pressure Spikes

Some people with high blood pressure will experience sharp rises in their blood pressure. These spikes, which typically last only a short period of time, are also known as sudden high blood pressure. These are some possible causes:

• Certain medications or combinations of medications
• Chronic kidney disease

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