Q: We were recently informed at the local hospital that it’s the diastolic measure that indicates hypertension, not so much the systolic. I have never heard this before. Is this true?
A: This is no longer felt to be true. At one time doctors just looked at diastolic pressure. Now we know both numbers are important. It is possible to have just an elevated systolic pressure with a normal diastolic pressure. This is known as systolic hypertension. It should be treated at consistent readings above 139. It is more common in the older population.
(30 votes, average: 4.03 out of 5)
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The literature says that the diastolic should go up with the systolic–if it doesn’t, there is a problem. It is really hard to make sense out of all of these ideas–each doctor with a different idea regarding blood and even how to take blood pressure. My blood pressure at my cardiac rehab lab was always under 120–usually 110, yet when I go to my doctor, my systolic pressure is high–the diastolic remains low. With my pulse running between 40 and 65, the cardiologist keeps raising the amount of blood pressure medicine I take. He won’t believe my figures that I get from taking my own blood pressure. I am 77 years old–I think a blood pressure of 125/60/55–55 is pulse is miraculous at my age.
My understanding is that the diastolic does go up with the systolic–except when you get older. As people get older their diastolic actually starts dropping while their systolic continues to go up as they age. That’s why pulse pressure–the difference between the 2 numbers tends to be higher in older individuals.
Yes Peggy dear,you are right,but sometimes doctors know your condition,better than you know yourself,especially,if the doctor is seeing you from more than a decade.My blood Pressure was 120/70 with 72 pulse,then it strated rising after i took warferin,blood thinner,as i had PE:Pulmonary embolism.then ,Beta blockers were given to me,as to control my blood pressure,as it was fluctuating now,168/102,pulse 100,then it will go down 116/70,pulse 65.Ow i said,that doesnt look good,but our blood pressure rises and falls,as we eat or drink,certain foods,or move or not move,ie dont do exercise,but depends on many factors too,so my tabs were increased,mind you i am only 65yrs old,my hubby 77yrs old and he is on four different types of Bp tabs.Tell you ,humans are living longer,because,doctors know,how to look after their patients,better than before.thank God for the good doctors and all the hard work they put in to look after the patients…..so listen to your doctor…BELIEVE ME!Sometimes,we patients tend to know better,yet doctors spend hours of research,seeing different patients,they know ,what they are doing.
I have the same issue @ 62yrs old.
……….the systolic keeps going up & my diastolic remains around 60-65 with a low pulse. My readings can range from 170/60 down to 100/60………My mother (90y) had the same issue & they placed her on a pacemaker. I have a leaky valve & fibromyalgia. It’s a tough call. Everybody’s heart is a different issue to deal with
my doc told me that because i have exercised religiously over the years that because my upper number is around 124 – 134 and lower number always around 75 that it is not that much of a concern although i have to watch it. said athletes may have a higher number. ???
If this is so, it explains a lot for me. Because I am 64 and a woman perhaps they don’t think it is possible I am an athlete. They never ask! I’ve been so confused by what to do with results much like DJ talks about.
Yes, I can relate to that Toni Clark. Once you are past 60 they think you are over the hill and watch TV all day. They do ask me what I am doing, but generally I get the feeling they don’t believe me. Many of us are fitter than the doctor who is treating us. I also think older women are taken less serious than men and if you happen to be retired at the same time they think you are stupid. Don’t panic. You know your body best. Go to the doctor when you are ill and not to find out whether you are ill. Many doctors treat numbers and not the patient.
Well said, Marmotte.
So true, Marmotte!
that’s right…………they kick women to the curb & just tell you “You are just getting old”!!! I went for a 2nd opinion for the treatment of my HBP with a WOMAN doctor and got a much thorough exam & testing I got from my 2 males, the primary and cardiologist!! I concurred with her as to exactly what was going on with my body. 😉
Thank you Marmotte,I couldn’t have put it better myself. I believe more and more people are getting discusted with doctors and are taking their health concerns in their own hands. The doctors would have killed me if I had kept doing what they said. I had “white coat hypertention’ and the doctors had a field day with overmedicating me with HBP drugs. The drugs caused insomia,and depression,anxiety and the doctors gave me more drugs for this. They had me suicidal and if I hadn’t took matters into my own hands I wouldn’t be here today. I slowly came off 75% of the drugs they had me on. I am now working to get off the Channel Blockers. I am in the process of writing a book titled “What Some Hardin County Doctors Did To Me.”
With a morning resting pulse rate of between 48 and 53 a cardiologist put me on a Beta Blocker, telling me to “come back in six weeks’ time, for a check-up”. The following day after taking the medication I did not feel well at all. Thinking a 6 mile brisk walk would do me good I went for a walk. I felt really lousy after the walk, my pulse rate after the walk was 50, BP sky-high!!! It was a Sunday, the cardiologist not in his rooms, of course, and in desperation I rang a relative who is a doctor. He said: “Stop this medication immediately. In six weeks’ time you’ll be six feet under!” I stopped the Beta Blocker and my (home-measured BP) stayed around 140/90, sometimes a bit lower. I did see the cardiologist again, told him about the low pulse rate and he replied: “Well, it may have been a bit too strong for you then! I give you something else.” I rang the relative to inquire about that particular drug. Guess what? It was a beta-blocker with another name. I had told the cardiologist about my low pulse rate. The lowest during the night was 42 when I was wearing a halter monitor. Why in the world did the cardiologist not believe me? I am convinced had I had a heart-attack caused by the beta-blocker the doctors would have said it was caused by high blood pressure, and my family would have believed them, because ‘high blood pressure is the silent killer.’
I am petrified of drugs now, although I too believe there may be times when they are needed. But, I now question that when everything else is normal, i.e. low cholesterol, low triglycerides, otherwise fit and healthy and not overweight, whether drugs are really the best option when BP is borderline.
I am almost 62. What I do when I go to the doctor is I wear my cutoff shirt and workout pants. I am a very muscular (with 13% bodyfat) person at this age, and I am proud of it. My former doctor used to be always concerned about my higher blood pressure when I would go to the doctor’s office and was always ready to prescribe blood pressure medications. My current doctor lets me keep a record of blood pressure readings at home and knows all about the white coat syndrome, so she says I am OK.
so Ric,
what is your typical pressure at the doc versus taken at home. i take mine 3 x’s / day at least. average at home is 125 / 74 yesterday. so far today 132 / 75 although this morning i played 2 hours of bball which raises the numbers a little. goes down later in day. hot tip- i have been eating celery everyday and the pressure has lowered over the last 2 weeks. placebo effect??
Hey, Jerry, let me know the result of your efforts to get off the channel blockers. I have tried, several times over the years, and with different doctors, to get off the channel blockers, but have had no luck. And I went on a brown-rice fast for 2 weeks, lost some weight but had little effect on my BP. All I can do is keep exercising daily. I have edema in my lower legs that I know is caused by the channel blockers, because when I was once off them for two weeks, with a different medicine, my feet and legs made me feel 20 years younger, but alas, my BP went through the roof. So here I am, still looking for better alternatives than the poison pills I have to take for my symptoms. Good luck!
have the doctor change the water pills you are on for edema……….I had mine changed and it made a world of difference. ALSO I am taking the same dosage for BP med , but we split into taking a lower dose twice a day and that made a difference also.
I’ve tried alternative dr’s. Naturpath, accupuncturist, hypnotist, chiropractor. The hypnotist has been able to lower my bp for an operation. Is hbp as dangerous as I am led to believe? Is it the drug companies? Is this why I am confused. I’m trying a new md. She seems to care and is through.
Dona….that is why they call HBP the “silent killer”
I am a small female , eat well , 120 lbs , walk 3miles( in half an hour )5 days per week weight train 3 days per week ,yet for the past 10 years i have been experiencing really high blood pressure , which started out at 274/147 , i have tried every kind of natural methods of lowering my pressure , just like Dona , even tried Biofeedback , but nothing was successful in except for the doctor prescribed medicine !! i so want to get off these pills though ! why ? you might ask ; because i just attended the funeral of my x , who was also hypertensive and taking the medication , yet he died of heart disease , he was only 57 !!
I am not a doctor but I think your BP is what would be called ‘malignant hypertension’. Do you know the Dr McDougall program? In your situation I would not try to do anything without doctor’s advice, though, but you may want to look up Dr McDougall’s website and see whether this may suit you. At least give it a try. You may not be able to get off medication all together, but may be able to reduce them. I am trying to psych myself up to make a 24-hour journey to California to attend a clinic, just out of interest!
Aggressive nutritional intervention works. I’d highly recommend the books “Eat to Live” or “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease” I had HBP and 3 months after starting this my BP now averages 115/60. No drugs required.
I too have white coat and I do not want to take meds everytime I go to a clinic they right away want to put me on meds…I truly believe excercise and eating right is the key…any other suggestions and I don’t get headaches
just because you do not have headaches does not mean you don’t have High blood pressure. is your triglcerides & cholesterol high? some people think just because they are skinny or have no headaches they cannot keel over with a heart attack and die. Physically fit people die every day and those who “eat” healthy……….get all your numbers & weigh the factors
Headaches are one of the primary symptoms of hypertension. Also nosebleeds, hearing your pounding in your ears and blurred vision in some cases. But then again, many times hypertension has no symptoms.
I read the whole stories of the HBP sufferers , with very good suggestions an advices too; keep on going with the normal good foods, exercises,sound sleep and minimal medicine when necessarily required. But, which
remember the death is inevitable at any age, health,wealth & riches, which is not known to us. So keep going with out fear & syndromes and take care with all the precautions necessary. I’m 68yrs. my BP at home remains b/w 120-140/75-80 in different times of the day but whenever I visit my doc it alters to higher side I’m not taking any medicine. I don’t know how far I’m right.
I was on Benicar HCT and spirinolactone. My Bun readings went way up I asked the Dr. to give me a prescription for the Benicar with out the HCT. the spirinolactone was also cut in half. I still have swollen feet and ankles and the side effect of not sleeping and gaining weight in the process. Tests should a strong heart but two small blockages. No stents required. What do i do about the side effects. No Chol. meds are taken, due to severe cramping, and weakness. Thank you