First off, this is not a thread about my personal health. Yes, I have somewhat high blood pressure, I’m seeing my doctor, on meds, working on diet, etc.
This thread is to ask some questions about what blood pressure means from a physiological standpoint.
I know there are two readings. The higher reading is the systolic reading, which represents the highest pressure from the heart beat. The lower reading is the diastolic reading, which is the lowest pressure from the heart, i.e. it’s relaxed phase.
I know for systolic, 130 or below is good, and 140 and above is hypertension.
For diastolic, below 85 is good, and 90 and above is hypertension.
I assume having a high systolic pressure puts you at greater risk for stroke, i.e. brain blood vessels rupturing. Also I assume a greater risk for developing and rupturing aneurysms.
I’m told high blood pressure can affect vision. I’m curious about how.
What is the problem with having a high diastolic reading? I was told it means the heart isn’t relaxing, resting. Or is it that the two tend to be linked and isn’t likely to occur alone?
Physiologically, what does it mean for the blood pressure to be high? I know sodium is a no-no, but not the role sodium plays.
Vision … well the blood pressure can cause issues with blood flow to the eyes, bleeding in the eyes, and directly squashing the nerves.
There’s also the issue that vision problems are a symptom of stroke…
You have the severity of the two pressures wrong.
If you have high diastolic pressure, there is certainly an urgent problem… If all you want to know is if there is a blood pressure problem or not, once you know there is high diastolic, thats enough to know, there is a (urgent , threatening) blood pressure problem … there is great risk … Why is all high diastolic pressure a sign of a problem ? If the pulse pressure - the difference between diastolic and systolic - is low, then pulses are not creating sufficient blood flow. If pulse pressure is normal, then systolic must be high…
If you have mild to medium high systolic pressure on its own, without normal diastolic pressure, then the issue may be less urgent, it may be a long term issue to deal with but not immediately dangerous.
There are recent studies (too lazy to search for them) that indicate that a high systolic BP is not as benign as once thought; it can be just as dangerous as a high diastolic.
mmm
From the link Isilder provided, it says that the extra weight strains your heart. I assume your heart has to work harder to pump the blood to keep your muscles working.