Blood pressure is one of the important indicators characterizing a state of health. Therefore, you need to monitor blood pressure not only in old age, but throughout life. It, in particular, reflects the state of the circulatory, cardiac, vascular system. As you remember, the indicator consists of two numbers: the upper (systolic) and, through the line, the lower (diastolic) pressure.
The difference between these two components is called pulse pressure. How is it important? This indicator gives a characteristic of the work of blood vessels during periods of heart contractions.
What is the norm of the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure? What is the evidence of deviations, both up and down? What are the indicators of upper and lower pressure responsible for? We will give answers to all these and other important questions in the article.
What it is?
Before we talk specifically about the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure, we will understand what it is.
These indicators are determined during the standard procedure for measuring blood (i.e. arterial) pressure using a tonometer. It is carried out according to the standard Korotkov technique. In particular, the values of the upper and lower pressure are determined:
- Systolic. Also referred to as upper pressure. Here, the force is measured, with which blood presses on the vascular walls while contracting the heart ventricles. This force helps to throw blood into the aorta, the pulmonary artery. The indicator will directly depend on the tone of the walls of those vessels that deliver blood to organs and tissues. As well as the total volume of blood mass that circulates throughout the body.
- Diastolic The common name is upper pressure. This is the force of tension of the walls of blood vessels in short periods between heartbeats. This indicator is significantly affected by the force of contraction of the heart ventricles, as well as the state of the myocardium (the main muscle of the body - the heart).
What are the indicators talking about?
In general, such a clinical characterization by conducting simple measurements helps to judge the following:
- How vessels work between relaxation and contraction of the heart muscle.
- What is vascular patency?
- Indicators of elasticity and tone of the vascular walls.
- The presence or absence of spasmodic zones.
- The presence of any inflammation.
What are the indicators responsible for?
How is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure found? First, these indicators are measured in a generally accepted value — millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Then they are compared with each other and analyze the difference.
The upper pressure indicators are responsible for the functioning of the heart itself. They show how much blood is pushed into the bloodstream by the left heart ventricle. The lower indicator is responsible for the tone of the vascular walls.
Regular monitoring of these indicators is important in order to timely notice any deviations from the norm. For example, too much or too little difference between systolic and diastolic pressure.
Even with an increase of 10 mm Hg. Art. the risk of the following increases:
- Circulatory disturbance in the brain.
- Cardiovascular pathology.
- Coronary artery disease.
- Diseases affecting the vascular system of the lower extremities.
If, however, a deviation from the normal difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is accompanied by a different kind of deviation from blood pressure, as well as a general deterioration in well-being, headaches, weakness, dizziness, you should consult a competent doctor as soon as possible! Any delay will be dangerous to your health.
What is “working pressure”?
Before talking about the norm of the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure, consider the term widely used by cardiologists. This is the "working pressure". What is meant here? HELL, in which the individual feels comfortable, emphasizes well-being. This indicator may be different from the standard 120/80. This is an individual characteristic that can both exceed the norm and be less than it.
Patients with systematically increased blood pressure (up to 140/90), provided that they feel normal, are called hypertensive patients. People with constantly lowered blood pressure (up to 90/60) are also called hypotonics, while maintaining good health.
Heart rate difference
So, pulse pressure, pulse difference is the value of the interval between the indicators of upper and lower blood pressure. A kind of clue for the doctor on the pathological processes occurring in the patient's body.
I must say that with hypertension, hypertension, pulse pressure may well remain normal. Upper and lower indices of blood pressure increase or decrease parallel to each other, while maintaining a non-pathological gap.
In medical practice, several variations of pathological changes in the pulse difference are distinguished:
- Decrease in only diastolic pressure.
- Increased systolic pressure only.
- An increase in diastolic pressure, while systolic pressure remains unchanged.
- Decrease in systolic pressure when diastolic indicators do not change.
- A sharp increase in systolic indicators, when diastolic pressure rises very slowly.
- An increase in the upper indicators, accompanied by a slow rise in the lower ones.
Each of the above variations speaks of certain malfunctions in the body. Moreover, often and completely unrelated to the cardiovascular system. Therefore, to make a diagnosis, the doctor always pays attention to three indicators at once: upper, lower arterial and pulse pressure.
What is the norm of difference?
Recall that the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is called pulse. What are the standard normal indicators for her? This is 35-50 units (in mmHg), depending on the age and individual condition of the patient himself. Accordingly, it is calculated when the lower indicator is taken from the upper indicator. Standard: 120 - 80 = 40.
Too small or too large a difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is considered a very informative value. It indicates the presence of a disease, pathology, often very serious.
As for elevated upper or lower blood pressure, these indicators "knock down" with the help of special medicines. Of course, the doctor should prescribe them, and not the patient himself. The small or large difference between systolic and diastolic pressure cannot be "knocked down" with drops or tablets. This is a more serious problem, the solution of which depends on many factors.
Little difference
It is widely believed that the small difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is an indicator of less than 30 units. But cardiologists believe that this is a more individual indicator.
Correct calculations are based on the individual value of systolic blood pressure. In the case when the pulse distance is less than 25% of the upper pressure, it makes sense to call it a low rate.
Let's take an example. Upper blood pressure - 120 mm Hg. Art. For him, the lower limit will be 30 units (30 = 25% of 120). Therefore, the optimal indicator: 120/90. Calculation: 120 - 30 = 90.
Associated symptoms
A slight difference between systolic and diastolic pressure should be worrying if it is accompanied by the following alarming symptoms:
- Weakness.
- Irritability.
- Apathy.
- Dizziness.
- Fainting.
- Drowsiness.
- Impaired attention span.
- Headache.
What are the reasons for the small difference?
The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 20 units, of course, should cause concern in the patient. If this indicator is below the standard 30, this may indicate the development of the following pathological processes:
- Heart failure. In fact, the heart in this case works for wear - it cannot cope with a high load.
- The insufficiency of the work of other internal organs.
- Stroke of the left heart ventricle.
- Aortic stenosis.
- Cardiosclerosis
- Tachycardia.
- Myocarditis.
- A heart attack that developed against the background of excessive physical stress.
What does the small difference lead to?
If the individual indicator is slightly below normal, then a similar ratio of lower and upper blood pressure can lead to the following:
- Hypoxia
- Atrophic changes affecting the brain.
- Respiratory paralysis.
- Visual impairment.
- Heart failure.
This condition is very dangerous, since it has the property of worsening, rather than dwelling on certain figures of the difference. If the patient ignores him, in the future it becomes increasingly difficult to return his condition to normal, to prescribe a guaranteed effective medical treatment.
Many hypotensives and hypertensive patients make a dangerous mistake, paying attention only to indicators of upper blood pressure. As for the lower pressure, it also needs to be noted. And it is imperative to calculate the difference between these indicators - in case of pathological deviations, you must share your observations with your doctor as soon as possible.
Big difference
Is a difference of 60 units between systolic and diastolic pressures dangerous? Yes, this is an alarming indicator. This condition can be fraught with the most sad health consequences. In particular, it speaks of the threat of myocardial infarction or stroke.
If the pulse pressure is increased, this indicates that the heart muscle is losing its activity. In such cases, patients are diagnosed with bradycardia.
If the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is 70 mm RT. Art. What does this mean? In individual cases, this indicator indicates prehypertension. That is, the borderline state between norm and pathology. It makes sense to mark it if the interval between the upper and lower blood pressure is more than 50 units. Also, a large gap between these indicators may indicate the natural aging of the body.
Associated symptoms
With a large difference between the marks of the upper and lower blood pressure, first of all, it is difficult for a person to concentrate on some thought or work. The condition is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Chronic fainting.
- Tremor of the limbs.
- Constant irritability.
- Dizziness.
- Apathy.
- Drowsiness.
What are the reasons for the large gap?
What can the difference between the upper and lower pressure marks above the norm mean? It makes sense to talk about the following pathologies:
- Violation of the digestive tract.
- Damage to the gallbladder or any of its ducts.
- Tuberculosis.
If you notice too large numbers on the tonometer, do not panic! In some cases, this may be due to improper operation of the device, measurement errors. Be sure to measure the pressure a few more times. If the indicators remain high, you need to seek medical help!
What deviations are acceptable?
Let's turn to general medical statistics. It stands out that the ideal difference between the marks of the upper and lower blood pressure is a gap of 40 mm RT. Art. But, as practice shows, such an indicator is difficult to meet even among young and healthy people.
The admissible difference between the systolic and diastolic indicators is an interval of 35-50 units. The older the patient, the greater the gap between blood pressure values for him is non-pathological. For more significant deviations from the standard, there is reason to judge the presence of any pathological processes.
It is important to pay attention not only to the difference, but also to related factors:
- If the interval between blood pressure values remains within the normal range, but these indicators themselves are steadily increasing, this suggests that the heart muscle is working for wear. An urgent need to see a doctor!
- If all indicators are underestimated in relation to the norm, the situation is on the face: both the vessels and the myocardium work in slow mode, which is caused by the influence of certain pathological processes on them.
Now you know what pulse pressure is, what are its normal and acceptable indicators. With an increase or decrease in this characteristic, you should definitely share your observations with your doctor. Indeed, ignoring the problem can lead to the most dangerous consequences for the body.