Diastolic Hypertension

The heart pumps blood to all parts of the body. For this, it pushes blood out at a certain pressure, which is known as blood pressure. The lowest blood pressure that is measured between consecutive heartbeats is known as diastolic blood pressure.

The normal diastolic blood pressure is around 80 mm of Hg. However, when this pressure increases by even 10 mm of Hg, then it is known as diastolic hypertension.

This kind of high blood pressure is normally seen in people below 50 years of age, while the condition is viewed as normal for people above 50. Thus, progressively, the risk factors for developing hypertension go on increasing with age, and diastolic hypertension is an important indicator of this trend, which should not be ignored.

• The causes of diastolic hypertension are many and vague.
• Sometimes, the diastolic blood pressure could increase as a result of natural aging of the heart and the heart muscles.

• Once an individual gets old, there is more wear and tear of the cardiac muscles, due to which it becomes more laborious for the heart to get completely filled with blood in between the heart beats.

• Apart from aging, certain bad habits, like incessant drinking and smoking and consuming a diet high in cholesterol also increases the chances of a person suffering from an increase in diastolic blood pressure.

• Furthermore, if a person has had a cardiac surgery before or if there is a family history of diastolic hypertension, then this puts the person at an added risk of suffering from this condition as well.

• Headache, especially sub-occipital pulsating headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Dizziness and mental confusion
• Increased sweating, with night sweats

• Insomnia and difficulty in sleeping
• Blurred vision and other visual disturbances
• Nausea
• Increased chances of strokes and other organ disorders and systemic failures

• Chronic elevation of diastolic blood pressure is said to be dangerous as compared to a sudden surge in the systolic blood pressure.
• In fact, it is said to be the main culprit when it comes to chronic damage to the kidneys and the heart. It is, therefore, important to deal with this condition on a priority basis.

• One of the most important steps involved in treating this condition is to make certain simple lifestyle changes, which will help in improving the heart health.
• Furthermore, the person should immediately stop smoking and drinking. Consuming a low cholesterol diet will greatly prevent the chances of any further complications in the body.

• One should also try and exercise regularly so as to help the heart in its functioning.
• In severe cases, where the diastolic pressure is so high that the person is not able to sleep at night and is showing systemic symptoms, then there may be need for taking hypertension medications to bring down the blood pressure immediately.

• Although still controversial, doctors say that it is best to take this condition seriously, as it is said that every 10 mm of Hg rise in diastolic pressure practically doubles the chances of a person suffering from various heart diseases, like heart attacks, strokes, heart and kidney failure, etc.

Additionally, any further rise in diastolic pressure exponentially increases the risk of a person getting afflicted by various systemic diseases.

If a person displays any of the symptoms of hypertension mentioned before, then it is best to visit a doctor and get the condition diagnosed and treated at the earliest, so as to prevent any health complications in the future.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.