My husband with blood pressure reading of 159/87 is told ok with cerebrovascular disease the GP nurse said to worry when diastolic is 90

[Rosiemycat]

Has anyone with cerebrovascular disease been told only to worry if diastolic is over 90 and to ignore systolic pressure

[Ruadh]

Good morning Rosie - Happy Christmas - The pressures are not that high. Mine are usually around 160 /90m - 95. Nary a worry there. My cardiac team do not get hysterical over it. When we do raise our eyebrows is when it spikes to 185 / 100... which it does from time-to-time. We are all different though, and frankly I do not get in a pother over the lower readings, just am pleased not to have too many 'spikes'. Take care, and a better New Year for us all - take care -

[lilymeg]

Hi Rosie, years ago I was told that a guide for reasonable blood pressure was the systolic - 100 plus your age and diasystolic up to 90. Best wishes for 2021

[seasider18 in reply to lilymeg]

My Granny used to say that. Well I'm 86 and get concerned when it's as high as 186 as it does a few times a month. My usual medication is 12.5 mg Llosartan morning and night. If it stays very high I now take a 5mg Amlodipine as 'pill in the pocket' to bring it down.

[JennyRx]

The 100 plus age is not really used anymore. Would normally like systolic to be below 140 and diastolic below 90. Doctors usually know that bp is raised when it’s measured in the clinic or surgery so take that into account. And also will take into account your particular situation and conditions.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

It seems on the high side to me. Does he take any home readings?

[Mentdent]

It actually takes some time to get an accurate reading of blood pressure.Patient needs to be sat upright with both feet flat on the floor, back straight against a seat, arms level with chest.

The arm needs to be bare and the patient needs to relax for five minutes.

At least three readings need to be taken one minute apart and readings should be taken on both arms.

Obviously this is rarely done because it takes so long so properly done home monitoring is very important.

[joel132 in reply to Mentdent]

thank you

[Ruadh in reply to Mentdent]

Absolutely. Both arms, three times each, three times a day, then average out, each arm separately. Do for three days. A heck of a faff, but the one in an odd time at the clinic / surgery does not give a good picture. There was a recent article from cardiologist, on the use of the 24 hour Holter v the three days x 3 monitor at home pressures, which was best ? His opinion ? The home monitor, 3 days x 3 readings each day each arm, for both arms, gave the better BP picture than the Holter,

Certainly is a good way to keep a check. Just a bit of faffing about.

Downside ? Getting fixated on BP pressures...!!

[Mentdent in reply to Ruadh]

I did the Holter thing a few years ago. The readings were a joke. 280/170 and things like that. The real problem was a nurse using the wrong cuff. I didn’t have high blood pressure at all.

[Ruadh in reply to Mentdent]

- Sometimes one has to really laugh. I have had the same problem twice over. First time a year ago. An ECG - same idea as the Holter. Cuff the wrong size - would have done well for a sumo wrestler... They tried to keep it on with sellotape ! Kept falling down. A total joke. Not 'good' medicine ! Hopeless, data useless.Second time two weeks ago. Holter. First cuff, faulty. second cuff, wrong size - purple hands fingers and lower arms, extremely painful. Third try, the doctor on hand produced a cuff, too small. At which point, I gave up.

Gave em my own data, 5 days worth. Had to larf...

[seasider18]

I met a woman once whose job was going round construction and industrial sites and checking the workers BP. Any with diastolic over 90 she advised to see their GP.

[Palpman]

So your husband must worry if his diastolic goes from 87 to 90? What a joke of a nurse.

Due to the mechanics of the heart plus device there would be no difference between 80 and 87mm. Consecutive readings prove this. Only a device that slowly releases pressure over 5 or so minutes would give exact readings.

Many nurses don't know that the diastolic shows the blood pressure and the systolic is an indicator of vascular disease. Well, mostly.

This is the reason why bp must be taken on both arms and if the systolic differs by more than 15mm Hg inter arm then further tests are needed. One side could have a blockage.

If little difference between systolic pressures but larger between systolic and diastolic such as 80/180 then it may indicate that the heart is pumping against a part blockage.

If top and bottom readings are high in both arms then it could be due to diet, weight or not enough exercise.