Why is there a small difference in pressure? Small difference between systolic and diastolic pressure. Big difference - what does it mean?

Article publication date: 06/08/2017

Article updated date: 12/21/2018

From this article you will learn about such a phenomenon as the large difference between upper and lower pressure. This condition may cause certain complaints in the patient, or it may turn out to be a completely random finding during the next blood pressure measurement.

When measuring pressure with a tonometer, two numbers are used as a result - upper and lower blood pressure, respectively. The first, larger number, is the upper, or systolic, pressure. It reflects the work of the heart. The second indicator - a smaller number - is the lower or diastolic pressure. It reflects the work of blood vessels and the passage of a portion of blood through large elastic vessels - the aorta, arteries and arterioles. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury.

Big difference between two components blood pressure The difference between the upper and lower indicators is considered to be more than 50 mm Hg. Art. In the overwhelming majority of cases, such a “spread” is achieved precisely because of high upper pressure figures, while the lower pressure remains within normal limits. This condition is called isolated systolic hypertension, or ISH. It's a special kind hypertension, which we will talk about in more detail below.

Typically, isolated arterial hypertension cannot be cured radically, but it is imperative to monitor blood pressure numbers and receive corrective treatment. Isolated high upper pressure and a large difference in its indicators with the lower one can provoke strokes, brain and brain disorders to the same extent. cardiac circulation, as usual arterial hypertension.

Most often, the problem of ISH is dealt with by general practitioners and cardiologists.

Reasons for the large difference between pressure readings

The culprit for the large discrepancy in measured blood pressure is precisely the upper or. It is an increase in this indicator of more than 50 mm Hg. Art. compared to diastolic characterizes the beginning of systolic arterial hypertension. The heart works at full strength, pumping up blood pressure, but the vessels, for a number of reasons, do not respond to changes in blood pressure - the lower one remains stably normal or even reduced.

ISH is otherwise called hypertension in the elderly, since it is age factors that determine its main causes:

1. Destruction and thinning of the muscle layer in the arteries. It is the muscle layer in these vessels that determines the elasticity of the arteries and the ability to change their diameter to control blood pressure.
2. Atherosclerosis of the arteries - deposition of cholesterol salts, calcium and thrombotic masses on the inner lining of the arteries - the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. The vessels become “glass” - dense, inflexible and unable to fully contract in response to changes in pressure.
3. Depletion of kidney reserves and chronic diseases. The kidneys are powerful regulators of blood pressure, and in old age their condition inevitably worsens.
4. Destruction of special receptors in the heart and large vessels, which are responsible for the vascular response to changes in upper pressure. Normally, these receptors should “catch” high blood pressure blood from the heart and force the vessels to balance it.
5. Deterioration of blood supply to the brain and brain centers regulating vascular tone.

All these features, so characteristic of older people - over 60 years old, are the main reason for such a condition as a large difference between systolic and diastolic pressure.

Symptoms of pathology

The main problem of isolated systolic hypertension is its latent and sluggish course. Patients may not be bothered by high levels of upper pressure.

In some cases, patients present fairly general complaints:

• stuffy ears and tinnitus;
• headache, dizziness, heaviness in the temples;
• shaky and uncertain gait, poor coordination of movements;
• memory loss, psycho-emotional instability;
• heart pain, disorders heart rate.

The main difference between this type of hypertension is its mild and stable course, however, with accompanying complicating factors, it can lead to hypertensive crises and circulatory disorders. Such aggravating factors include:

• Diabetes.
• Obesity.
• Recumbent or sedentary lifestyle life.
• Heart failure and structural disorders of the heart - left ventricular hypertrophy.
• Chronic renal failure.
• History of strokes and heart attacks.

Diagnostics

By and large, diagnosing ISH is simple. It is enough to measure the patient’s pressure several times over time or use a special tonometer - ABPM.

As clarifying studies, the patient may undergo:

1. Clinical analysis of blood and urine.
2. Blood test for glucose.
3. Biochemical blood test with an emphasis on lipid profile - indicators of cholesterol metabolism and its fractions.
4. Coagulogram or blood clotting test.
5. Electrocardiogram of the heart.
6. Ultrasound examination of the heart, large vessels, in particular, the BCA - brachiocephalic arteries that supply the brain.
7. Ultrasound examination of the kidneys and renal vessels.
8. Consultations with specialists: neurologist, endocrinologist, vascular surgeon.

Treatment methods

Treatment for ISH should be prescribed by a general practitioner together with a cardiologist after proper examination of the patient.

It is very important to follow a few mandatory conditions for the treatment of this type of hypertension:

• Under no circumstances should the pressure be reduced sharply. Its upper numbers should fall gradually so that the vessels “have time to get used to” their new indicators. IN otherwise the patient may experience strokes, heart attacks and other ischemic disorders.
• Drugs for the treatment of ISH should have the maximum effect only on systolic pressure. Therapy should be started with the smallest possible doses of the drug, gradually increasing the dosage.
• The effect of the medication should not adversely affect the kidneys and cerebral circulation, which already suffer in older people.

To treat ISH and equalize the difference between upper and lower pressure, the following groups of drugs are used:

1. Antihypertensive drugs are medicines against blood pressure. IN in this case It is preferable to use calcium antagonists, beta-blockers, and angiotensin receptor blockers. These drugs correct use fully satisfy the specified criteria.
2. Diuretic drugs - diuretics. Decreasing circulating blood volume can significantly reduce upper blood pressure and cardiac output.
3. Drugs that improve cerebral, renal and cardiac blood flow additionally protect these organs from harmful influence pressure.
4. Neuro- and cerebroprotectors - drugs that improve the nutrition of nervous tissues and the brain - are used to prevent strokes and cerebrovascular accidents.

With the aim of better effect You can use combinations of drugs, and sometimes even radically change drugs and their combinations under the close supervision of a doctor.

The patient’s lifestyle is also very important: proper nutrition low in fat and simple carbohydrates, dosed physical activity, walks fresh air, good sleep and rest, vitamin therapy, refusal bad habits.

Forecast

The course of ISH is not aggressive. In many patients, the disease lasts for years or even decades, and periods of normal well-being alternate with deterioration.

The problem with ISH is that against the background of a pronounced increase in systolic pressure (200 mm Hg and above), against the background of altered inelastic vessels, there is a high probability of hemorrhages in the brain, retina, and kidneys. Such “glass vessels” cannot withstand the load of blood pressure and burst.

Timely treatment and individual approach to each patient, stable maintenance of upper blood pressure at a level of no more than 140 mm Hg. Art., correct image life significantly increases life expectancy and quality of life in elderly patients.

The difference between systolic and diastolic readings can increase various diseases. To establish the exact cause, you need to know which parameter is increased or decreased.

If systolic blood pressure increases, this indicates intense work of the heart muscle. It overly actively pushes blood into the vessels, which increases the risk of hypertrophy or premature wear of the myocardium.

Clinical picture

What doctors say about hypertension

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Emelyanov G.V.:

I have been treating hypertension for many years. According to statistics, in 89% of cases, hypertension results in a heart attack or stroke and death. Currently, approximately two thirds of patients die within the first 5 years of disease progression.

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When diastolic pressure decreases, the etiology lies in the functioning of the kidneys. They produce a special substance - renin, which regulates the ability blood vessels contract and relax.

A small difference is a dangerous condition indicating tachycardia, heart failure or failure of other organs, renal ischemia, vegetative-vascular dystonia and other diseases.

Reasons for the large gap between DM and DD

The difference between SD and PP is called pulse pressure (PP). The difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is normally up to 50 mm. Even with a slight upward deviation, this is a pathology. This means that the heart muscle “works” with greater tension.

Many factors can lead to a pathological condition. To narrow the “circle” of reasons, it is necessary to understand which of the indicators has decreased and which has increased. Also, to establish a diagnosis, take into account clinical manifestations disturbing the patient.

If diabetes has increased, then the etiology is due to myocardial activity. It pushes blood into the vessels too actively under the influence of any factors. This leads to a hypertrophic state, premature wear and tear of the heart muscle.

Etiology of the large gap between DM and DD:

• If the DD decreases, then the blood vessels lose their natural elasticity. Their condition is directly related to the functionality of the kidneys, which produce renin, which is necessary for the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels.
• Slight cerebral pressure. Poor circulation leads to brain damage due to oxygen starvation, and soft tissue hypoxia is observed.
• Chronic stress and emotional lability lead to a change in the pulse difference.
• Taking sedative medications provokes a large deviation between cardiac and renal blood pressure. If there is a big difference between the upper and lower pressure, the doctor will tell you what to do after diagnosis.
• Age-related changes in the body. Over the years, the condition of blood vessels changes for the worse. They become brittle and brittle and lose flexibility. Which leads to arterial stiffness. Because of this, the vessels do not respond to changes in the circulatory system.
• Cholesterol, deposited on the walls of blood vessels, leads to blood pressure lability, which contributes to an increase in PP.
• Excessive physical activity, a sharp increase or decrease in temperature environment, diseases of a viral nature.

An acute lack of iron in the body (anemia) can lead to a large gap between blood pressure readings. endocrine disorders(hyperthyroidism), high intracranial pressure.

Reasons for the small difference between the indicators

The pulse difference characterizes the state of the blood vessels in the period between myocardial contraction and its relaxation. Optimal indicator– no higher than 50 mm. The ideal value varies from 35 to 45 mm.

Low PP will indicate impaired vascular activity. Pathology is diagnosed when the value is below 30 units. Also in cases where it

less than 25% of upper blood pressure.

For example, for a systolic value of 140 mmHg, the acceptable limit of normal is 35. If the value differs significantly, this indicates pathological processes in organism.

The small difference between systolic and diastolic pressure 20 has the following reasons:

1. Left ventricular stroke.
2. Tachycardia.
3. Aortic stenosis.
4. Internal or external bleeding.
5. Myocarditis.
6. Vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD).
7. Renal ischemia, which led to high concentrations of renin.

If this indicator is extremely low, the likelihood increases atrophic changes in the brain. Low pulse pressure leads to impairment visual perception, respiratory paralysis, cardiac arrest.

With low PD, patients complain of constant drowsiness, chronic fatigue, apathy, inattention and absent-mindedness, memory, dizziness, even loss of consciousness.

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A small difference is most often observed in at a young age, is more common in elderly patients age group against the background of pathologies of cardio-vascular system.

Why is the big difference dangerous?

A pathologically large or small difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure is always a deterioration in a person’s condition, a disruption in activity internal organs and systems.

When the PP figure is 100 mmHg, it develops leading to heart attack, stroke, pulmonary edema and other complications. For hypertensive patients, this is an extremely dangerous condition during which all organs are subjected to excessive stress.

If a high PP is accompanied by a decrease in the diastolic indicator, then patients develop tuberculosis, gallbladder pathologies, and work disruption gastrointestinal tract and digestive system.

A large gap provokes the following complications:

• Brain disorders, Alzheimer's disease.
• Problems with the musculoskeletal system.
• Premature aging of the heart.
• Chronic kidney failure.
• Damage to blood vessels, heart, kidneys.
• Changes in retinal vessels up to complete blindness.
• , myocardial infarction.

Any of these pathological conditions leads to deterioration general well-being, as well as to irreversible harmful consequences that cause fatal outcome. Often a deviation in the pulse difference is observed in hypertensive patients. Therefore, they are advised to constantly monitor their blood pressure, avoiding sudden changes.

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Complications that develop as a result of small PD:

1. Brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.
2. Inflammatory processes in the heart muscle.
3. Respiratory paralysis.
4. Visual impairment, deterioration of auditory perception.
5. Poor memory, deterioration of intelligence.

To prevent a large gap between cardiac and renal values, it is recommended to control blood pressure and establish sleep and rest patterns. Watch your diet - reduce salt intake, give up bad habits. Avoid strong physical and mental stress. Simple measures will help return PD to normal.

Drawing conclusions

Heart attacks and strokes are the cause of almost 70% of all deaths in the world. Seven out of ten people die due to blockages in the arteries of the heart or brain.

What’s especially scary is the fact that a lot of people don’t even suspect that they have hypertension. And they miss the opportunity to fix something, simply dooming themselves to death.

Symptoms of hypertension:

• Headache
• Increased heart rate
• Black dots before the eyes (floaters)
• Apathy, irritability, drowsiness
• Blurred vision
• Sweating
• Chronic fatigue
• Facial swelling
• Numb and chilly fingers
• Pressure surges

Even one of these symptoms should give you pause. And if there are two of them, then have no doubt - you have hypertension.

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The state of cardiovascular tone and circulatory system reflects using the blood pressure indicator, which includes data on upper and lower pressure. Excess or decrease pulse value between them indicates a malfunction nervous system, development of hypotension or hypertension. It is important to know the decoding of the data, what each indicator is responsible for and the factors influencing their changes.

The difference in upper and lower pressure is more than 50 mm Hg. Art talks about deviations

Upper pressure

Upper or systolic pressure is written as the first digit before the fraction, and means the force with which the blood presses on the arterial wall at the moment of maximum heart rate. The indicator is responsible for the quality of the cardiovascular system and depends on the state of the myocardium, the stroke volume of the left ventricle and the distensibility of the aortic walls.

A long-term deviation of the indicator from the norm is accompanied by the appearance of characteristic symptoms:

The normal systolic pressure is 110-120 mmHg. Art. – exceeding the indicator up to 20 mm Hg. Art. indicates the presence of prehypotension, and a greater deviation over a long period of time indicates the development of arterial hypertension.

Lower pressure

Lower or diastolic pressure is the second number, which shows the force of blood pressure on the walls of blood vessels when the heart muscle relaxes. The indicator directly depends on heart rate, tone and elasticity of the arteries. The norm for a healthy person varies from 70 to 80 mmHg. Art.

Rare jumps due to sports activities, nervous overstrain or climate change are not considered dangerous to the body. Too low a number indicates the development of hypotension, sharp drop may be the primary cause of coma or death.

Normal difference between indicators

In a healthy adult, normal upper pressure ranges from 100-140 mmHg. Art., and the lower within 60-90 mm Hg. Art. Normal difference between upper limit And lower limit is 40 units at optimal value blood pressure 120/80. Considering age factor, the permissible difference between the numbers can range from 35 to 50 units.

Increase in low and high pressure with a normal difference, it indicates excessive overstrain of the heart muscle. A decrease in data, on the contrary, indicates a slower functioning of the heart muscle and blood vessels.

To obtain the most accurate parameters, measurements must be performed in a calm and relaxed state on both hands several times with a difference of several minutes. The difference between the received data should not exceed 5 units.

Reasons for the gap between indicators

Pulse pressure, which is calculated as the gap between two indicators, is a necessary value for compiling full picture work of the whole organism, and helps to identify early stages diseases. If the cause of a large difference is identified, you should try to eliminate the problem early stage– prolonged neglect will provoke a heart attack or stroke.

Big difference - what does it mean?

A big difference implies that the gap between indicators is exceeded by more than 50 units, and signals the presence of:

• heart problems;
• kidney pathology;
• decreased elasticity of blood vessels;
• lack of iron in the body;
• dysfunction digestive tract and thyroid gland;
• gallbladder lesions.

A high difference may occur in older people due to stressful situations or excessive weight gain. Exceeding the indicator by more than 65 units increases the chance of developing heart pathologies, while the brain does not receive what is required for normal operation oxygen volume.

Presence of cardio vascular diseases leads to rapid wear and tear of arterial and venous walls, which accelerates the aging process of the entire organism.

Small difference - what does it mean?

Revealing pulse pressure below 30 units indicates the possibility of development of pathological processes:

• tachycardia;
• heart attack associated with excessive physical labor;
• myocarditis;
• vegetative – vascular dystonia;
• heart failure;
• severe internal bleeding;
• left ventricular stroke;
• cardiosclerosis.

A small difference is also dangerous, it indicates the development of myocarditis

Small difference leads to paralysis respiratory tract, deterioration of brain function, cardiac arrest. The condition is very dangerous because over time it is difficult to treat with medications.

What to do if rejected?

To eliminate unacceptable pulse values ​​between readings, it is recommended:

1. Avoid overwork. Stop playing sports for a while or reduce your load. Normalize sleep - its duration should be at least 7 hours.
2. Balance your diet. Exclude from daily diet salted, fried, fatty and sweet food, reduce the consumption of black tea and coffee. Add more vegetables, fruits and dairy products.
3. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
4. Avoid depression, stressful situations, try to get rid of as soon as possible from their consequences.
5. Spend more time outside, get into the habit of walking.
6. Regularly undergo examination by a doctor.

If you have problems with blood pressure, avoid fried and fatty foods

Determine the cause as accurately as possible large deviation Pulse pressure from normal for more than 2 weeks, which caused deterioration in health, can be determined by a cardiologist and therapist. Based on the results of the tests obtained, taking into account the severity of the disease and individual characteristics patient, he will select an effective course of treatment.

The reasons for the small difference between upper and lower pressure may be different, but in any case, this condition is not normal and requires, at a minimum, a medical examination.

Blood pressure (BP) is considered one of the important indicators of the body’s condition. Systolic (upper) is the pressure in the arteries at the moment the heart contracts, diastolic (lower) is the pressure in the arteries during relaxation of the heart muscle. The difference between the upper and lower pressure values ​​is called pulse pressure. What should the pulse pressure be? Normally, the gap between systolic and diastolic pressure should be 40 mmHg. Art. (with an ideal pressure of 120 to 80 mm Hg), a deviation of 10 units up or down is also normal. The answer to the question of how much the normal pulse pressure is in a child is similar to that for an adult, that is, 30–50 mm Hg. Art.

What is the danger of too small a gap between indicators? A too small difference between the upper and lower pressure, confirmed by several measurements, indicates the presence of serious diseases and can even pose a threat to the patient’s life, as it is a sign of dysfunction of the cardiovascular system.

If the examination results do not reveal any serious diseases that could cause low pulse pressure, the condition is corrected by changing lifestyle in a healthy direction.

How to determine a small pressure gap

Low pulse pressure is determined during blood pressure measurement by subtracting the lower pressure value from the upper pressure value.

Pressure measurement should be carried out after the patient has been completely at rest for at least 10 minutes. The arm on which the measurement is taken should be approximately at the same level as the heart. The cuff of a mechanical tonometer is placed on the shoulder and fixed slightly obliquely, since the thickness of the arm in this place is not the same. After this, the cuff is inflated with air by approximately 20 mmHg. Art. Furthermore level at which the pulse can no longer be heard. Then the air is smoothly released from the cuff, recording the first and last blow. The first indicates that the pressure in the cuff is equal to systolic, the latter corresponds to diastolic. To measure blood pressure with an automatic tonometer, you do not need to manually pump air into the cuff; just fix it on your wrist and turn on the device. The measurement results will be displayed.

In order to determine the cause of pathologically low pulse pressure, the patient may be prescribed additional examination: electrocardiography, echocardiography, ultrasonography kidneys, magnetic resonance angiography of the aorta and/or renal blood vessels, general and biochemical analysis blood, etc.

Why can pulse pressure be low?

A small difference between the upper and lower pressure, when the upper one is normal, most often indicates the development of arterial hypotension. This condition is typical for females under 35 years of age. Other causes include diseases of the urinary system, passive lifestyle, heart disease, somatoform autonomic dysfunction nervous system, spasms of blood vessels. A small difference between systolic and diastolic pressure in a patient with trauma may indicate internal bleeding.

A transient, i.e., transient decrease in pulse pressure occurs with lack of nutrition, increased physical and/or mental stress, lack of sleep, and hypothermia.

Pulse pressure may also decrease as the lower pulse increases or decreases. top indicator. Such conditions are observed when chronic diseases kidney, atherosclerotic lesion blood vessels of the kidneys, coronary vessels and/or aorta, stenosis aortic valve, aortic aneurysm, neoplasms of the kidneys or adrenal glands, constrictive pericarditis, high heart rate, ventricular arrhythmias, left ventricular failure, cardiogenic shock, low concentration of iron in the blood, dehydration of the body.

A small gap between the upper and lower pressure with an increased upper pressure is observed in arterial hypertension.

A transient, i.e., transient decrease in pulse pressure occurs with a lack of nutrition, increased physical and/or mental stress, lack of sleep (overfatigue), and hypothermia. In this case, eliminating the cause, i.e. eating, resting, warming leads to normalization of blood pressure.

How does too low pulse pressure manifest itself?

If the interval between the upper and lower pressure is too small, the patient experiences dizziness, headache, muscle weakness, pallor skin, decreased concentration, impaired short-term memory, drowsiness, apathy, irritability, increased sensitivity to sounds, photophobia, and sometimes presyncope. A person does not feel rested even after a long sleep.

Low pulse pressure due to cardiogenic or other state of shock, manifested by pallor and/or cyanosis of the skin, cold sweat, shortness of breath, confusion or fainting.

The difference between the upper and lower pressure of less than 20 units is critical, i.e. it means that the patient requires emergency medical care.

Low pulse pressure is determined during blood pressure measurement by subtracting the lower pressure value from the upper pressure value.

What to do if pulse pressure is low

First of all, you should not self-medicate. The pathology is serious enough to seek treatment as soon as possible medical care in order to find out the reason.

If the examination results do not reveal any serious diseases that could cause low pulse pressure, the condition is corrected by changing lifestyle in a healthy direction. Such patients are advised to eat a balanced diet, give up bad habits, spend more time in the fresh air, get rid of physical inactivity, take a short break after every hour of work, and monitor their condition. cervical region spine, and be sure to get enough sleep. The minimum duration of sleep should be 8 hours.

In the event that the cause of a small difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is determined, treatment consists of eliminating the causative factor.

So, with atherosclerotic damage to blood vessels, the patient needs to take drugs that reduce cholesterol levels in the blood; vitamin therapy and unsaturated fatty acids may be prescribed.

In case of chronic inflammatory diseases urinary system are prescribed anti-inflammatory, antibacterial medicines, physiotherapeutic procedures.

For chronic left ventricular failure, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, diuretics, and cardiac glycosides are indicated. In some cases it is required surgery. At acute form diseases, diuretics, glycosides, and ganglion blockers are used.

Normally, the gap between systolic and diastolic pressure should be 40 mmHg. Art.

At coronary disease heart may be required surgery– performing bypass surgery, stenting, laser angioplasty, etc.

For aneurysms, surgical intervention is necessary.

For constrictive pericarditis, pericardiectomy is performed.

If the pathology is caused by aortic valve stenosis, it is replaced with an artificial one.

For severe heart rhythm disturbances, antiarrhythmic drugs, and in case of their ineffectiveness, implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator is indicated.

If the patient has neoplasms, both conservative and surgical treatment can be performed.

Video

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When measuring pressure, attention is mostly paid to the indicators. At the same time, few people think about the fact that the difference between them is of no small importance. This is nothing more than pulse pressure. The condition of the whole organism depends on it. It is for this reason that it is important to know what this indicator should be normally and what happens in the body when it changes.

It is very important to know the difference between upper and lower pressure

Blood pressure: what is it

In order to determine pulse pressure, it is necessary to find out what indicators make up blood pressure. When measuring pressure, two numbers are recorded. It is the difference between them that is the pulse pressure. Therefore, first of all, you need to find out how the two indicators are obtained and what they indicate.

Systolic pressure

Systole is the period of maximum contraction of the heart muscle, when it drives blood through the vessels, that is, pressure on the walls of the arteries and veins at the moment of muscle contraction. In a healthy person this indicator should be between 110 and 130 units. However, in older people, higher rates will be normal.

Systole directly depends on the force of contraction of the heart, its speed and the condition of the heart muscle.

When blood vessels are clogged cholesterol plaques, pressure rises

The systole indicator is also influenced by the condition of the blood vessels. If they are narrowed or their walls are covered with cholesterol plaques, the indicator will increase significantly. And vice versa, if there is severe fatigue and intoxication of the body, then the pressure will decrease.

Any deviation from the norm is a reason to consult a doctor. A periodic increase or decrease in systole gradually leads to impaired peripheral circulation, and in the absence of treatment, they also begin to suffer. large vessels. Ultimately this leads to very serious illnesses, threatening for human life.

Diastolic pressure

Experts call the lower indicator diastolic. This is the pressure that occurs in the vessels when the heart muscle is relaxed, that is, it is the speed at which blood circulates through the vessels outside of the contraction of the heart. In an absolutely healthy person, the indicator should be in the range from 64 to 79 units. At good tone vessels and the elasticity of their walls, diastole will be equal to 74-79 units.

It is very important to measure diastolic pressure

The diastole indicator is largely affected by the condition of the peripheral vessels.

The volume of all circulating blood and heart rate are also important. If there are vascular disorders, the indicator begins to change. At the same time, diastolic pressure can decrease or increase in the absence of pathologies, for example, after severe stress, during temperature changes, and so on. In such a situation, just rest enough and the indicators will return to normal.

Marked changes in diastolic pressure indicate serious violations in the body requiring specialist intervention. When diastole decreases, tissues do not receive enough oxygen, which negatively affects the condition of cells.

Stress has strong influence on pressure

Having defined the terms systolic pressure and diastolic, it becomes clear that the difference between them, that is, pulse pressure, is the same important indicator, requiring attention. Normally, this figure should be 35-40 units. When this figure changes, pronounced changes begin in the blood vessels and tissues of the heart, which is dangerous for human health.

Exceeding the norm - what is the danger

A large difference in indicators is most often due to a decrease in diastole. This depends on the elasticity of the blood vessels. It, in turn, is influenced by renin, a substance that is secreted in the kidneys. Accordingly, when diastole decreases, it is recommended to exclude deviations from this organ.

If it is the systolic pressure that increases, deviations from the heart muscle can be assumed. Increased rate indicates that the heart is working too hard. Subsequently, this can lead to expansion of the heart chambers and rapid tissue wear.

If diastole decreases, check kidney function

The most common cause of decreased diastole is atherosclerosis - dangerous disease requiring treatment.

It is important to note that an increase in pulse pressure is always accompanied by a decrease in the force with which blood is pushed through the vessels. This leads to the fact that brain tissue experiences an acute lack of oxygen, which threatens such dangerous conditions like a stroke or heart attack. In addition, a prolonged increase in the indicator leads to expansion of the chambers of the heart.

It may also be that the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure increases due to a decrease in diastole. This is accompanied by weakness, dizziness and fainting. This condition may indicate pathologies of the gallbladder, dysfunction of the digestive system, and even active tuberculosis.

At big difference pressure, headaches, dizziness and even fainting begin

Separately, we can consider the situation when this indicator increases in women. In most cases, the reason for this is hormonal changes or menopause. In such a situation, it is not enough to take medications to normalize blood pressure. It is important to eliminate the cause, namely to stabilize hormone levels.

But don’t immediately panic if you see a big difference in the readings on the tonometer. First of all, you need to remember that with age, elasticity vascular wall decreases, which means the difference between the indicators will increase. Besides, self-measurement does not always give 100% accurate indicators. Therefore, if after the first measurement you notice a big difference between systole and diastole, try to rest and then measure your blood pressure again.

Thus, if excluded physiological reason differences between indicators (fatigue, stress), it is necessary to conduct an examination and exclude the following pathologies:

• atherosclerosis;

One of common reasons the difference between upper and lower pressure is heart failure

• blockade;
• fever;
• anemization;
• endocarditis;
• pathology of the thyroid gland.

Reducing the difference - reasons for deviation

With a small difference, a decrease in the speed of blood flow through the vessels is observed. The most common cause is heart disease. The muscle can no longer contract with the required force, which causes these deviations. In addition, quite often low level pulse pressure patients with signs of VSD. This is explained by the fact that with this disease, vasospasm is observed and the blood can no longer circulate at the required speed.

It is especially dangerous when there is a sharp decline pulse pressure. This situation may arise against the background internal bleeding. The condition is extremely dangerous and requires emergency assistance.

Patients often experience irritability

In order to assess the patient’s condition, it is necessary to find out how to correctly determine the pulse pressure indicator. First of all, the difference must be at least thirty units. In addition, this number must be at least ¼ of the systolic pressure.

A small gap between the upper and lower pressure may be accompanied by the following clinic:

• weakness;
• possible fainting;
• dizziness;
• headaches;
• decreased concentration.

One more possible symptom is apathy

The presence of several signs should be a reason to contact a specialist and carry out full examination. Special attention while paying differential diagnosis pathologies such as:

• stroke;
• tachycardia;
• myocarditis;
• aortic stenosis;
• renal failure;
• stroke.

If a drop in the indicator is observed as a result of severe bleeding, stabilization of pressure occurs only after the bleeding stops. In some cases, the difference decreases even after intensive physical activity. Despite the fact that this condition is physiological, it is also dangerous and requires correction. If the condition does not improve within a few minutes of complete rest, you should call an emergency doctor.

If all else fails, call an ambulance

Regardless of whether the difference between blood pressure increases or decreases, the situation poses a health hazard. If on initial stage pathological complaints will be limited only to weakness and dizziness, then in the future they will begin to develop dangerous consequences, such as cardiosclerosis, renal failure and so on.

Normal blood pressure and pulse

Considering that normal indicators If the numbers are 80 and 120, it becomes clear that the pulse pressure should be 40 units. At 45 they are already starting pathological changes in the tissues of blood vessels and the heart. At 65 there is a risk of developing dangerous deviations in the work of the heart. If the indicator drops below 35, weakness appears, and diseases of important organs develop in the future.

In older people, the norm increases significantly and for them a pulse pressure of 50 units is not considered a deviation.

But there is one “but”. The point is that all three indicators must be considered together. Thus, if a patient's blood pressure is 160/100 mm Hg. Art., the pulse is within normal limits, but at the same time both systole and diastole are greatly increased. This indicates that the heart is working too hard and failure may occur. The situation looks the same with low performance, for example 90/55 mm Hg. Art., that is, the heart works too slowly.

When measuring blood pressure, all indicators must be taken into account in a complex manner in order to assess the patient’s condition

For this reason, it is important to know the norm not only of pulse pressure, but also of two other indicators:

• the upper indicator can vary from 98 to 138 units;
• the lower one should always be between 59 and 88 units.

Thus, we can conclude that to assess a person’s health status, all the nuances are important, and not just blood pressure, which reflects systole and diastole. In this case, it is necessary to take into account his physical and psycho-emotional state. You cannot measure blood pressure immediately after exercise. You need to provide 7-10 minutes of rest and only then take measurements. Then the results will be reliable.

This video will tell you why the difference between upper and lower pressure is dangerous: