How do I lower the bottom number of my blood pressure?
Diastolic pressure is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading. IDH occurs if someone has elevated diastolic blood pressure, increasing a person's risk of heart disease and stroke. Smoking, consuming alcohol, obesity, and high blood fat may lead to IDH.
Diastolic pressure is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading. IDH occurs if someone has elevated diastolic blood pressure, increasing a person's risk of heart disease and stroke. Smoking, consuming alcohol, obesity, and high blood fat may lead to IDH.
Deep breathing, a hot bath, and relaxation techniques may lower your diastolic blood pressure in a few hours. Exercise, quality sleep, and a healthy diet may give you results overnight or in a few days. Lifestyle changes and medications may take a few weeks to take effect.
- vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, and carrots.
- fruits, such as apples, oranges, and bananas.
- fish, particularly those rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
- lean cuts of beef or pork.
- skinless chicken or turkey.
- eggs.
- fat-free or low-fat dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt.
Pay attention to your diastolic number when you have your blood pressure checked. If your lower number is 60 or below, ask a healthcare professional about it. Let a doctor know if you have any symptoms of hypotension or heart failure.
When your diastolic blood pressure is over 90mm Hg, it's often called 'diastolic hypertension.' The diastolic pressure of an adult should typically be 60–80mm Hg, and if the number goes above this, it's considered hypertension.
Over the years, research has found that both numbers are equally important in monitoring heart health. However, most studies show a greater risk of stroke and heart disease related to higher systolic pressures compared with elevated diastolic pressures.
Elevated blood pressure is systolic of 120 to 129 and diastolic less than 80. Stage 1 high blood pressure is when systolic is 130 to 139 or diastolic is 80 to 89. Stage 2 high blood pressure is when systolic is 140 or higher or diastolic is 90 or higher.
Still, you can make lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down. Something as simple as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day improves blood pressure. Water makes up 73% of the human heart,¹ so no other liquid is better at controlling blood pressure.
The normal range of diastolic pressure should be 60 to 80 mmHg in adults. Anything above this is considered abnormal (hypertension). However, when blood pressure readings are above 180/120 mmHg, they are dangerous and require immediate medical attention.
Do bananas lower diastolic blood pressure?
Bananas. These are rich in potassium, a nutrient shown to help lower blood pressure, says Laffin.
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| 18-39 years | 110/68 mm Hg | 119/70 mm Hg |
| 40-59 years | 122/74 mm Hg | 124/77 mm Hg |
| 60+ years | 139/68 mm Hg | 133/69 mm Hg |
Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness or tingling, trouble speaking, or changes in vision.
140/90 or higher (stage 2 hypertension): You probably need medication. At this level, your doctor is likely to prescribe medicine now to get your blood pressure under control. At the same time, you'll also need to make lifestyle changes. If you ever have blood pressure that's 180/120 or above, it's an emergency.
Your blood pressure is considered high (stage 1) if it reads 130/80. Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/110 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away. A reading this high is considered “hypertensive crisis.”
Normal: Less than 120/80. Elevated: Systolic between 120-129 and diastolic less than 80. High blood pressure (hypertension) Stage 1: Systolic between 130-139 or diastolic between 80-89. High blood pressure Stage 2: Systolic 140 or higher or diastolic 90 or higher.
- Norvasc (amlodipine)
- Cardizem, Tiazac (diltiazem)
Anxiety doesn't cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in blood pressure.
The bottom (second) number, diastolic pressure, is always lower since it reflects the pressure inside the arteries during the resting phase between heartbeats. As it turns out, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure are important.
Stroke and Brain Problems
High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke.
Should I go to the hospital if my diastolic is high?
Seek emergency care if your blood pressure reading is 180/120 or higher AND you have any of the following symptoms, which may be signs of organ damage: Chest pain. Shortness of breath. Numbness or weakness.
“The American Heart Association states that a reading of 180/110 or greater requires immediate medical attention. If you take this reading two times in a row, five minutes apart, then you must head to the nearest ER,” says Dr. Meier.
Lemon drink contains traces of several minerals that may be beneficial in lowering blood pressure. Calcium and potassium both can lower blood pressure in those suffering from hypertension. A study suggests that lemon water can help bring the number to the normal range immediately.
Walking lowers systolic blood pressure by 4.11 mm Hg (95% CI, 3.01 to 5.22 mm Hg). It lowers diastolic blood pressure by 1.79 mm Hg (95% CI, 1.07 to 2.51 mm Hg) and resting heart rate by 2.76 beats per minute (bpm; 95% CI, 0.95 to 4.57 bpm).
The important thing to remember is that aspirin does not lower blood pressure on its own. However, its ability to thin out the blood can benefit some people with high blood pressure.
Blood pressure readings above 180/120 mmHg are considered stroke-level, dangerously high, and require immediate medical attention.
Diastolic heart failure occurs if the left ventricle muscle becomes stiff or thickened. The heart must increase pressure inside the ventricle to fill it. Over time, this causes blood to build up inside the left atrium, and then in the lungs, leading to fluid congestion and symptoms of heart failure.
Hypertensive Crisis: A High Blood Pressure Emergency
A systolic pressure reading above 180 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure reading above 110 mm Hg may mean that you are in hypertensive crisis and need emergency medical care.
Magnesium has been studied for years as one of the supplements for lowering blood pressure. A study found that over 24 weeks, magnesium supplementation decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The dose used was between 500 mg and 1000 mg a day.
- Skim milk. Skim milk contains potassium, calcium, and magnesium — minerals that are known to help decrease blood pressure. ...
- Tomato juice. ...
- Beet juice. ...
- Hibiscus tea. ...
- Pomegranate juice. ...
- Grapefruit juice.
What vitamins lower blood pressure?
Foods high in vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, selenium or L-arginine are good options if you're looking to lower your blood pressure. Antioxidants protect your cells from damage and can reduce inflammation, which, in turn, can keep blood pressure in control.
Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before a person wakes up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure typically drops in the late afternoon and evening. Blood pressure is usually lower at night while sleeping.
2. Blood pressure of 70 year olds. Blood pressure at age 70 is recommended to be kept at 134/87 mmHg. According to some studies, the blood pressure of 70-year-old people usually ranges from 121/83 mmHg - 147/91 mmHg.
Caffeine may cause a short, but dramatic increase in your blood pressure, even if you don't have high blood pressure. It's unclear what causes this spike in blood pressure. The blood pressure response to caffeine differs from person to person.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if any of these signs of stroke appear: Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech; Trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Trouble walking, dizziness, or problems with balance; severe headache with no known cause.
The Hypertension Danger Zone
If your systolic is over 180 or your diastolic is above over 120, you may be having a hypertensive crisis, which can lead to a stroke, heart attack, or kidney damage. Rest for a few minutes and take your blood pressure again. If it's still that high, call 911.
Risk factors for stroke that can be changed, treated, or medically managed: High blood pressure. Blood pressure of 140/90 or higher can damage blood vessels (arteries) that supply blood to the brain.
| Blood Pressure Levels | |
|---|---|
| Normal | systolic: less than 120 mm Hg diastolic: less than 80 mm Hg |
| At Risk (prehypertension) | systolic: 120–139 mm Hg diastolic: 80–89 mm Hg |
| High Blood Pressure (hypertension) | systolic: 140 mm Hg or higher diastolic: 90 mm Hg or higher |
• 120/80mmHg up to 140/90mmHg – pre-high blood pressure
Also called high-normal blood pressure. This is not high blood pressure, but it is a little higher than it should be and means you could go on to develop high blood pressure. See how you can make healthy changes to your lifestyle to lower it.
Still, you can make lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down. Something as simple as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day improves blood pressure. Water makes up 73% of the human heart,¹ so no other liquid is better at controlling blood pressure.
Do you need medication for 130 90 blood pressure?
120 to 129/less than 80 (Elevated): You probably don't need medication. 130/80 to 139/89 (stage 1 hypertension): You might need medication. 140/90 or higher (stage 2 hypertension): You probably need medication.
Even higher blood pressure (with the systolic blood pressure 180 or higher, the diastolic blood pressure more than 120, or both) is called a hypertensive urgency if there are no related symptoms. Or it's called a hypertensive emergency if there are symptoms indicating damage to the brain, heart, or kidneys.
This is what your diastolic blood pressure number means: Normal: Lower than 80. Stage I: hypertension: 80-89. Stage II: hypertension: 90 or more.
