Isolated systolic hypertension is a condition associated with arteriosclerosis.  As we age, or bodies and all of the organs and tissues age as well. A common issue associated with aging is the hardening of the arteries which is known as arteriosclerosis. In the case of the arteries hardening, they are not as capable of expanding under pressure which leads to a cardiovascular issue which has been dubbed, isolated systolic hypertension. Furthermore, more than 70% of persons who are over the age of 65 and have high blood pressure suffer from isolated systolic hypertension.

For the longest time it has been believed that the body can tolerate the occasional increases of systolic pressure and therefore most of the research into high blood pressure has been focused mainly on the diastolic pressure reading as it is the diastolic which is most noted as causing organ damage.

Today though, it is understood that having a high systolic pressure can also be a very bad thing especially in those who are over 50 years of age and are suffering from arteriosclerosis. It is this isolated systolic hypertension that is associated with strokes, heart disease and even kidney failure. The ultimate goal for any one who is suffering from isolated systolic hypertension is to lower their systolic pressure below 90 mmHG. The biggest hurdle associated with this though, is that the vast majority of medications available will also lower the diastolic pressure as well. If the diastolic pressure is normal and then goes too low because of the treatment of isolated systolic hypertension, there can be some very dangerous complications that may arise.

This form of high blood pressure is known to cause a variety of ailments which can include things from a stroke all the way to chronic kidney disease as well as the possibility of kidney failure. The higher pressures associated with the isolated systolic blood pressures means that inside the sensitive organs of our bodies like the brain, kidneys, heart and even the eyes will be too high and although the arteries themselves which may be hardened can handle the increases in pressure, the soft tissue found in all of our important organs cannot.

Furthermore, there has been shown to be a direct correlation between diabetes and isolated systolic hypertension. In the cases of persons suffering from both, those who have managed to lower their systolic pressure also sees a lower risk of diabetic complications.

The most common treatment for isolated systolic hypertension is the prescription of diuretics that include blockers, beta-blockers as well as ACE inhibitors. The ultimate goal no matter how you look at it though is to lower the systolic pressure to a safe level and in return you can be rewarded with a longer healthier life. Catching high blood pressure early on is also a very important aspect as the sooner it is discovered, the easier it will be to remedy the condition.

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High diastolic blood pressure is a relatively rare form of hypertension. It occurs when there is a rise only in the diastolic measurement of your blood pressure.  The systolic measurement, the first one the doctor mentions, would remain within normal range.  But what is blood pressure and how is it measured? 

When talking about blood pressure, everyone knows about the cuffs used in school or the doctors office that are placed around the bicep and pumped full of air and many people as children remember playing with the blood pressure machines at the pharmacy or grocery store as their parents pick up a prescription. But what exactly is high blood pressure and how can it affect you?

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury. The number or pressure is followed by mmHg which simply translates to millimeters, Mercury. There will always be two numbers of which the first is known as systolic pressure and is the pressure in your arteries at the moment of the heart’s contraction while the other number, diastolic is the exact opposite in which it is the pressure in the arteries in between the heart’s contractions.

High blood pressure can actually come in three forms and while many people are only accustomed to one, it is possible that you too could have high blood pressure without realizing it. The first form of high blood pressure is when your systolic blood pressure is too high. This is usually seen as like 170/70. Since the first number is the systolic and having high blood pressure is anything over 140 for systolic and 90 for diastolic, therefore it is completely possible for only your systolic pressure to be too high which is still classified as having high blood pressure.

It is also possible for your diastolic pressure to be high and your systolic pressure to be normal. In a case like this, you may see something like 120/104 for your blood pressure. This is still high blood pressure and can be potentially dangerous if it is like this every time you have your pressure taken.

The third and most well known form of high blood pressure is when both the systolic and the diastolic pressures are just too high. Furthermore, medications that are available are designed to treat either a high diastolic or a high systolic blood pressure and in the event that you have both, then chances are that you may be prescribed two different medications to help keep your blood pressure lower.

While high blood pressure is constituted as being 140/90 mmHg, it is also dangerous if you classify as having what is called mild blood pressure. Usually people who have high blood pressure started with mild blood pressure and therefore catching it in this stage is very important to helping stop it. Like many other conditions, the sooner it can be discovered and treated, the better outcome potential that there will be.