Which blood pressure number is more important?

Q. When I am monitoring my blood pressure, which number is most important — top, bottom, or both? A. While both numbers in a blood pressure reading are essential for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure, doctors primarily focus on the top number, also known as systolic pressure.

Which is most important systolic or diastolic?

Recent findings: Generally, in studies in which readings of systolic and diastolic blood pressure have been compared, systolic blood pressure has been a better predictor of risk.

Which blood pressure reading is most important?

The top number is more important because it gives a better idea of your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Having a raised systolic blood pressure but normal or low diastolic blood pressure is called Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH).

When should you worry about the bottom number of blood pressure?

Over time, isolated diastolic hypotension can cause heart failure. In fact, it may be one of the most common causes of heart failure. Pay attention to your diastolic number when you have your blood pressure checked. If your lower number is 60 or below, ask a healthcare professional about it.

Which is worse high top number or high bottom number of blood pressure?

Most studies show a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (especially strokes) related to high systolic pressure as opposed to elevated diastolic pressure.

What Blood Pressure Reading is more important, Systolic or Diastolic

What is a dangerously high bottom number for blood pressure?

If you have a blood pressure reading that is above 180 in the top number or above 120 in the bottom number, you may be having a hypertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency. Blood pressure this high can damage your blood vessels and could lead to a stroke.

Which BP reading is more accurate first or second?

Solely relying on your first blood pressure reading may lead to an inaccurate diagnosis because it's usually higher than the second reading. Your doctor or nurse should take more than one reading and compare the results for better accuracy.

What is stroke level blood pressure?

Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness or tingling, trouble speaking, or changes in vision.

Should I take the first or second blood pressure reading?

Take it first in the morning before eating or taking any medications. Take it again in the evening. Each time you measure, take two or three readings to make sure your results are the same. Your health care provider might recommend taking your blood pressure at the same times each day.

Should I worry if my diastolic is high?

The diastolic pressure of an adult should typically be 60–80mm Hg, and if the number goes above this, it's considered hypertension. However, if your blood pressure goes over 180/120mm Hg, this is dangerous, and you should seek medical attention immediately.

What time of the day is blood pressure highest?

Blood pressure has a daily pattern. Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before a person wakes up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure typically drops in the late afternoon and evening.

Why is diastolic BP so important?

In the latest study, cardiovascular risks rose with each "unit increase" in systolic pressure above 140, by about 18% on average. Meanwhile, each increase in diastolic blood pressure above 90 was tied to a 6% increase in heart disease and stroke risk.

What causes false high blood pressure readings?

Acute meal ingestion, caffeine or nicotine use can all affect BP readings, leading to errors in measurement accuracy. If the patient has a full bladder, that can lead to an error in systolic BP of up to 33 mm Hg, and the white-coat effect can have an error of up to 26 mm Hg.

Can a tight blood pressure cuff cause a high reading?

Blood Pressure Cuff Placement

If the cuff is too small, it can add 2 to 10 points to your bp measurement. Be sure to roll up your sleeve for a blood pressure test and also let your doctor know if the cuff feels too tight around your arm.

Why are my blood pressure readings so different within minutes?

Everyone's blood pressure rises and falls many times during the course of a single day, sometimes even within minutes. Many factors contribute to these changes, including physical activity, emotion, body position, diet (especially salt and alcohol intake), and sleep deprivation.

What blood pressure triggers a stroke?

Risk factors for stroke that can be changed, treated, or medically managed: High blood pressure. Blood pressure of 140/90 or higher can damage blood vessels (arteries) that supply blood to the brain.

How can I lower my blood pressure quickly?

Why is the second BP reading always lower?

Diastolic pressure (the second, lower number) reflects the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. Over eight years, more than 44,000 people in the study had a heart attack or stroke.

Should I disregard first blood pressure reading?

Ignore the first day's readings altogether, because they might not be accurate as you're not familiar with your monitor yet. At the end of the week you will have a useful picture of what your blood pressure is normally like.

Is it OK to take blood pressure multiple times?

When should you check your blood pressure? Since your blood pressure changes throughout the day, it's a good idea to take it at least twice. Taking your blood pressure multiple times throughout the day ensures you're getting an accurate reading.

What is an alarming diastolic number?

Elevated blood pressure is systolic of 120 to 129 and diastolic less than 80. Stage 1 high blood pressure is when systolic is 130 to 139 or diastolic is 80 to 89. Stage 2 high blood pressure is when systolic is 140 or higher or diastolic is 90 or higher.

Is 90 diastolic too high?

Stage 1 high blood pressure (a diagnosis of hypertension) is now between 130 and 139 systolic or between 80 and 89 diastolic (the bottom number). Stage 2 high blood pressure is now over 140 systolic or 90 diastolic.

How do you get your diastolic blood pressure down?

How accurate are home blood pressure machines?

But home blood pressure monitors aren't always as accurate as they should be. "Home blood pressure monitors may be inaccurate in 5% to 15% of patients, depending on the threshold for accuracy used," according to Dr.