High diastolic blood pressure

Diastolic elevated blood pressure is a disorder that arises when the pressure exerted by the blood on the artery walls is increased.

Factors that can increase this compressive force include:

  1. increase in circulating blood volume,
  2. Narrow blood vessels with rigid walls or with flow obstacles.

The reading of blood pressure includes two values:

  • The higher value is systolic blood pressure. Arterial systolic pressure is measured when the left ventricle contracts.
  • The lower value indicates diastolic pressure. Diastolic pressure is measured when the left ventricle relaxes.

If the maximum pressure (systolic) rises above 140 mmHg, it means that the person suffers from systolic hypertension.

Dangers – Increased diastolic blood pressure or hypertension increases the risk of heart disease:

  • Myocardial infarction
  • Heart failure
  • Stroke.

Although hypertension is more common in men over the age of 35, it is possible in young people.

Usually, older people suffer from systolic hypertension, while young people are more prone to diastolic hypertension.

Contents

Table with normal blood pressure values

Systolic pressure
Normal120 mmHg
Pre-hypertension120-140 mmHg
Hypertensionover 140 mmHg
Diastolic pressure
Normal80 mmHg
Pre-hypertension80-100 mmHg
Hypertensionover 100 mmHg

 

Variations in blood pressure

In general, blood pressure varies throughout the day.

According to an article on a website of: mayoclinic.org there are pressure variations during the day:

  1. Blood pressure levels are at their lowest level during sleep (about 10-20% lower than during the day).
  2. Some people (especially after menopause) have a condition called non-dipper hypertension, in which blood pressure drops by less than 10% at night.
  3. Upon awakening, arterial blood pressure rises slightly. In people with high-grade hypertension, the greatest risk of heart attack and stroke is in the first 3 hours after waking up.
  4. In the morning, the pressure increases to the maximum in the afternoon.
  5. In the evening, the pressure drops.

Low diastolic blood pressure

Diastolic blood pressure is used as an indicator for identifying blood pressure problems in younger people.

The diastolic pressure value varies depending on exertion and physical activity.

diastolic pressure below 60 millimeters of mercury is rated as low (hypotension).

With low diastolic pressure, there is a decrease in blood flow to the body’s cells and tissues.

The result is a reduced intake of:

  • Oxygen
  • Nutrients.

Causes can be:

  • Pregnancy– This is the result of increased progesterone hormone levels.
  • Heart problems – Causes of increased diastolic pressure include:
    • diseases of the heart valves,
    • Infarct
  • Endocrine problems – Dysfunction of the thyroid gland or parathyroid gland or adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison’s disease).
  • side effects of medications (anti-anxiety drugs, painkillers, diuretics, some antidepressants, drugs used to treat hypertension or coronary heart disease),
  • Dehydration, when the body loses a lot of water.

Causes of elevated diastolic blood pressure

Primary or essential hypertension (without a specific cause)

About 90% of hypertension cases are of this type (Poulter, NR; Prabhakaran, D; Caulfield, M (22 August 2015). “Hypertension”. Lancet. 386 (9995): 801-12).

Even if doctors don’t know the cause, genetic factors and an unhealthy lifestyle play a role in the likelihood of suffering from high blood pressure.

Secondary hypertension

Overweight

If a person’s body weight is too high, the excess fats (in the form of cholesterol) accumulate in the body along the artery walls, causing narrowing.

For this reason, the heart has to pump more and thus the arterial pressure increases.

Nutrition

Inappropriate nutrition is one of the main causes of increased diastolic pressure.

Salt

Salted foods increase sodium levels in the blood, which leads to hypertension.

The link between salt and blood pressure is confirmed by epidemiological and experimental studies.

This substance is a cardiovascular risk factor, an increased amount in the diet can already lead to mild kidney damage.

The recommended daily dose is 5-6 grams. A reduction in daily consumption of 6 grams leads to a decrease in maximum and minimum pressure to:

  • 7 and 4 mmHg in patients with hypertension
  • 4 and 2 mmHg in people with normal pressure.

This decrease is important for hypertensive patients because it reduces:

  1. 24% of the risk of stroke,
  2. 15-18% of the risk of coronary artery disease, i.e. myocardial infarction.

According to conventional medicine, a diet rich in saturated fats and trans fats can:

  1. damage the blood vessels,
  2. Increase arterial blood pressure.

Based on the blood type diet, minimum and maximum blood pressure readings may increase depending on what is consumed.

First of all, the cause of increased diastolic pressure is the presence of starchy foods or cereals, for example:

  • Noodles
  • Pizza
  • Rice
  • bread, sweets and biscuits,
  • Spelt
  • Corn
  • Oats
  • Kamut,
  • Barley.

Alcohol and smoking

  1. Increasing blood pressure is one of the harmful effects of smoking.

The nicotine contained in tobacco damages the heart in many ways.

According to a study by Jolma CD et al. (Department of Pediatrics, The University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, PO Box 245073, Tucson, AZ 85724-5073, USA), nicotine increases blood pressure and causes an accelerated heartbeat.

  1. Alcohol abuse also affects blood pressure.
    Alcoholic beverages have a lot of calories, which lead to weight gain and indirectly to an increase in blood pressure.

Caffeine increases the risk of high blood pressure.

Lack

Lack of exercise affects blood pressure in several ways.

Lack of exercise leads to weight gain and an increase in cholesterol.

Age, excitement and stress are some of the causes of hypertension.

Hypertension also occurs in adolescents due to their lifestyle, poor diet, anxiety and stress.

In this case, the person may have high blood pressure and tachycardia.

Medicines that can increase blood pressure include:

  • contraceptive pill,
  • Cortisone
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),
  • Over-the-counter cough and cold remedies,
  • Some antidepressants (SSRIs) – such as venlafaxine.

High blood pressure can also be caused by:

  • Kidney disease
  • autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus,
  • Sleep apnea – may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure and is common in people with resistant hypertension.
  • hormonal disorders such as Cushing’s syndrome,
  • diseases or tumors of the adrenal gland,
  • Alcohol and drugs, for example, cocaine. This is one of the most common causes of elevated diastolic blood pressure in young people.

Symptoms of increased diastolic pressure

As a rule, high blood pressure does not cause any symptoms.

However, if blood pressure is very high (hypertensive crisis), this can have the following effects:

  1. Fatigue
  2. Weakness
  3. Headache
  4. Confusion
  5. Shortness
  6. blurred vision,
  7. Nausea
  8. Vomit
  9. tinnitus (noise in the ear),
  10. Dizziness or drowsiness in the head.

Diastolic elevated blood pressure and kidney

Kidneys and the circulatory system depend on each other.

The kidneys filter waste products and excess fluids from the blood.

They need many blood vessels for their function.

Damage to the blood vessels leads to a reduction in oxygen and nutrient transport to the nephrons.

That is why high blood pressure is the second most common cause of renal insufficiency.

Diagnosis of diastolic hypertension

To measure blood pressure, the doctor uses an instrument called a blood pressure monitor, and that consists of:

  • Stethoscope
  • arm cuff,
  • Quadrant
  • Pump
  • Valve.

Anamnesis

The assessment of the hypertensive patient should take into account not only the values of blood pressure, but also the cardiovascular risk factors that add up.

The following shall be examined regularly:

  • Nephritic
  • Heart
  • Brain.

Although primary hypertension is the most common, the main causes of secondary hypertension must be ruled out:

  • Endocrinological (related to the glands),
  • Kidney-related.

The doctor must know the patient’s family and personal medical history.

He also needs to know if the patient has suffered a stroke or if he suffers from:

  1. Heart disease
  2. Kidney disease
  3. Diabetes

Risk factors for heart disease and stroke, including:

  • Tobacco
  • salt consumption,
  • Overweight
  • Lack
  • Altitude stay, blood pressure drops in the mountains
  • High cholesterol.
  • Medications that are taken (for example, corticosteroids).

Examinations and tests

If the patient suffers from high blood pressure, further tests can help determine if the hypertension is secondary (caused by another condition) and if there is damage to other organs.

Examination of blood and urine

These tests are performed to identify several factors, including:

  • the level of potassium,
  • Cholesterol
  • glycemia (due to diabetes),
  • Infection
  • Renal function.

Blood creatinine levels are important for all patients with high pressure to assess kidney damage.

Tests to evaluate the heart include:

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG).
  • A stress ECG (or stress test) may be needed in patients who have symptoms of coronary artery disease.
  • An echocardiogram is used by the doctor to decide whether treatment needs to be initiated.

When to worry?

If the diastolic pressure exceeds 90 mmHg, it means that this person suffers from increased diastolic pressure. So something needs to be done to reduce the pressure.

Pregnancy and high blood pressure

A generally elevated blood pressure value is observed at the beginning of pregnancy, before the 16th-20th week of pregnancy.

Sudden and severe hypertension in pregnant women is a sign of a condition called preeclampsia (or pregnancy toxicosis), which can be very serious for both mother and child.
Preeclampsia occurs in 10% of all pregnancies, usually in the last trimester of pregnancy (towards the end), but it passes immediately after birth.

What to do? Therapy for high diastolic pressure

The first change required is a lifestyle change to help reduce blood pressure reading.

The doctor may recommend diuretics that promote the elimination of excess sodium and water from the body.
The result is a reduction in blood pressure.
Although three types of diuretics are available, thiazides are most commonly used, for example, furosemide (Lasix).

Treatment in children

Children with elevated blood pressure should first undergo a lifestyle change. This includes weight loss, increasing physical activity and an adequate diet.
If blood pressure does not drop to a normal value with natural remedies and home remedies, drug therapy may be required.

Results from studies evaluating children with hypertension show that an early abnormality (such as dilated cardiomyopathy, abnormalities of the kidneys and eyes) may also be present in children with mild hypertension.
Children and adolescents with hypertension should be observed to verify organ damage.
Secondary hypertension (high blood pressure due to an illness or medication) is more common in children than in adults.

Natural remedies for lowering high diastolic blood pressure

A healthy diet, what to eat?
A poor diet can directly and indirectly cause hypertension.
Avoid all foods that contain a large amount of sodium, fats and cholesterol.
Fresh fruits, vegetables, garlic and nuts are useful to keep blood pressure at a normal level.
Healthy eating helps to reduce body weight and therefore the risk of arterial hypertension.

Perform
regular physical activities 
Physical exercise for 30 minutes a day is a natural remedy for treating high blood pressure and other conditions.
You can go to a gym or do the exercises at home according to the guidelines and the right techniques.
One can consider alternative forms of exercise, such as swimming, dancing, aerobics, running, etc. One should avoid sports at a competitive level, as overexertion can lead to a dangerous increase in blood pressure.

Reduce
weight People with a high body mass index (BMI) and excessive body weight should lose weight.
An adequate diet and regular physical exercises are the best natural methods to lose weight.

Quit
smoking Active and passive smoking are also harmful.
Therefore, one should stop smoking and drinking alcohol to prevent high blood pressure.

Medicinal plants
Hawthorn
 (Crataegus oxyacantha) has a dilating effect on the peripheral arteries.
Components that have this property are:

  • some minerals, for example calcium, potassium and magnesium,
  • flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin,
  • Vitamin C.

You can drink a cup of hawthorn tea every day.

Limes (Citrus aurantifolia) serve to maintain the balance of the nervous system because there are soothing essences in the oils.

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) helps to slightly lower arterial blood pressure, especially if it is caused by nervous disorders.
Lavender has a diuretic effect. This means that it is suitable for removing liquids.
Drink a cup of lavender tea twice a day.

Licorice should be avoided as it increases blood pressure.

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