Pulse pressure is a vital measure of your cardiovascular health. It can help predict the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Healthy adults typically have a resting blood pressure of 40 mmHg. Exercise increases pulse rate, which causes the arteries to become stiff. The total peripheral resistance increases during physical activity, so the pulse rate drops during exercise. By the time exercise is complete, the pulse rate will be back to normal.
Wide pulse pressure, also known as high pulse pressure, is a significant risk factor for developing heart disease and stroke. It increases the likelihood of heart failure and organ damage. The condition is also associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events as people get older. A study published in 2021 addressed the prevention and management of major heart disease and stroke caused by high or wide blood pressure. The results show that healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events and improve your quality of life.
Researchers used a Framingham cardiovascular risk score to assess the association between pulse pressure and a variety of factors, including age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and diabetes. Patients who were at a high risk for high pulse pressure had a 31% increased risk of a cardiovascular event. There was no correlation between high pulse pressure and the presence of smoking or having a low-fat diet and low blood sugar. While this is not the only cause of heart disease, it is a risk factor for many cardiovascular conditions.
Recent work indicates that high pulse pressure is a risk factor for heart disease. In a meta-analysis published in 2000, researchers combined the results of several studies on more than 8,000 elderly patients. They found that a 10 mmHg increase in pulse pressure increased the risk for atrial fibrillation and major cardiovascular events by 20%. The authors concluded that a lower diastolic blood pressure might contribute to high pulse pressure.
The Framingham Heart Study evaluated the relationship between high pulse pressure and coronary heart disease in elderly patients. The findings from this study suggest that high pulse pressure is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. The Framingham study also found a correlation between high blood pressure and a lower systolic pressure. Some medications, including aspirin, can increase pulse and systolic blood-pressure medications, can cause wide pulse pressure.
A high resting pulse pressure can accelerate the aging process of the organs in the body. It affects the heart, kidneys, and brain. It may also cause irregular breathing patterns and can increase intracranial pressure. In some cases, this can lead to a number of heart diseases, so high pulse pressure is a risk factor for any type of heart disease. In addition to medications, lifestyle changes are important for maintaining good heart health.
