High upper pressure with normal or slightly elevated lower is called isolated systolic hypertension. Previously, a diagnosis was made with systolic blood pressure numbers greater than 160 mm Hg.. st. and diastolic - 90 mm RT. st. or less. Currently, the World Health Organization recommends that as an isolated hypertension an increase in systolic blood pressure above 140 with a diastolic value of not more than 90 mm RT. st.

Increased upper blood pressure is more common in women: What is blood pressure and what is its norm?. Systolic is the pressure that is fixed at the time of the contraction of the heart (systole), and diastolic is the pressure that is noted in the relaxation phase (diastole).

Since, contracting, the heart pushes a sufficiently large volume of blood into the bloodstream, the systolic blood pressure will be higher and it will be recorded first when recording the measurement results. Diastolic pressure (second digit in the record) is always lower than systolic.

In people 60 years old, isolated systolic hypertension occurs in 6% of cases, and in patients older than 80 - already in 25%.

Normal BP is considered to be 140/90 mm Hg.. st. If the numbers do not exceed 110 and 70, they speak of optimal pressure, 120 and 80 - normal, 130 and 85 - normal high.

What do the systolic pressure indicators, which are in the range of 131–139, and the diastolic values, in the range of 86–89 mm RT?. st. They are regarded as prehypertension..

In most cases, with the development of primary or secondary arterial hypertension, the numbers of systolic and diastolic blood pressure increase simultaneously. But in some situations, there is an increased upper pressure, while the lower one is normal. This condition is called isolated systolic hypertension..

Causes of high upper pressure If the pressure is increased or rather, the reasons for researchers see precisely in age-related changes:.

decreased elasticity of arterial walls;

the appearance of cholesterol deposits, an increase in the phenomena of atherosclerosis;

a change in the nervous regulation of vascular tone (increased peripheral vascular resistance);

decrease in the activity of regulatory mechanisms responsible for the stability of blood pressure (renin-angiotensin system, natriuretic hormone, endothelial relaxing factor, etc..

impaired functioning of the receptors that control the level of pressure in the bloodstream.

This does not mean that all patients who have reached old age, necessarily fall ill with hypertension. Many older people have normal pressure.. Nevertheless, while in 18-30 years old high blood pressure is observed in 3-4% of people, then after 60 - almost 55%. The fact of an isolated increase in precisely the upper pressure is also confirmed: in people of 60 years of age, isolated systolic hypertension occurs in 6% of cases, and in patients older than 80 - already in 25%. Moreover, if a uniform increase in blood pressure is more often recorded in men, then a high upper is more often observed in women.

Normal BP is considered to be 140/90 mm Hg.. st. If the numbers do not exceed 110 and 70, they speak of optimal pressure, 120 and 80 - normal, 130 and 85 - normal high.

Risk factors in the presence of which increases blood pressure:.

unrealized chronic stress or sudden psycho-emotional shock;

excessive physical activity;

smoking;

alcohol abuse;

the systematic use of certain drugs whose side effect is a rise in blood pressure;

a diet rich in animal fats and seasonings, a preference for spicy, fried foods;

excessive salt intake;

big body weight;

low physical activity.

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