Q: My BP was in the 170’s over 120’s and has been reduced with lifestyle changes and lisinopril to low 140’s but over 100-110 still for diastolic. What might cause this? Are the dangers specific to a high diastolic or just the ratio being what it is with systolic and diastolic #s being closer to each other? Is there something specific I can do to improve/reduce the diastolic?
A: Your blood pressure is still not in good control. Both your systolic and diastolic pressure is still high. Normal blood pressure is 139/79 or less. Controlling both numbers is important. A high level of either number increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. The exact cause of high blood pressure is still not known. For more information go to this page at the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute site.
i thought normal BP is 120/80. Why are you saying 139 / 79?
thanks-
I think the answer has more to do with a normal BP range that is below a “pre-hypertensive” state or < 139/79.
got it thanks…..
Because in reality bp is perfectly normal at 140/80 contrary to what big pharma and the medical profession is telling us.
Anneh, what leads you to think that 140/80 is OK? The evidence seems to be saying that once you get into that range there is increased risk of stroke and heart disease.
In your case the drug is doing a good job!
Three other things that likely would help are:
1. Physical stress relief — using the Resparate breathing device for 15 minutes for 4 or 5 days a week works for some people. I prefer 10 minutes of Tai Chi 4 to 7 days a week as it’s faster each day, lowers your blood pressure a bit more, and also burns calories, and improves your leg strength and balance.
2. Go on the DASH II diet and eat even more vegetables and add extra virgin olive oil and delete margarine & most other oils. Also be sure to eliminate soft drinks and packaged snacks and desserts and foods made from refined grains;eat far less sugar or foods that contain it– a few times a month instead of several times each day. This is proven to lower your blood pressure and improve your health in several ways.
3. And, do some strength training AND interval cardio each week. This may well lower your diastolic reading directly. And it will improve your health in many other ways too — as long as you start slow and increase gradually and keep doing it!
To the extent doing those three things helps you to lose fat weight and keep it off — which it likely will!–your diastolic pressure should go down for that reason also.
I prefer Yoga. Is this a good source of exercise?
I have high blood pressure and an aortic anuersym…3 cm. I need exercise to get the BP down but don’t know what I can safely do.