Factors of Systolic Blood Pressure
The heart is the power cell of the human circulatory system, and it pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs throughout the entire body. Just as any standard pump, the heart creates pressure when it works. Systolic pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading and signifies the maximum amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure and represents the minimum amount of pressure when the heart rests.
-
Isolated Systolic Hypertension
-
Normal systolic blood pressure for adults is typically less than 120 (measured in mm Hg), and anything above 140 is considered high. Any diastolic reading above 80 is regarded as elevated, but the diastolic number does not need to be high for a patient to have high blood pressure. If the systolic number is high and the diastolic reading is normal, this is called "isolated systolic hypertension" (ISH). According to the National Institutes of Health, roughly 65% of all hypertensive (having high blood pressure) patients older than 60 years have ISH.
Stages of Systolic Hypertension
-
In a chart available from the Utah Department of Health, a systolic reading below 120 is considered optimal blood pressure. A measurement between 120 and 139 is regarded as prehypertensive. A reading between 140 and 159 is considered Stage 1 hypertension, and anything over 160 is determined as Stage 2 hypertension.
-
Factors Behind Lack of Blood Pressure Control
-
According to the Framingham Heart Study as reported in the journal "Hypertension," only 49% of 1,189 study participants receiving antihypertensive treatment met their determined systolic pressure goal. With 89.7% of participants meeting their diastolic pressure goals, the study determined that a lack of systolic pressure control was significantly responsible for patients not meeting their desired total blood pressure goals.
Risks
-
Elevated blood pressure can lead to increased risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. High blood pressure has long been called the "Silent Killer" because of the fact that there are no symptoms and around one third of all American adults have hypertension in one form or another.
Steps to Lower Blood Pressure
-
The first step in lowering systolic blood pressure is to be aware of it and to work with the plan established by a health care professional. In addition to any hypertensive medication that may be prescribed, some simple steps can enhance the effectiveness of antihypertensive prescription medications or possibly even eliminate the need for prescription medications. The following lifestyle changes can help lower or eliminate high blood pressure: eat a heart-healthy diet (possibly reducing salt intake), participate in regular physical activity, maintain a healthy weight, manage stress levels (possibly through relaxation techniques like massage or meditation), and limit the use of alcohol and tobacco.
-
