What Causes High Difference In Diastolic And Systolic Blood Pressure?

Posted on Sat, 28 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 28 Feb 2015 Answered on

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My blood pressure is 170/ 60 and pulse rate is 45. is there any significance in the high difference in Systolic and Diastolic presures

Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Reducing systolic pressure is important than diastolic

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
High systolic pressure ( above 140) and normal diastolic blood pressure ( below 90) is known as isolated systolic hypertension.
Treatment remains the same as person having both systolic and diastolic high pressures.
The systolic pressure is very important in assessing the influence of arterial pressure on cardiovascular mortality.
Specially, in persons above the age of 50 years,high systolic pressure with normal diastolic pressure carries 2.5 times more risk to develop cardiovascular events as compared to persons having high diastolic pressure.
So,ultimately it is important to reduce your systolic pressure below 130 mmHg in order to reduce to risk of cardiovascular mortality irrespective of your diastolic pressure.Here there is no issue that you are having normal diastolic blood pressure.
You can more discuss with your treating cardiologist.
I think you got my point.
If still any confusion than do ask me .
Regards,
Dr.sandipkabra

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E