Lowering Elevated Diastolic Blood Pressure Will Lessen Chance of Developing Elevated Systolic Blood PressureApril 2, 2010 Dear Mayo Clinic: I have normal systolic blood pressure, but my diastolic goes between 82 and 96 during the work day and goes down to normal at night or when there is no stress. Should I be concerned or is this normal? Answer: If you don't have other health issues that increase your risk of cardiovascular problems, the situation you describe — isolated diastolic hypertension — isn't dangerous now. But it's not normal, either. People with elevated diastolic blood pressure often develop elevated systolic blood pressure over time. You can help prevent that by taking steps to lower your diastolic blood pressure to a normal level. A blood pressure reading, given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), has two numbers. The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure). The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in the arteries between beats (diastolic pressure). Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. Research regarding diastolic blood pressure has evolved considerably over the last several decades. During the 1970s and 1980s, many researchers and physicians believed the diastolic reading was the more important of the two blood pressure measurements. Now, we know they are both equally important. Minimal elevations of diastolic blood pressure (less than 95 mm Hg) alone don't pose an immediate significant health risk. But that's assuming you're in good health otherwise and don't have any additional factors that put you at risk for cardiovascular problems. Those factors include diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, smoking, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), or a history of heart disease or a heart attack. If you don't have any additional risk factors, regularly monitoring your blood pressure and making lifestyle changes to decrease your diastolic blood pressure may be all that's necessary at this time. Taking steps to reduce your blood pressure to a normal level is important because an elevated diastolic pressure puts you at a higher-than-average risk of developing elevated systolic blood pressure as you age. Changes that can make a difference include eating a low-salt diet, avoiding alcohol, exercising regularly, not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight. If you have other cardiovascular risk factors, any elevation in diastolic blood pressure — even if it's small — significantly increases your risk of cardiovascular problems. If that's the case for you, I strongly recommend you work with your physician to create a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all your risk factors, including high blood pressure. Effective management of high blood pressure is important because if left untreated it can have serious, long-term consequences. High blood pressure damages the lining of the blood vessels and accelerates hardening of the arteries throughout the body. This, in turn, can lead to a variety of health issues, such as cerebrovascular disease, heart attack and peripheral vascular disease, among others. These are cholesterol-related complications that people often think of when considering health problems associated with high blood pressure. But there's another way high blood pressure is equally dangerous. The constant pounding of high blood pressure on blood vessels can also lead to serious health problems, including the type of stroke where there is bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it (subarachnoid hemorrhage), congestive heart failure, kidney failure and abdominal aortic aneurysm. In addition, increasing evidence suggests a correlation between high blood pressure and dementia. Research has shown that successful treatment of high blood pressure is associated with a reduced risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. So, to protect the brain, treat high blood pressure. To effectively address your situation, I encourage you to make an appointment with your doctor to assess your elevated diastolic blood pressure and, based on your health history and other medical issues, develop a plan to manage it appropriately. —John Graves, M.D., Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Related articlesHigh blood pressure (HBP) is a fairly common health issue in the US, with 75 million adults currently diagnosed with this condition. HBP occurs when blood regularly flows through the veins at a high rate of pressure. This condition is also referred to as hypertension. High blood pressure is sometimes called ‘the silent killer’ because it often has no symptoms. Even though this condition is asymptomatic, it is still important for you to get checked regularly, as HBP can lead to a number of other potentially serious health problems. Medication is almost always an option to lower your blood pressure. However, there are also many ways to lower your BP without the help of a prescription medication. How To Lower Blood Pressure Without MedicationIt’s normal for your BP to fluctuate throughout the day. Excitement, being active, sleeping and waking up are all situations where blood pressure changes naturally. When your activity ends, your BP reading should return to a normal range. A normal blood pressure is usually defined as systolic pressure below 120 mmHg and diastolic pressure below 80mmHg. Systolic pressure is the measurement of blood pressure from your heart beats. Diastolic pressure is when the heart is at rest between beats. Unfortunately there is no cure for high blood pressure currently, but you can take steps to manage it even without medication. Here are 7 ways to lower your blood pressure naturally:
Risk FactorsBlood pressure typically increases with age. It’s estimated that over 70% of US Seniors have high blood pressure. The American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for blood pressure by age recommends men and women, age 65 or older, aim for a blood pressure lower than 130/80 mm Hg. Some people are more prone to developing high BP than others for other reasons too. Certain lifestyle choices can also increase your risk of developing HBP. Lowering your blood pressure is especially helpful if you have one or more risk factors for HBP. People most at risk for developing HBP are:
Some factors, such as gender, ethnicity, and family history cannot be controlled. That’s why changing the factors you can control is important! Why Lowering Your BP MattersOver time, high blood pressure can lead to an array of health complications. HBP does not have symptoms, so it’s especially important to visit your primary physician on a regular basis. They will be able to determine if your blood pressure is abnormal and prescribe a treatment plan for you. HPB can lead to:
When to Seek Emergency CareHigh blood pressure causes damage to your organs over time. However, it’s possible for BP to rise suddenly and cause what is called a hypertensive crisis. Hypertensive crises can manifest as either hypertensive urgency or hypertensive emergency. When checking your blood pressure, measurements over 180 for systolic and 120 for diastolic are warning flags. Wait a few minutes before you check again. If readings still exceed 180/120, then this is indicative of a hypertensive emergency. If left unchecked, a hypertensive emergency may have severe consequences. Possible outcomes of uncontrollable high blood pressure include:
Seek medical attention immediately if your readings exceed 180/120. This amount of pressure can be damaging to organs and cause potentially serious conditions. If you are seeking help for controlling your high blood pressure, please visit our Primary Care Doctors library and schedule an appointment to discuss your options. What does it mean when your bottom blood pressure number is high?Diastolic pressure is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading. IDH occurs if someone has elevated diastolic blood pressure, increasing a person's risk of heart disease and stroke. Smoking, consuming alcohol, obesity, and high blood fat may lead to IDH.
How long does it take to lower diastolic BP?“You have high blood pressure,” your doctor announced, “and you need to lower it to avoid some very serious things that high blood pressure can lead to, like strokes and heart attacks.” Many people can reduce their high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, in as little as 3 days to 3 weeks.
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How to lower your bottom number on your blood pressure
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