Systolic Blood Pressure vs. Diastolic Blood Pressure
Key Differences
Comparison Chart
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Range
Ideal Blood Pressure
Hypertension
Measuring Unit
What is Systolic Blood Pressure?
Heart continuously pumps blood into arteries, so blood pressure varies (rise and fall) during each heart beating. Physicians measures blood pressure in two digits first is higher than second. Normal blood pressure of a person is written as 120/80 mmHg. Top or first number of this expression is called systolic blood pressure. If systolic blood pressure is going to be rise above 120 mmHg, then person will be at risk of hypertension which is also known as hypertension. Systolic blood pressure at range 120-139 is called pre-hypertension, and if systolic blood pressure increases more above 140 mmHg, the patient will be hypertensive. Systolic blood pressure increases in older people more as compared to young because of hardening of arteries and no compliance of aorta with age. Systolic hypertension increases load on ventricles and causes heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy and coronary ischemia. If systolic blood pressure is going to be lower than 120 mmHg, then person will be at the risk of hypotension (lower blood pressure). Word “systolic” has derived from Greek language which “drawing or contraction at the same time”. Normal range of systolic blood pressure measurement in children is 95 to 100 mmHg while for adults it ranges 90 to 120 mmHg.
What is Diastolic Blood Pressure?
Bottom number of blood pressure expression (120/80 mmHg) is called diastolic blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure is always lower than systolic blood pressure because this force is exerting when heart is in relaxing state after pumping blood into arteries. During this time, heart refills itself with new blood and gets oxygen from lungs. The person will be at risk of high blood pressure if diastolic blood pressure will be in the range of 80-89 mmHg which is also called pre-hypertension. If diastolic blood pressure measures above 90 mmHg then patient will be hypertensive. Isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) is more common in adults. In most cases, cause of diastolic hypertension remains unknown which is also referred as essential or primary hypertension. But some studies assume that elevation of angiotensin in vessels, inappropriate contaction of small muscles in arteries and genetic factors can be possible reasons. Diastolic hypertension eventually becomes a cause of systolic hypertension, kidney disease, sleep apnea and thyroid problem. If diastolic blood pressure reading measures lower than 80 mmHg then person may be at the risk of hypotension. Word “diastolic” has derived from Greek language which means “drawing apart”. Diastolic measurement in children is about 65 mmHg while it ranges 60 to 80 mmHg for adults.
