How To Reduce Diastolic Blood Pressure?
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 can’t 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 Refrain from eating foods high in trans or saturated fats,
Hot dogs and other processed meats Fast food Frozen food
Try focusing instead on eating healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in foods like olive oil, avocados, and nuts. Eat heart-healthy foods Foods that are an essential part of a diet that’s healthy for your heart include:
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 Nuts and beans Eggs Whole grains, such as whole-grain bread and brown rice Low-fat or fat-free dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese
Exercise Moderate physical activity, such as swimming, or brisk walking, can lower high blood pressure. You’ll want to set goals that will help you safely exercise, and work your way up to a minimum of 2.5 hours (150 minutes) per week. Consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any exercise regime, particularly if you have any untreated health issues.
Avoid caffeine Caffeine can increase blood pressure because it’s a stimulant. You’ll want to limit your caffeine intake if you have hypertension, especially before performing any activities that can further increase your blood pressure, such as exercising. Decrease sodium in your diet Limit your sodium (salt) intake to 1,500mg or less each day, since sodium can elevate blood pressure.
Consume more potassium Potassium may counteract sodium’s negative effect on your blood pressure. Therefore, increase your consumption of potassium-rich foods, such as spinach, bananas, and tomatoes. Maintain a healthy weight Being obese or overweight can increase strain on your heart muscle, leading to an increase in blood pressure.
The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that individuals maintain a body mass index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 24.9. When your BMI gets too high, you should take steps to lose weight. The AHA also states that losing just 10lbs in weight is sufficient to lower blood pressure in overweight individuals.
Consider taking prescription medicine Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine that helps lower your blood pressure, These types of medication include:
Calcium channel blockers Thiazide diuretics Angiotensin II receptor blockers Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Take your blood pressure medication as directed It’s important to take your blood pressure medication as prescribed by your doctor. Don’t cut back or stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to do so. If you have difficulty remembering to take your blood pressure medication, try setting reminders on your phone.
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How can I lower my diastolic blood pressure quickly?
How Long Does It Take to Get Diastolic Blood Pressure Down? – Deep breathing, a hot bath, and relaxation techniques may lower your diastolic blood pressure in a few hours. Exercise, quality sleep, and a healthy diet may give you results overnight or in a few days. Lifestyle changes and medications may take a few weeks to take effect.
What causes the diastolic to be 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.
- Additionally, certain groups of people have an increased risk of IDH, including younger males and people with diabetes or previous cardiovascular events.
- High diastolic blood pressure is rare in younger people, and doctors may not treat this group.
- They may recommend treatment in older individuals based on their current heart health status.
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Is 90 diastolic too high?
New high blood pressure guidelines: Think your blood pressure is fine? Think again – Harvard Health The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association certainly grabbed the attention of us busy primary care physicians with the recent release of their updated blood pressure guidelines. These organizations had piqued interest by declaring the release date and labeling it as “highly anticipated.” I pooh-poohed all that drama, but upon reading through the 114-page executive summary PDF with 21 authors and almost a thousand references, I have to say, I am duly impressed.
The definition of the diagnosis of high blood pressure and the decision-making process surrounding treatment have traditionally been quite individualized (read: all over the place). Personally, I invite these stricter measures, because they are accompanied by solid research, logistical guidance, and useful management strategies.
However, a whole heck of a lot of people just got pulled into a significant medical diagnosis. Let’s review what’s new. (Please note that all numbers refer to mm Hg, or, millimeters of mercury.) The guidelines, in a nutshell, state that normal blood pressure is under 120/80, whereas up until Monday, normal was under 140/90.
- Now, elevated blood pressure (without a diagnosis of hypertension) is systolic blood pressure (the top number) between 120 and 129.
- That used to be a vague category called “prehypertension.” Stage 1 high blood pressure (a diagnosis of hypertension) is now between 130 and 139 systolic or between 80 and 89 diastolic (the bottom number).
Stage 2 high blood pressure is now over 140 systolic or 90 diastolic. The measurements must have been obtained from at least two careful readings on at least two different occasions. What does careful mean? The guidelines provide a six-step tutorial on how, exactly, to correctly measure a blood pressure, which, admittedly, is sorely needed.
My patients often have their first blood pressure taken immediately after they have rushed in through downtown traffic, as they’re sipping a large caffeinated beverage. While we always knew this could result in a falsely elevated measurement, it is now officially poor clinical technique resulting in an invalid reading.
The new guidelines also encourage additional monitoring, using a wearable digital monitor that continually takes blood pressure readings as you go about your life, or checked with your own cuff at home. This additional monitoring can help to tease out masked hypertension (when the blood pressure is normal in our office, but high the rest of the time) or white coat hypertension (when the blood pressure is high in our office, but normal the rest of the time).
There are clear, helpful directions for setting patients up with a home blood pressure monitor, including a recommendation to give people specific instructions on when not to check blood pressure (within 30 minutes of smoking, drinking coffee, or exercising) and how to take a measurement correctly (seated comfortably, using the correct size cuff).
The home blood pressure cuff should first be validated (checked in the office, for accuracy). The guidelines also outline very clearly when a diet-and-lifestyle approach is the recommended, first-line treatment, and when medications are simply just what you have to do.
- Thankfully, the decision is largely based on facts and statistics.
- For the elevated blood pressure category, medications are actually not recommended; rather, a long list of evidence-based, non-drug interventions are.
- What are these interventions? Things that really work: a diet high in fruits and vegetables (such as the, which is naturally high in potassium); decreased salt and bad fats; more activity; weight loss if one is overweight or obese; and no more than two alcoholic drinks per day for men, and one for women.
Simply changing what you eat can bring down systolic blood pressure by as much as 11 points, and each additional healthy habit you adopt can bring it down another four to five points. For people with stage 1 hypertension who don’t have cardiovascular disease and are at low risk for developing it (less than 10% risk of an event within 10 years), lifestyle changes are still the way to go.
(Risk is determined using a well-researched, widely used formula available,) However, if a patient has any kind of cardiovascular disease and stage 1 hypertension (a blood pressure over 130 systolic or 80 diastolic), or no existing cardiovascular disease but a significant risk of developing it (over 10% risk within the next 10 years), then lifestyle changes plus medications are recommended.
And, even if someone has less than a 10% risk, if their blood pressure is over 140 systolic or 90 diastolic, which is now stage 2 high blood pressure, they ought to be treated with medication as well. The authors bring several evidence-based yet progressive concepts into the guidelines, the first of which is that high blood pressure should be treated using a team approach.
This makes sense, as science supports more and better patient education around self-monitoring, nutrition, and lifestyle changes, as well as stress management. Telehealth is emphasized as a cost-effective method of ongoing monitoring that is more convenient for patients than frequent office visits. Mountains of research over time have shown a very clear link between high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
A 20-point higher systolic blood pressure or a 10-point higher diastolic blood pressure is associated with double your risk of death from a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular complication (like abdominal aortic aneurysm or heart failure). What many people don’t realize is that those who survive these events find their lives permanently altered by disability and medical complications.
- Much is being made of the fact that the new definitions of high blood pressure will mean roughly half of all US citizens will be considered to have high blood pressure, but when you really look at the numbers,, not that many more people will actually be advised to take medications.
- Although the public has good reason to be suspicious of “big pharma,” that’s not what this is about.
Diet and lifestyle changes are powerful medicine. Even if your blood pressure is normal now, you can help to prevent it from becoming elevated starting today. Eat more fruits, veggies, and whole grains, and limit foods high in sodium and unhealthy fats.
- Be as physically active as possible.
- There is a lot more in the very long, detailed executive summary, including specific guidance for various populations, myriad diseases, and special circumstances, but this is the gist of it.
- The document is free, and available,
- As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. You might also be interested in An alarming one in three American adults has high blood pressure. Known medically as hypertension, many people don’t even know they have it, because high blood pressure has no symptoms or warning signs. But when elevated blood pressure is accompanied by abnormal cholesterol and blood sugar levels, the damage to your arteries, kidneys, and heart accelerates exponentially.
Is 95 diastolic high?
When you get your blood pressure numbers, there are two of them. The first, or “top” one, is your systolic blood pressure. The second, or “bottom,” one is diastolic blood pressure. Knowing both is important and could save your life. When your heart beats, it squeezes and pushes blood through your arteries to the rest of your body.
Normal: Below 120Elevated: 120-129Stage I: high blood pressure (also called hypertension): 130-139Stage II: hypertension: 140 or moreHypertensive crisis: 180 or more. Call 911.
The diastolic reading, or the bottom number, is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. This is the time when the heart fills with blood and gets oxygen. This is what your diastolic blood pressure number means:
Normal: Lower than 80Stage I: hypertension: 80-89Stage II: hypertension: 90 or moreHypertensive crisis: 120 or more. Call 911.
Our chart below has more details. Even if your diastolic number is normal (lower than 80), you can have elevated blood pressure if the systolic reading is 120-129. If you have normal blood pressure, your blood pressure is less than 120/80. Stick with an active lifestyle and healthy diet to keep that going.
Cutting back on sodium. Ask your doctor what your daily sodium limit should be. Read the Nutrition Facts label on food products.Getting more exercise, Studies show benefits with 3-4 sessions per week, each lasting 40 minutes, of aerobic exercise (the kind that makes your heart beat faster). Losing weight, if you’re overweight, You can expect to shave about 1 point off your blood pressure numbers for each pound lost.Eating a healthy diet. The DASH diet is designed to improve blood pressure. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It favors vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low- fat dairy, poultry, fish, and chicken.Limiting alcohol to no more than one drink a day for women or two for men.
If you also need medication to lower your blood pressure, there are several types:
Diuretics Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors Alpha blockers Angiotensin II receptor blockers Beta-blockers Calcium channel blockers Central agonists Vasodilators Combination medications
If you need medication, your doctor will consider which type is best for you. (They’ll also recommend lifestyle habits that help lower blood pressure.) Deciding whether you need medication is often done on a case-by-case basis, depending on what else is going on with your health and on your preferences., If you have:
Elevated blood pressure: Your systolic pressure is 120-129, and your diastolic pressure is less than 80. Lifestyle changes and monitoring your blood pressure may be all you need at this point. Your doctor will let you know. Stage I hypertension: Systolic 130-139 or diastolic 80-89. Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes and will consider whether you also need medication. Stage II hypertension: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90. Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes and consider starting you on medication to lower your blood pressure. Hypertensive crisis: Your blood pressure is 180/120 or higher. You may or may not also have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness/weakness, and trouble with vision or with speaking. This is an emergency. Call 911.
One reading may not be enough to diagnose high blood pressure, Your doctor may want you to have several blood pressure readings over time, to check if it’s consistently too high. A doctor or nurse will measure your blood pressure with a small gauge attached to an inflatable cuff.
- It’s simple and painless.
- The person taking your blood pressure wraps the cuff around your upper arm.
- Some cuffs go around the forearm or wrist, but often, they aren’t as accurate.
- Your doctor or nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through your artery.
- They’ll inflate the cuff to a pressure higher than your systolic blood pressure, and it will tighten around your arm.
Then, they’ll release it. As the cuff deflates, the first sound they hear through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. The point where this noise goes away marks the diastolic blood pressure. In a blood pressure reading, the systolic number always comes first and then the diastolic number.
If your blood pressure is normal — less than 120/80 — get it checked every year, or more often as your doctor suggests. If your blood pressure is elevated —a systolic blood pressure between 120 and 129 or diastolic blood pressure of less than 80—your doctor will probably want to check it every 3-6 months. They will probably recommend lifestyle changes such as more exercise and a better diet. If you have stage I hypertension —130-139 over 89-90—the doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and see you again in 3-6 months. They could also tell you to make the changes and give you medication, then recheck your condition in a month. It depends on what other health conditions or risk factors you have. If you have stage II hypertension —140/90 or higher—you’ll likely get medication. You’ll also need to make lifestyle changes and see the doctor again in a month.
Keeping track of blood pressure at home is important for many people, especially if you have high blood pressure. This helps you and your doctor find out if your treatment is working. Your doctor may also suggest that you check your pressure at home if they think you may have “white coat hypertension.” It’s a real condition.
- The stress of being in a doctor’s office increases your blood pressure, but when you’re home, it’s normal.
- Ask your doctor to recommend an easy-to-use home blood pressure monitor.
- Make sure the cuff fits properly.
- If your arm is too big for the cuff, the reading may be higher than your blood pressure really is.
Ask your doctor for a larger cuff or make sure you buy a home monitor with a cuff that fits you. You also can use a wrist blood pressure monitor, but they often aren’t as accurate. Follow the directions that come with the device to make sure you are using it correctly.
No matter which type of blood pressure monitor you have, it’s a good idea to take it to your doctor’s office. You can compare its reading to the numbers your doctor gets. Avoid caffeine, cigarettes, and exercise for at least 30 minutes before the test. When you take your blood pressure at home, sit up straight in a chair and put both feet on the floor.
Ask your doctor or nurse to show you the right way to position your arm so you get accurate readings. Check it at the same time of day so the readings are consistent. Then, take several readings about 1 minute apart. Be sure to write down the results. Take the blood pressure journal to your doctor’s office so you can talk about any changes in your numbers.
- Your doctor will decide whether you need medications in addition to lifestyle changes.
- Even if your blood pressure is high, you probably won’t have symptoms.
- That’s why it’s often called the “silent killer.” The first symptom of untreated high blood pressure may be a heart attack, stroke, or kidney damage.
To keep your blood pressure in the normal range, your daily habits are key. These things help: Don’t smoke. Among the many health problems that smoking causes, it increases your blood pressure. Make physical activity a habit. Most experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (such as biking or brisk walking) five or more times a week.
Or you could do a harder activity for a shorter period of time per session. Eat right. Read food labels to see how much sodium is in a serving. Check with your doctor to find out what your daily limit should be. Include a lot of vegetables and fruits, along with whatever else you choose to put on your plate.
Stick to a healthy weight, Extra pounds increase your blood pressure. If you’re not sure what a healthy weight would be for you, ask your doctor. Get enough sleep, For most adults, that’s 7-8 hours of sleep per night on a regular basis. If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman and up to two drinks a day if you’re a man.
Caffeine Smoking Stress Certain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or a mix of meds Overactive adrenal glands Chronic kidney disease Thyroid issues (overactive or underactive thyroid) Pregnancy-related high blood pressure
Malignant hypertension is extremely high blood pressure that develops rapidly and causes some type of organ damage. Malignant hypertension should be treated as a medical emergency. In many people, high blood pressure is the main cause of malignant hypertension.
Collagen vascular disease, such as scleroderma Kidney disease Spinal cord injuries Tumor of the adrenal gland Use of certain medications, including birth control pills and m onoamine oxidase inhibitors Use of illegal drugs, such as cocaine
Malignant hypertension is rare. About 1% of people who have a history of high blood pressure develop this life-threatening condition. You are at higher risk of developing it if you are a man, African American, or someone of lower economic status. Poor access to health care increases the risk.
Malignant hypertension is a medical emergency and needs to be treated in a hospital, often in an intensive care unit. The doctor will consider your symptoms and overall health when deciding what treatment plan is best for you. The goal of treatment is to carefully lower your blood pressure within a matter of minutes.
You will receive blood pressure medicines through an IV, which is the quickest way to treat extremely high blood pressure. Once blood pressure is at a safe level, the medications may be switched to oral forms. If you develop kidney failure, you may need kidney dialysis,
Should I worry if my diastolic is high?
What does it mean if my diastolic blood pressure is high? – When your diastolic blood pressure is over 90mm Hg, it’s often called ‘diastolic hypertension.’ 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.
- High diastolic blood pressure has been associated with a few conditions, including: Abdominal aortic aneurysm High diastolic blood pressure has been associated with a higher risk of conditions that involve the aorta (the large artery) that carries oxygen and blood from your heart to your chest and abdomen.
For instance, individuals with an elevated diastolic blood pressure reading were more susceptible to developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm.⁹ This is an abnormal enlargement of your aorta and can result in rupture and risk of death. Cognitive impairment Several studies show that elevated diastolic blood pressure seems to be linked with memory deficits or cognitive impairment in individuals aged 45 or older.
- For every 10-point increase above 90mm Hg, it increases the risk of cognition issues by 7%.¹⁰ While there isn’t an established causal relationship, treating or preventing high blood pressure may prevent cognitive impairment.
- Stroke and brain issues A diastolic blood pressure of 100mm Hg or above is linked with a substantial rate of strokes.¹ High blood pressure can lead to your arteries becoming blocked or bursting, causing a stroke,
During a stroke, brain cells die due to a lack of oxygen. A stroke can lead to severe disabilities in movement, speech, and other basic activities, and it can also kill you. Chronic kidney disease Adults with high blood pressure, diabetes, or both have a greater risk of chronic kidney disease than individuals without these conditions.¹
Can drinking water lower diastolic?
By American Heart Association News Please note: This article was published more than two years ago, so some information may be outdated. If you have questions about your health, always contact a health care professional. (kimberlywood, Getty Images) If you have high blood pressure, chances are you’ve been told to cut back on salt. You might even be taking medication. These are good strategies, as nearly half of all adults in the United States work to keep hypertension at bay.
What if there were an easier way to make sure nearly everyone took at least one small step toward reducing their blood pressure – every time they drank a glass of water? A new study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggests adding calcium and magnesium to drinking water potentially could help lower blood pressure levels across the population.
The strategy stems from research that looked at the impact of drinking water sources on the health of people in an area of coastal Bangladesh affected by seawater intrusion. The residents relied upon pond water or groundwater as their main water source.
The study compared blood pressure levels among people who drank salinated water with those who drank freshwater. Even though sodium is known to increase blood pressure levels, study participants who drank the salinated water had lower blood pressure. That wasn’t because of the sodium, the researchers believe, but rather because of two other minerals in the water – calcium and magnesium.
“Calcium and magnesium are protective; they decrease blood pressure,” said Abu Mohammed Naser, a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta and lead author of the study. “What we suspect is happening is that they outweigh the harmful effects of sodium on blood pressure.” That’s good news for people in Bangladesh, who lack alternative sources of drinking water, unlike people in more developed countries, where treatment plants desalinate contaminated groundwater.
But the findings also could have implications for any population struggling to reduce hypertension, which is the leading preventable cause of premature death worldwide, affecting more than 1.3 billion people globally and 116.4 million Americans. The analysis pooled data from two studies following participants in several communities in coastal Bangladesh, during both dry and monsoon seasons when the amount of salinity in the water fluctuated.
It found those who drank mildly salinated water had average systolic blood pressure levels 1.55 mmHg lower than those who drank freshwater. Their average diastolic blood pressure levels were 1.26 mmHg lower. Systolic is the top number in the blood pressure measurement and diastolic is the bottom number.
By testing urine samples, researchers determined those with lower blood pressure also had higher levels of calcium and magnesium in their system, which they attributed to drinking the salinated water. The reduction in blood pressure was small but significant, and worthy of further exploration, said Dr.
Robert M. Carey, a professor of medicine at the University of Virginia who wasn’t involved in the new study. He helped write the most recent blood pressure guidelines for the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. “I think it’s pretty clear from many different studies that a small reduction in blood pressure, done consistently, can have a major impact in reducing cardiovascular disease and stroke,” he said.
Carey cautioned the Bangladesh results would need to be replicated in a clinical setting to confirm that drinking water fortified with calcium and magnesium was instrumental in lowering blood pressure. If those results are confirmed, “you would be able to impact blood pressure levels in the average population,” he said.
“That’s different from the approach we have taken historically, where we wait until someone becomes hypertensive and then we introduce lifestyle modifications, and then add drug therapy to help individuals lower their blood pressure. I think we need to do both.” Numerous studies have shown both calcium and magnesium are important for maintaining good blood pressure.
The use of vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent chronic diseases is not recommended, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In fact, the AHA recommends people get their vitamins and minerals directly from a nutrition-packed diet. But most Americans fail to get the recommended daily allowance through the foods they eat.
Naser said this is partly because people aren’t eating enough foods rich in these minerals. But he also attributes it to lower levels of nutrients overall in the soil from over-farming and climate change-influenced rainfall patterns. Adding these minerals to drinking water could be an effective way of counteracting some of that, Naser said.
Can a high diastolic be reversed?
What is diastolic hypertension? – Diastolic hypertension, where only your diastolic blood pressure is elevated, may be treated with lifestyle changes such as weight loss, reducing your sodium intake or alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking. In a blood pressure reading, the number on top represents your systolic blood pressure, which is the force exerted by your heart when it contracts.
The number on the bottom represents your diastolic blood pressure, which is the force exerted on your arteries when your heart relaxes and fills with blood. Elevated systolic or diastolic pressure is called hypertension or high blood pressure, When only the diastolic pressure is elevated, the condition is called isolated diastolic hypertension,
The condition may be a normal consequence of aging or seen in some diseases, such as diabetes mellitus,
What is an alarming diastolic number?
Elevated blood pressure is systolic of 120 to 129 and diastolic less than 80. Stage 1 high blood pressure is when systolic is 130 to 139 or diastolic is 80 to 89. Stage 2 high blood pressure is when systolic is 140 or higher or diastolic is 90 or higher.
What if only my diastolic is high?
People with an elevated diastolic reading are more prone to develop an abdominal aortic aneurysm (ballooning in the lining of the aorta). A high diastolic reading (equal to or greater than 120 mmHg) is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular problems.
- 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).
The problem with such ballooning is that it ruptures and causes a high risk of death. Diastolic pressure is the pressure that the blood column puts on the arteries between beats when the heart is relaxed.
Is diastolic of 100 an emergency?
High diastolic blood pressure: Causes & Treatment – Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries when the heart muscle relaxes between beats. When the bottom number of blood pressure (diastole) is over 100 mmHg, it may be called diastolic hypertension (DHT). When the bottom number of blood pressure (diastole) is over 100 mmHg, it may be called diastolic hypertension (DHT).
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries when the heart muscle relaxes between beats. A high diastolic reading has been linked to a higher risk of diseases involving the large artery called the aorta that carries blood and oxygen from the heart to the abdomen and chest. People with an elevated diastolic reading were more prone to developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm, an enlargement of the aorta that may have serious consequences. The problem with such an enlargement is that it can lead to rupture and a high risk of death. Few studies and researchers have reported that elevated DBP appears to be associated with cognitive impairment (memory deficit) in people who are 45 years and older. Each 10-point increase over 90 mmHg was associated with a 7 percent higher risk of problems with cognition as per studies conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Although a causal relationship could not be established, it’s possible that by preventing or treating high blood pressure, we could potentially prevent cognitive impairment. Diastolic pressure of more than 100 mmHg (DHT) is associated with a significant incidence of strokes,
Causes of DHT DHT is most commonly associated with
Increased body mass index ( obesity ) Increased glucose level Increased alcohol consumption High triglyceride levels Family history of hypertension Previous cardiovascular events Certain factors such as the male gender may put you at a slightly higher risk.
Treatment options for DHT
Because the risk of cardiovascular events is low in young people, no treatment is required. However, treatment in elderly people should be individualized in such a way that the underlying cardiovascular disease is addressed and the target DBP does not fall below 70 mmHg. Lifestyle measures and weight loss must be initiated. A study on DHT reported that calcium channel blockers are frequently used with success. Other drugs of choice are angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and diuretics.
Can stress cause high diastolic blood pressure?
Abstract – Research indicates that individuals may experience a rise (positive responders) or fall (negative responders) in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during mental stress. The aim was to examine the early blood pressure response to stress in positive and negative responders and thus its influence on the direction of change in MSNA.
Blood pressure and MSNA were recorded continuously in 21 healthy young males during 2 min mental stressors (mental arithmetic, Stroop test) and physical stressors (cold pressor, handgrip exercise, post‐exercise ischaemia). Participants were classified as negative or positive responders according to the direction of the mean change in MSNA during the stressor tasks.
The peak changes, time of peak and rate of changes in blood pressure were compared between groups. During mental arithmetic negative responders experienced a significantly greater rate of rise in diastolic blood pressure in the first minute of the task (1.3 ± 0.5 mmHg s −1 ) compared with positive responders (0.4 ± 0.1 mmHg s −1 ; P = 0.03).
Similar results were found for the Stroop test. Physical tasks elicited robust parallel increases in blood pressure and MSNA across participants. It is concluded that 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. This study suggests that whether MSNA has a role in the pressor response is dependent upon the reactivity of blood pressure early in the task.
What is the danger range for diastolic?
What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
Blood Pressure Levels | |
---|---|
Normal | systolic: less than 120 mm Hg diastolic: less than 80 mm Hg |
At Risk (prehypertension) | systolic: 120–139 mm Hg diastolic: 80–89 mm Hg |
High Blood Pressure (hypertension) | systolic: 140 mm Hg or higher diastolic: 90 mm Hg or higher |
Does 140 90 require medication?
Has your blood pressure been creeping up? If so, you may be at decision time: Do you need medicine right now or can you get those numbers down with healthier habits? There isn’t always a clear answer. A lot depends on how high your blood pressure is and your general health.
Your age also plays a role. Learn how you and your doctor can figure out when lifestyle changes are enough and when they need to pull out the prescription pad. The first step is to look at your numbers. Blood pressure is always shown with a top and bottom number – like 130/90. The top number tells you the pressure when your heart squeezes.
The bottom number lets you know when your heart relaxes Normal blood pressure is less than 120 and less than 80. If one or both of those numbers is higher, there’s too much pressure in your arteries, It’s like a tire pumped with too much air. Over time, the extra pressure can cause damage – and raise your chances of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease,
- So on the blood pressure range, where do your numbers fall? Your blood pressure is higher than you want, but it’s not full-on high blood pressure,
- Unless you also have another health condition – like kidney disease or heart problems – your doctor will likely say you don’t need drugs for now.
- But don’t ignore it.
You’re on the path to high blood pressure, so make some changes to your lifestyle. Cut down on salt and alcohol, get more exercise, and drop pounds if you’re overweight, These numbers qualify as high blood pressure and you need to take action. But your doctor will probably suggest that you try out lifestyle changes first before adding drugs – unless you have other health problems.
One thing to keep in mind: Guidelines are different for older people. If you’re 60 or older, the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend you start treatment if your top blood pressure number is 130 or higher. At this level, your doctor is likely to prescribe medicine now to get your blood pressure under control.
At the same time, you’ll also need to make lifestyle changes. If you ever have blood pressure that’s 180/120 or above, it’s an emergency. You need medical help right away to get it under control. While your numbers are important, they don’t tell the whole story.
Other things affect the decision to take meds. Some issues to think about: Do you definitely have high blood pressure ? One high reading isn’t enough to know. Your doctor will want to check your blood pressure a few more times – over weeks or months – to make sure. Have you checked your blood pressure at home, or only in the doctor’s office? If you don’t already have one, it’s a good idea to get a home blood pressure monitor,
Lots of people have high blood pressure in the doctor’s office because they’re nervous. If your home readings are normal, your doctor may decide you don’t really need treatment. Have you already tried lifestyle changes – and your blood pressure is still high? If your blood pressure is still too high after 3 months of healthier habits, your doctor is likely to suggest medicine.
- Do you also have other health conditions? High blood pressure raises your chances of getting a heart attack or stroke,
- If you have other medical problems – like high cholesterol, diabetes, or heart disease – your doctor will be quicker to recommend medication.
- Do you have other reasons your chances of heart attacks or strokes are higher? For example, are you African-American? Are you a man? Do you have a family history of heart attacks or strokes at young ages? Are you overweight ? Do you smoke? Each one of these raises your odds of heart disease,
The more of these situations you have, the more likely your doctor will prescribe high blood pressure medicine. How old are you? While your odds of heart disease go up as you age, the risks of side effects from blood pressure medications – like dizziness and falls – can also get more serious.
- You need to weigh the benefits and risks.
- If you’re age 80 or older and you have high blood pressure, your doctor may hold off on medication to protect you from side effects.
- What do you want to do? Your opinion matters.
- Some people choose to take medicine because they’re concerned about the risk of heart attacks and stroke,
Others don’t like the idea of going on daily medication or worry about the side effects. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons, and be open about how you feel. Remember, high blood pressure has no symptoms. So the only way to know if it’s high – or getting higher – is to check it regularly.
Is 120 over 93 a good blood pressure?
Fluids and salt – Dehydration – when the water and salt content of your body is reduced – can cause low blood pressure. Increasing your fluid and salt intake can easily treat this. Ensuring that you drink enough fluid – at least eight glasses a day – will help with hypotension.
This is because more fluids will increase the volume of your blood, and having more blood in your arteries will increase your blood pressure. While people who have high blood pressure are usually advised to restrict their salt intake, if you have low blood pressure, you may be advised to include more salt in your diet.
Your GP will be able to advise you about how much additional salt you need, and whether you can add salt to your usual food, or if you need to take salt tablets.
Is diastolic 93 normal?
A Look At The Guidelines – Previous guidelines defined high blood pressure, or Stage 1 hypertension, as greater than 140/90. Under the current guidelines:
Normal: Less than 120/80 Elevated: Systolic between 120-129 and diastolic less than 80 High blood pressure (hypertension) Stage 1: Systolic between 130-139 or diastolic between 80-89 High blood pressure Stage 2 : Systolic 140 or higher or diastolic 90 or higher Hypertensive crisis (consult your doctor immediately): Systolic higher than 180 and/or diastolic higher than 120
The hope is that most people who now have high blood pressure will make lifestyle changes rather than take medication. Medication is only recommended for people with Stage 1 hypertension who have certain additional risk factors, including diabetes, kidney disease, or having already had a heart attack or stroke,
At what diastolic should I go to hospital?
When to go to the ER for high blood pressure: – “The American Heart Association states that a reading of 180/110 or greater requires immediate medical attention. If you take this reading two times in a row, five minutes apart, then you must head to the nearest ER,” says Dr. Meier.
Can drinking lots of water lower blood pressure?
What to know about drinking water for high blood pressure – If you struggle with high blood pressure, the chances are that you have been looking for ways to lower it. There’s no single solution to lowering your blood pressure, nor is there a cure. Still, you can make lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down,
- Something as simple as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day improves blood pressure.
- Water makes up 73% of the human heart,¹ so no other liquid is better at controlling blood pressure.
- Studies show that adding minerals like calcium and magnesium to your drinking water can further enhance its impact on lowering blood pressure.
If you find it hard to drink enough water, consider trying:
Sugar-free sparkling water Water infused with lemon, cucumber, or fruit slices Smoothies made with vegetables and fruits Decaffeinated herbal tea Low-sodium soup Milk
Which is worse high diastolic or?
On call – Image: © DaddyBit/Getty Images Q. When I am monitoring my blood pressure, which number is most important — top, bottom, or both? A. While both numbers in a blood pressure reading are essential for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure, doctors primarily focus on the top number, also known as systolic pressure.
Systolic pressure reflects the force produced by the heart when it pumps blood out to the body, while diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) is the pressure in your blood vessels when the heart is at rest. 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. That’s especially true in people ages 50 and older, which is why doctors tend to monitor the top number more closely.
- The reason for the difference in risk may be related to the force put on the arteries when blood rushes out of the heart.
- The American Heart Association now defines high blood pressure as 130/80 mm Hg or higher.
- The new guidelines recommend you check your blood pressure often, ideally with a home monitor, to help your doctor determine if you need to make lifestyle changes, begin medication, or alter your current therapy.
— by Howard LeWine, M.D. Editor in Chief, Harvard Men’s Health Watch As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Can dehydration cause high diastolic?
Dehydration and High Blood Pressure – High blood pressure refers to a systolic blood pressure above 130mmHg and diastolic blood pressure above 80mmHg. Studies have shown that dehydration can cause an increase in blood pressure, and a study conducted in rats recurrent dehydration can worsen hypertension,
When you’re dehydrated, your blood has a higher concentration of sodium, and in response, the brain sends signals to the pituitary gland to secrete vasopressin. Vasopressin, also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH), plays a crucial role in the body’s osmotic balance, blood pressure regulation, sodium regulation, and kidney functioning.
Vasopressin tells your kidneys to reabsorb more water and when released in high enough concentrations, vasopressin causes vasoconstriction, which leads to an increase in blood pressure. If you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, do your best to stay consistently hydrated to avoid spikes in blood pressure.
Can drinking water lower diastolic?
By American Heart Association News Please note: This article was published more than two years ago, so some information may be outdated. If you have questions about your health, always contact a health care professional. (kimberlywood, Getty Images) If you have high blood pressure, chances are you’ve been told to cut back on salt. You might even be taking medication. These are good strategies, as nearly half of all adults in the United States work to keep hypertension at bay.
What if there were an easier way to make sure nearly everyone took at least one small step toward reducing their blood pressure – every time they drank a glass of water? A new study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggests adding calcium and magnesium to drinking water potentially could help lower blood pressure levels across the population.
The strategy stems from research that looked at the impact of drinking water sources on the health of people in an area of coastal Bangladesh affected by seawater intrusion. The residents relied upon pond water or groundwater as their main water source.
- The study compared blood pressure levels among people who drank salinated water with those who drank freshwater.
- Even though sodium is known to increase blood pressure levels, study participants who drank the salinated water had lower blood pressure.
- That wasn’t because of the sodium, the researchers believe, but rather because of two other minerals in the water – calcium and magnesium.
“Calcium and magnesium are protective; they decrease blood pressure,” said Abu Mohammed Naser, a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta and lead author of the study. “What we suspect is happening is that they outweigh the harmful effects of sodium on blood pressure.” That’s good news for people in Bangladesh, who lack alternative sources of drinking water, unlike people in more developed countries, where treatment plants desalinate contaminated groundwater.
But the findings also could have implications for any population struggling to reduce hypertension, which is the leading preventable cause of premature death worldwide, affecting more than 1.3 billion people globally and 116.4 million Americans. The analysis pooled data from two studies following participants in several communities in coastal Bangladesh, during both dry and monsoon seasons when the amount of salinity in the water fluctuated.
It found those who drank mildly salinated water had average systolic blood pressure levels 1.55 mmHg lower than those who drank freshwater. Their average diastolic blood pressure levels were 1.26 mmHg lower. Systolic is the top number in the blood pressure measurement and diastolic is the bottom number.
- By testing urine samples, researchers determined those with lower blood pressure also had higher levels of calcium and magnesium in their system, which they attributed to drinking the salinated water.
- The reduction in blood pressure was small but significant, and worthy of further exploration, said Dr.
Robert M. Carey, a professor of medicine at the University of Virginia who wasn’t involved in the new study. He helped write the most recent blood pressure guidelines for the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. “I think it’s pretty clear from many different studies that a small reduction in blood pressure, done consistently, can have a major impact in reducing cardiovascular disease and stroke,” he said.
- Carey cautioned the Bangladesh results would need to be replicated in a clinical setting to confirm that drinking water fortified with calcium and magnesium was instrumental in lowering blood pressure.
- If those results are confirmed, “you would be able to impact blood pressure levels in the average population,” he said.
“That’s different from the approach we have taken historically, where we wait until someone becomes hypertensive and then we introduce lifestyle modifications, and then add drug therapy to help individuals lower their blood pressure. I think we need to do both.” Numerous studies have shown both calcium and magnesium are important for maintaining good blood pressure.
- The use of vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent chronic diseases is not recommended, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
- In fact, the AHA recommends people get their vitamins and minerals directly from a nutrition-packed diet.
- But most Americans fail to get the recommended daily allowance through the foods they eat.
Naser said this is partly because people aren’t eating enough foods rich in these minerals. But he also attributes it to lower levels of nutrients overall in the soil from over-farming and climate change-influenced rainfall patterns. Adding these minerals to drinking water could be an effective way of counteracting some of that, Naser said.
What is an alarming diastolic number?
Elevated blood pressure is systolic of 120 to 129 and diastolic less than 80. Stage 1 high blood pressure is when systolic is 130 to 139 or diastolic is 80 to 89. Stage 2 high blood pressure is when systolic is 140 or higher or diastolic is 90 or higher.
Does drinking water help diastolic blood pressure?
What to know about drinking water for high blood pressure – If you struggle with high blood pressure, the chances are that you have been looking for ways to lower it. There’s no single solution to lowering your blood pressure, nor is there a cure. Still, you can make lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down,
Something as simple as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day improves blood pressure. Water makes up 73% of the human heart,¹ so no other liquid is better at controlling blood pressure. Studies show that adding minerals like calcium and magnesium to your drinking water can further enhance its impact on lowering blood pressure.
If you find it hard to drink enough water, consider trying:
Sugar-free sparkling water Water infused with lemon, cucumber, or fruit slices Smoothies made with vegetables and fruits Decaffeinated herbal tea Low-sodium soup Milk