For blood pressure patients wondering what those numbers mean when they get BP, here’s an explanation. Two figures are seen when taking blood pressure (for example, 140/90). 140 represents systolic pressure, 90 is diastolic pressure. A normal systolic pressure should not exceed 140 and a normal diastolic pressure should not exceed 90. An increase in both pressures can spell disaster.

Systolic hypertension is different from diastolic high blood pressure. The former is characterized by a sudden rise in blood pressure when the heart contracts.

Diastolic high blood pressure, on the other hand, refers to the blood pressure between muscle contractions. Doctors and medical experts have stated that diastolic high blood pressure should be taken seriously and that it causes more damage to the body than systolic. In recent studies, people under the age of 65 or 70 who were diagnosed with hypertension reported an increase in incidents of diastolic hypertension. This higher rate of diastolic pressure causes adverse effects on the brain, heart, and kidneys. Patients with high diastolic blood pressure are advised to lower diastolic pressure by keeping it below 90. Lowering of systolic pressure is also required, although a top priority focuses on diastolic pressure.

The causes of diastolic hypertension include aging of the heart and its natural effects. As a person ages, their heart muscles tire and eventually stiffen, making it difficult for the heart to fill with blood properly. Diastolic high blood pressure, if not treated well, can lead to diastolic heart failure. Diagnosis of diastolic high blood pressure can put the patient at risk for diseases and conditions such as CAD or coronary artery disease, aortic stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and other pericardial diseases.

In addition to aging, poor lifestyle such as smoking and drinking, high cholesterol levels, obesity, high salt intake, previous heart surgery, viral infections, family history, and diabetes are also important contributors to the appearance of diastolic hypertension.

Over the past 30 years, studies have also been conducted and the severity of diastolic hypertension has been questioned. In the latest issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, reports have stated that there is a greater need to control systolic pressure than diastolic pressure in patients with hypertension. Elaborately, diastolic high blood pressure exposes little risk of developing other cardiovascular disorders.

In special cases of hypertension, systolic hypertension is more common than diastolic high blood pressure among older patients. Your blood vessels have degraded resulting in an increase in systolic pressure. Patients with these conditions are advised to lower their systolic pressure and maintain it.