Extreme high pulse pressure at 24?

I started to monitor my blood pressure 6 months ago for health reasons.  High blood pressure runs in the family.  I had high blood pressure with a high pulse pressure at the time.  It was usually 150-160/50-60.  I quit smoking, started to exercise, and cut down on drinking alcohol.  Yesterday I measured my blood pressure and It gave me readings of 116-130/35-45.  My pulse pressure is still extrememly high!  The diastolic pressure looks extremely dangerous to me.  Should I worry about the diastolic pressure being that low.  I have read online that this is more normal for people in there 50's but I am only 24!   I also seem to have a lower beats per minet than most people.  I think my resting is usually around 50 bpm.

[kenkeith]

The diastolic is quite low!  Doctors like to see the low diastolic, but too low cause one to pass out.  The tag on pulse pressure may be of interest to you as your pulse rate is greater than 60 consistently.  Pulse rate is systolic minus diastolic.

[ed34]

Here is a helpful chart to look at for blood pressure....

http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/medicine/blood-pressure.htm

Are you on any medication at the moment?

[ed34]

"Pulse rate is systolic minus diastolic"

Do you have any resources for this? because I think it's totally wrong. Pulse rate cannot be calculated by blood pressure readings at all.

[kilkoy]

I am not on any medication  at the moment.  I am a big guy.  I am 6'2 and 215 pounds.

[kenkeith]

Pulse pressure is systole - diastole the subject of the post.  Sorry to confuse you.

[kenkeith]

There may be some medical significance with pulse pressure relating to the aorta (blood vessel for left ventricle output) or pulmonary edema..For some insight, the pulse pressure is determined by the interaction of the stroke volume of the heart (each heartbeat), compliance (ability to expand) of the aorta, and the resistance to flow in the system arterial complex. By expanding under pressure, the aorta absorbs some of the force of the blood surge from the heart during a heartbeat. In this way the pulse pressure is reduced from what it would be if the aorta wasn't compliant.

Pulse pressure (the difference between systolic blood pressure -- the pressure during contraction of the heart -- and diastolic blood pressure -- the pressure during relaxation of the heart) may be widened, and diastolic blood pressure may be low. There may be signs of pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs.  You are young, but you should get a physical exam to rule out medical problems. Take care.


There is some general information at a thread with thisw forum in the archives: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Disease/diastolic-blood-pressure/show/1020471