What can be the cause if systole is high and diastole is low?

Normally, both systolic and diastolic values are increased or decreased together. However, if the systolic is elevated and the diastolic is lowered, this is called isolated systolic hypertension. Values are for example 150/50mmHg and are characterized by a large difference between the two values.

There are usually two possible causes for this manifestation. One reason for the isolated increase in systole can be a severe calcification of the blood vessels. These lose their elasticity as a result and cannot sufficiently buffer the rapid rise in blood pressure in the ejection phase of the heart because they cannot expand sufficiently.

Another cause can be a malfunction of the aortic valve, which is located between the left ventricle and the aorta. As a result, the heart has to fight against this resistance with increased force on the one hand and thus an increased systolic value on the other. On the other hand, if the valve is insufficient, blood can flow back into the heart in the flaccid phase and thus lower the diastolic blood pressure in the vessels. The high amplitude between systole and diastole may be exacerbated by the hyperthyroidism described above, which dilates the vessels and simultaneously increases the contraction of the heart. You can find more information about aortic valve insufficiency here.

Low diastole but high pulse?

People with low blood pressure often have a compensatory increase in heart rate. Due to the low diastole, the blood is not sufficiently transported to the organs and peripheral extremities. There it comes to a lack of oxygen, which is then compensated by increased heart rate. Resting pulses above 100 beats per minute are considered too high and require clarification. However, a high pulse rate does not always imply a pathology, as the heart rate is influenced by many other factors such as stress, time of day, hormones and stimulants such as alcohol or drugs.