Systolic / Diastolic - salt and cholesterol?!
Question: I was tracking my blood pressure using a $20 wrist monitor. I focused on the Systolic (high) number, which ranges from 145 to 175.
I was told the Diastolic number, which ranges from 90 to 105 is important. It indicates the lever of arterial occlusion.
For a 59 year old male, non-smoker, slightly overweight but out of shape, is 90 to 105 high, low or medium?
How soon will restricting salt consumption effect the numbers?
If the numbers indicate occlusion, which cholesterol meds are most likely to make a difference?
Answers: I was tracking my blood pressure using a $20 wrist monitor. I focused on the Systolic (high) number, which ranges from 145 to 175.
I was told the Diastolic number, which ranges from 90 to 105 is important. It indicates the lever of arterial occlusion.
For a 59 year old male, non-smoker, slightly overweight but out of shape, is 90 to 105 high, low or medium?
How soon will restricting salt consumption effect the numbers?
If the numbers indicate occlusion, which cholesterol meds are most likely to make a difference?
Diastolic 90 to 105 is mild hypertension.
Reducing salt may or may not affect blood pressure -- about 25% of the population has a genetic predisposition to high blood pressue with increased salt consumption. But reducing salt is easy to do and is always a good thing.
Arterial occlusion and need for cholesterol lowering meds is not diagnosed by the diastolic number, it is diagnosed by imaging and by measuring actual blood cholesterol. You can lower blood pressure by exercising 30 to 60 minutes daily, losing 10 to 15 pounds, lowering salt consumption.
You should see your family doctor who may prescribe a mild hypertension drug like a diuretic or beta blocker for you. The need for a cholesterol med will depend upon your blood cholesterol levels, not on your blood pressure.
90 -105 is very high. You are headed for a stoke. Go see a doctor.
Both are important but the diastolic more so. It does not indicate arterial occlusion and has nothing to do with your cholesterol 105 diastolic is mild to moderate elevation. I think you should see effects of salt restriction within 1-2 weeks. Aerobic activities and weight reduction if appropriate may also help in the long run. You can take cholesterol meds to lower your cholesterol but you should not expect them to lower your blood pressure--these are separate problems.
It is considerably high. Time to go see your doctor, right away.
Salt increases BP in some people, but not every body.
Here's a site with more info