blood pressure numbers

Hello Mike,

People often ask me what the difference in you blood pressure means.  This value is called the pulse pressure and its variance from normal can be seen in different diseases. Pulse pressure does not have a normal definition per se, however, average pulse pressure is about 40 mm Hg.

You can have a low pulse pressure in heart failure.  This is because your heart can pump hard enough. Contributing factors to heart failure include coronary artery disease/heart attacks, high blood pressure, smoking, and many others.  A defect which narrows your aortic valve- the valve between your heart and the largest artery in your body, the aorta - called aortic stenosis can also cause a low pulse pressure.

High pulse pressure can be seen in arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, caused by high blood pressure, cholesterol, and/or old-age-related calcium deposits.  A different aortic valve defect that allows blood to flow from your aorta back into the heart, called aortic regurgitation, can also have high pulse pressure seen as a sign.

Of course, high or low pulse pressure does not necessarily mean anything!  With most of these diseases, you would in all likely-hood be experiencing other symptoms.  As always, if you are concerned with an aspect of your health , bring it up with your physician at your next visit.

To your health,

Neil MD