Knowing what is diastolic blood pressure can help you to interpret your blood pressure readings appropriately. There are two kinds of blood pressure: diastolic and systolic. When you see a blood pressure measurement, you need to be able to interpret it.
A normal blood pressure is 120/80. The number is written as systolic pressure/diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is your highest pressure when your heart is in the middle of a contraction. Your diastolic pressure is your lowest pressure when your heart is between beats.
Your diastolic pressure is actually the one that’s most important for physicians looking at blood pressure. If it’s too high, your systolic pressure will almost always be too high as well. Above 90 and you may be considered to have hypertension.
Often when people exercise or are under sudden stress, their systolic pressure rises but the diastolic pressure stays about the same. This is normal and is rarely cause for concern if it happens only at isolated times.
But when diastolic pressure is high, this is generally a sign that you have high blood pressure all the time. It’s important to continue to monitor your blood pressure regularly by taking it and recording it. Then you can share that information with your healthcare provider.
If you do have high blood pressure, you may be able to work on changing some lifestyle choices before going on medication. While lifestyle changes don’t always help you to lower blood pressure, they can.
For example, losing weight and eating a heart healthy diet might help diastolic pressure to go down. Stress management and exercise can also help you to get back to normal with your blood pressure.
However, if your blood pressure is very high you may need to begin medication. High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke, so you don’t want to wait if your blood pressure is very high.
Your doctor will probably have you start medication and then begin working on your lifestyle as well. When you begin any diet or exercise program, it’s important to talk with your doctor if you have high blood pressure. You don’t want to increase your risk of heart disease.
Having high blood pressure can be scary, but the best way to alleviate fears is to get educated and take control of your own health. Understanding what is diastolic pressure is a great first step toward understanding your blood pressure and learning how to control it.
