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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: High Blood Pressure Question
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Re: High Blood Pressure Question
by CCF CARDIO MD DLB, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on October 09, 1998 at 18:35:34:
In Reply to: High Blood Pressure Question posted by Dee on October 08, 1998 at 20:04:15:
Hi Doctor,
I am a 59 yr old female-and have been on 20 mg of Zestrol for several years. Sometimes, my bp is good and other times it fluctuates. Latetly, it has been doing something different-specifically, the Systolic number has been
running fairly normal for me-138 to 150. It is the Diastolic one that has me puzzled, as it has been running higher-96 to 121. Example, it was 142/121.
My question is, why would the diastolic be high and the systolic be fairly normal. I understand the diastolic is the heartbeat at rest, could you elaborate on this for me a little? I don't know of a specific reason for my BP problems, as have general good health. I am 5' 5 1/2" tall, average abt 150 lbs., do have the one determent of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.
Normally if my BP is up-both numbers are up. Someone told me also, that the closer the two numbers are together, the more risk of stroke, my Dr. says he has never heard of that. Both of my parents died of anyuerisms-Mother's in head, age 65 and Father's in stomach, age 74 plus my father had a Myocardal infarction at age 58. I have had the MRA of the head, and no problems. So my main question is what makes the diastolic BP higher than the systolic. Thank you so much for any help, Dee
Dear Dee
You should stop smoking. It is a risk factor for stroke (among other things).
A small difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is not a risk factor for stroke; a very wide difference can be a risk for stroke in certain settings. Elevated systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke.
Some people have elevations of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure; some have elevation of only one. The bottom line is that all elevations need to be treated.
The systolic blood pressure is higher than the diastolic pressure because of the energy delivered to the blood vessels with each heartbeat.
The blood pressure of 142/121 is quite unusual. Where was this measurement taken and by whom? I wonder if it were an automated cuff or the wrong size cuff.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
In Reply to: High Blood Pressure Question posted by Dee on October 08, 1998 at 20:04:15:
Hi Doctor,
I am a 59 yr old female-and have been on 20 mg of Zestrol for several years. Sometimes, my bp is good and other times it fluctuates. Latetly, it has been doing something different-specifically, the Systolic number has been
running fairly normal for me-138 to 150. It is the Diastolic one that has me puzzled, as it has been running higher-96 to 121. Example, it was 142/121.
My question is, why would the diastolic be high and the systolic be fairly normal. I understand the diastolic is the heartbeat at rest, could you elaborate on this for me a little? I don't know of a specific reason for my BP problems, as have general good health. I am 5' 5 1/2" tall, average abt 150 lbs., do have the one determent of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.
Normally if my BP is up-both numbers are up. Someone told me also, that the closer the two numbers are together, the more risk of stroke, my Dr. says he has never heard of that. Both of my parents died of anyuerisms-Mother's in head, age 65 and Father's in stomach, age 74 plus my father had a Myocardal infarction at age 58. I have had the MRA of the head, and no problems. So my main question is what makes the diastolic BP higher than the systolic. Thank you so much for any help, Dee
Dear Dee
You should stop smoking. It is a risk factor for stroke (among other things).
A small difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is not a risk factor for stroke; a very wide difference can be a risk for stroke in certain settings. Elevated systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke.
Some people have elevations of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure; some have elevation of only one. The bottom line is that all elevations need to be treated.
The systolic blood pressure is higher than the diastolic pressure because of the energy delivered to the blood vessels with each heartbeat.
The blood pressure of 142/121 is quite unusual. Where was this measurement taken and by whom? I wonder if it were an automated cuff or the wrong size cuff.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
