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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Should The Systolic And Diastolic Readings Be 30 Apart?

I was instructed to monitor my BP after being flagged at my appt yesterday with an initial reading of 155/110 & a follow up of 144/110.

My first reading today (at rest) was 156/112. My second reading (at rest) was 117/113.

Took it again & got the same thing. Shouldn't the systolic & diastolic be at least 30 apart?
Wed, 18 Dec 2013
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
There is no exact number difference for the systolic and diastolic have to be apart. Generally 3 consecutive readings several appointments apart should give you a mean BP. Alternatively, keeping a BP diary AM/Lunch/PM will help in seeing the trend in BP throughout the day. Having said that, a systolic BP >130 mmHG and/OR a diastolic >90mmHg is considered hypertension and as such should be treated. You're diastolic number being so high tells me that your arteries have trouble relaxing, that they are not a pliable as the average person. therefore, an intervention is necessary ie. lifestyle modification via a low sodium diet and exercise and/or meds to help bring the BP down (there are some oral meds that can help specifically for the bottom number).
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Should The Systolic And Diastolic Readings Be 30 Apart?

There is no exact number difference for the systolic and diastolic have to be apart. Generally 3 consecutive readings several appointments apart should give you a mean BP. Alternatively, keeping a BP diary AM/Lunch/PM will help in seeing the trend in BP throughout the day. Having said that, a systolic BP 130 mmHG and/OR a diastolic 90mmHg is considered hypertension and as such should be treated. You re diastolic number being so high tells me that your arteries have trouble relaxing, that they are not a pliable as the average person. therefore, an intervention is necessary ie. lifestyle modification via a low sodium diet and exercise and/or meds to help bring the BP down (there are some oral meds that can help specifically for the bottom number).