Hi,
When you check your blood pressure is either number (systolic or diastolic) more important? Does either give you more predictive information than the other?
Thanks
According to ABC news it’s the top number. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/HeartDiseaseRisks/story?id=4218279#.UXAllbXqlhw
The difference between the two numbers (pulse pressure) can be important as well; it shouldn’t be more than 40 (e.g. 120/60 might be seen as good but the pulse pressure is 60, which can indicate things like atherosclerosis).
I know that when I go to donate blood, the nurses are concerned about the diastolic pressure. I think that’s the ambient pressure in your blood stream.
They are both important, with each having prognostic impact. Treatment of high BP can be based on either or both being elevated, and will usually reduce both (albeit not equally).
Many docs, and I assume many laypeople, are under the erroneous impression that the systolic BP (the first and higher number of the two BP readings) is irrelevant to outcome and that lowering it confers no benefit. That was what I was taught in the late 1970’s and I know I was not alone. In fact, isolated systolic hypertension (a frequent problem in the elderly) is dangerous, common, and leads to benefits when treated.
The first page of a good overview of BP and hypertension is found here (from the obviously reputable NHLBI). Here is a very concise article regarding your question of which is more important - systolic or diastolic BP. And here is a more scholarly and exhaustive review.