Which blood pressure number is important? - Harvard Health (2024)

FAQs

Which is more important systolic or diastolic blood pressure? ›

Purpose of review: Diastolic blood pressure has traditionally been considered the most important component of blood pressure and the primary target of antihypertensive therapy.

Once your systolic reading reaches 130 or higher or your diastolic reading is 80 or higher, you're considered to have high blood pressure, or hypertension. Most people have what's known as essential or primary hypertension, which means it's not caused by a medical condition, medication, or substance.

The top number is more important because it gives a better idea of your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Having a raised systolic blood pressure but normal or low diastolic blood pressure is called Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH).

Your first blood pressure reading will almost always be higher than the second due to a wide range of factors, both environmental and psychological. These factors include white coat syndrome, stress, and having a full bladder.

Blood pressure has a daily pattern. Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before a person wakes up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure typically drops in the late afternoon and evening.

Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure. High blood pressure is when the top number (systolic pressure) is 130 or higher or the bottom number (diastolic pressure) is 80 or higher. Lifestyle changes and medicines may help treat high blood pressure.

Abstract. According to WHO criteria in 1978, borderline hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure between 140 and 159 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 94 mmHg.

If the cuff is too small, it can add 2 to 10 points to your bp measurement. Be sure to roll up your sleeve for a blood pressure test and also let your doctor know if the cuff feels too tight around your arm.

But home blood pressure monitors aren't always as accurate as they should be. "Home blood pressure monitors may be inaccurate in 5% to 15% of patients, depending on the threshold for accuracy used," according to Dr.

Everyone's blood pressure rises and falls many times during the course of a single day, sometimes even within minutes. Many factors contribute to these changes, including physical activity, emotion, body position, diet (especially salt and alcohol intake), and sleep deprivation.

Which is worse a high systolic or diastolic? ›

Over the years, research has found that both numbers are equally important in monitoring heart health. However, most studies show a greater risk of stroke and heart disease related to higher systolic pressures compared with elevated diastolic pressures.

Diastolic heart failure may correlate better with prognosis for symptoms and survival than traditional indices of systolic function. The presence of predominantly diastolic dysfunction in large numbers of patients with the diagnosis of congestive heart failure has important therapeutic implications.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. Diastolic heart failure is more common than systolic heart failure in elderly patients. The primary risk factor for heart failure is hypertension. The diagnosis of heart failure is primarily through clinical assessment, supplemented by ancillary testing.

High diastolic pressure is linked to a higher risk of disease involving the large artery called the aorta that carries blood and oxygen from the heart to distant body parts. People with an elevated diastolic reading are more prone to develop an abdominal aortic aneurysm (ballooning in the lining of the aorta).

Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness or tingling, trouble speaking, or changes in vision.

New Blood Pressure Standards for Seniors

The ideal blood pressure for seniors is now considered 120/80 (systolic/diastolic), which is the same for younger adults. The high blood pressure range for seniors starts at hypertension stage 1, spanning between 130-139/80-89.

To avoid potential harm, the 2018 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Hypertension Guidelines have recommended an optimal DBP target of between 70 and 80 mm Hg for patients with all risk levels.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the most common cause of diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure.

Systolic heart failure is usually caused by another cardiovascular condition that weakens the heart muscle. For example: Aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the valve in the large blood vessel that branches off the heart (the aorta) Arrhythmia, an irregular heart rhythm.

Diastolic heart failure is a stiff left heart ventricle. When your left heart ventricle is stiff, it doesn't relax properly between heartbeats. Diastolic heart failure can lead to decreased blood flow and other complications. With the right treatment, you can effectively manage the symptoms of diastolic heart failure.

Does high diastolic mean heart failure? ›

Diastolic heart failure occurs if the left ventricle muscle becomes stiff or thickened. The heart must increase pressure inside the ventricle to fill it. Over time, this causes blood to build up inside the left atrium, and then in the lungs, leading to fluid congestion and symptoms of heart failure.

The top number (systolic) minus the bottom number (diastolic) is the pulse pressure. For example, if the resting blood pressure is 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), the pulse pressure is 40 — which is considered a healthy pulse pressure. Generally, a pulse pressure greater than 40 mm Hg is unhealthy.

' The diastolic pressure of an adult should typically be 60–80mm Hg, and if the number goes above this, it's considered hypertension. However, if your blood pressure goes over 180/120mm Hg, this is dangerous, and you should seek medical attention immediately.

Negative MSNA responders to mental stress exhibit a more rapid rise in diastolic pressure at the onset of the stressor, suggesting a baroreflex‐mediated suppression of MSNA. In positive responders there is a more sluggish rise in blood pressure during mental stress, which appears to be MSNA‐driven.