Introduction
Blood pressure is always given in two values, the systolic (1st value) and the diastolic (2nd value); e.g. 120/80 mmHg. mmHg is the unit in which blood pressure is given and means millimeters of mercury. The systolic pressure results from the contraction of the heart.
The diastolic blood pressure is, in a sense, the basic pressure under which the heart chambers fill with blood again. It should not exceed 80-89 mmHg. In most cases of high blood pressure, both values are too high.
But in some cases, especially the diastolic, second blood pressure value is too high. This is called isolated diastolic hypertension (hypertension=hypertension). It is significantly less common than the frequent systolic hypertension, but can still cause severe damage, especially to the heart. In addition, a disease elsewhere is often behind an increase in the second blood pressure value. After diagnosis, appropriate treatment should always be given to prevent progression of the disease and consequential damage.
How dangerous is that?
Patients in whom the second blood pressure value is too high, the question arises: “How dangerous is that? This question is difficult to answer in a generalized way. How dangerous isolated diastolic hypertension is depends on the severity of the blood pressure increase as well as on the concomitant diseases of the person affected.
However, every high blood pressure should be treated. This applies to both classic and diastolic hypertension. The long-term consequences of high blood pressure are particularly dangerous and should not be underestimated.
Too high blood pressure damages many organs in the long run. For example, the kidneys are affected and the retina in the eye can also be damaged. In addition, the risk of a stroke increases.
If the second blood pressure value is too high, the heart is particularly affected. Unlike in all other organs, the blood supply to the heart does not take place during the contraction of the heart, but afterwards in the filling phase. In this phase, the diastolic blood pressure prevails, which is indicated by the second blood pressure value. If this is too high, damage to the coronary arteries can occur. In the course of time, the risk of a heart attack and chronic heart failure is thus increased.
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