High Diastolic Blood Pressure

If the blood pressure reading shows that there is a high diastolic blood pressure, what does this mean? The pressure in your blood vessels between heartbeats (when your heart is resting) is called diastolic blood pressure. In a blood pressure reading, it is the bottom number. It is considered low when the blood pressure reading is below 60 mmHg and it is high when it reached 90 mmHg or higher.

Diastolic blood pressure is important because as blood is pumped from the heart into the blood vessels, enough diastolic blood pressure is created to send it to all other parts of the body. Just like tree branches, as blood vessels travel away from the heart, they branch off and gradually get smaller. One branch may go to the kidneys, while another may go to the brain. So that the body's cells get the oxygen and nutrients they need and the waste matter can be removed, diastolic blood pressure keeps the blood flowing through all these branches.

When the blood is not able to bring oxygen and nutrients to all the body's cells and remove waste matter, the diastolic pressure is considered to be too low (known as hypotension or low blood pressure). It is said to be low when the blood pressure reading is below 60 mmHg.

A person is said to have high blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, if the diastolic blood pressure is too high. It means that the diastolic blood pressure reading is higher than 90 mmHg. If this is the case, the small blood vessels in the vital organs are most affected over time. It is possible that these blood vessels become scarred, hardened, and less elastic, thus making them more likely to get blocked or ruptured (leading to organ damage or even organ failure).

A vital part of reducing the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or organ damage is maintaining a normal blood pressure. If your diastolic blood pressure reading is between 80 and 89, you have a condition called prehypertension. If the diastolic blood pressure often exceeds 140 mmHg, you are considered to have malignant hypertension where the high blood pressure symptoms are severe.

Some of the malignant hypertension symptoms are:

• Headache
• Light-headedness
• Nausea

When the diastolic blood pressure becomes severe, it may lead to brain bleeding or stroke that is why emergency hospitalization and lowering of blood pressure are required.

A cuff of fabric is wrapped around the arm and then slightly inflated to measure diastolic blood pressure. A gauge attached to the cuff will then show the blood pressure. As air is released from the cuff, the healthcare provider reads the numbers from the gauge. This gadget that reads blood pressure is called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure machines can also measure blood pressure.

Throughout the day, diastolic blood pressure changes that is why it is best to get several blood pressure readings to arrive at your average blood pressure. And if you have high diastolic pressure, you can do lifestyle changes (which are the first step to take to lower it) or you can also drink medications, herbs or supplements.

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Understanding High Diastolic Blood Pressure Recommended Resources:

Health Link - Medical College of Wisconsin

Boston University