You might be aware that a blood pressure reading has two numbers. They are expressed as one over the other, with the top number being higher than the other.
Are they of equal importance or not?
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For starters, let’s take a look at what they are. The “systolic” blood pressure is the top number you see when your blood pressure is read. It measures the pressure inside your arteries when your heart contracts.
The bottom number is called the diastolic. It is always the lower number because it measures the pressure in arteries in the resting period between heartbeats.
Both are important. However, systolic pressure receives far more attention. It has for some time.
High blood pressure occurs when systolic blood pressure is 130 or higher and diastolic is 80 or higher. However, past research has typically shown that higher diastolic blood pressure is more closely linked to stroke or other cardiac events.
In some people, particularly older people, high systolic blood pressure is more likely. This is because arteries tend to become less elastic and accommodating to larger surges of blood. Because there is less space to pass through, systolic blood pressure goes up, while diastolic may remain the same or even go down.
A 2019 study, however, suggested that diastolic blood pressure may not have as big of a role in cardiac outcomes compared to systolic, if it does affect risk independently of systolic pressure.
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Put simply, it is worth paying attention to both.
If you check your blood pressure at home, pay attention to both numbers. And, of course, make sure you’re following the directions to get accurate readings.
About eight years ago, Mat Lecompte had an epiphany. He’d been ignoring his health and suddenly realized he needed to do something about it. Since then, through hard work, determination and plenty of education, he has transformed his life. He’s changed his body composition by learning the ins and outs of nutrition, exercise, and fitness and wants to share his knowledge with you. Starting as a journalist over 10 years ago, Mat has not only honed his belief system and approach with practical experience, but he has also worked closely with nutritionists, dieticians, athletes, and fitness professionals. He embraces natural healing methods and believes that diet, exercise and willpower are the foundation of a healthy, happy, and drug-free existence.
