What is a pulse? These are rhythmic jerky displacements of the walls of blood vessels, occurring due to the movement of blood, which is thrown out with the help of the heart.
Significant interest in the study of the pulse was shown by the ancient Indian, Greek, Arab and Chinese doctors. At that time, it was believed that it was possible to prescribe treatment for any disease, make a diagnosis and make a prognosis only by the nature of the pulse. In addition, they found that the pulse depends on age, gender, disease and physique. After the doctrine of the pulse found its basic principles, its further formation, due to the lack of a device that will record pulse waves, went very slowly. And only the introduction of modern methods for fixing the pulse, such as phlebopiezography and arteriopiezography, has greatly expanded and deepened our knowledge in the field of the teaching of the pulse.
Pulse pressure is the difference between diastolic and systolic pressure and is measured in millimeters of mercury. Normally, normal blood pressure (systolic / diastolic) reaches 120/80 mmHg. (mmHg).
Low pulse pressure
Pulse pressure is considered abnormally low if it is less than 25% of the systolic value. The most common cause of low pulse pressure is a left ventricular stroke, as well as some kind of trauma, which is accompanied by significant loss of blood.
If the pulse pressure is extremely low (from 25 mm or less), then the cause may be a small cardiac stroke volume, as in heart failure. In addition, low pulse pressure may also be due to aortic valve stenosis.
High pulse pressure during or after exercise
As a rule, the pulse pressure in healthy adults at rest is about 40 mmHg. This indicator increases with physical activity due to an increase in stroke volume of the heart. Pulse pressure, as a rule, returns to normal within 10 minutes in healthy people. In most people, during small physical exertion, systolic pressure gradually increases, and diastolic pressure remains the same. While some drugs for hypertension have a side effect of increasing diastolic pressure, ACE inhibitors quite successfully fight high pulse pressure. High pulse pressure is very harmful, which helps accelerate the natural aging of internal organs, especially the heart, brain and kidneys. This symptom in combination with bradycardia and irregular, irregular breathing indicates increased intracranial pressure. In this case, it is imperative to consult a doctor.
The main causes of high pulse pressure:
- atherosclerosis;
- arteriovenous fistula;
- chronic failure;
- thyrotoxicosis;
- fever;
- anemia;
- pregnancy;
- anxiety;
- heart block;
- endocarditis;
- increased intracranial pressure.
High pulse pressure is the main symptom of heart disease.
Recent studies show that increased pulse pressure is a very important indicator of the risk of heart disease and the development of atrial fibrillation. If the patient suffers from high pulse pressure, then treatment may include drugs - ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors).
A study conducted in 2005 showed that taking five mg of folic acid daily for 3 weeks would help reduce pulse pressure by 4.7 millimeters of mercury. And scientists concluded that folic acid is a very effective tool that increases the stiffness of arteries, which helps prevent systolic hypertension.