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Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, reflecting the force that the heart generates each time it beats. It is an important measure in understanding cardiovascular health, as it can indicate the elasticity of arteries and the overall efficiency of blood flow in the circulatory system.
- What Is Pulse Pressure?
- How to Calculate Pulse Pressure
- Wide Pulse Pressure
- Narrow Pulse Pressure
When you go to the doctor to get your blood pressure checked, they’ll give you your result as a larger number (top) next to a smaller number (bottom), e.g. 120/80. The first number is your systolic blood pressure, and the second number is your diastolic blood pressure. The heart rhythmically contracts and relaxes, pushing blood out and letting new ...
To calculate pulse pressure, simply subtract your systolic blood pressure (top number) from your diastolic blood pressure (bottom number). Like blood pressure, it is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). For example, if your blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, your pulse pressure is 40 mmHg (120 – 80).
Definition
If your pulse pressure is greater than 60 mmHg, it is considered high, or “wide” .
What Does It Mean?
A wide pulse pressure means that the difference between your systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure is large, or wide. It is generally a sign of arterial stiffness and may increase your risk for heart disease and other conditions . High pulse pressure is especially dangerous when combined with a high systolic blood pressure . This means that a blood pressure reading of 170/110 carries more risk than a reading of 130/70 (with the exact same pulse pressure of 60 mmHg).
Negative Health Effects
The following conditions are commonly associated with wide pulse pressure. Note, however, that the majority of studies covered in this section deal with associations only, which means that a cause-and-effect relationship hasn’t been established. Other genetic and environmental factors that may vary from one person to another could also contribute to these conditions.
Definition
A pulse pressure that is less than 40 mmHg is considered low, or “narrow” .
What Does It Mean?
Having a narrow pulse pressure is a sign that your heart is not pumping as much blood as it should .
Negative Health Effects
The following conditions are commonly associated with narrow pulse pressure. Note, however, that the majority of studies covered in this section deal with associations only, which means that a cause-and-effect relationship hasn’t been established. Other genetic and environmental factors that may vary from one person to another could also contribute to these conditions.
Jan 5, 2024 · A pulse pressure is the difference between your systolic and diastolic pressures, most commonly seen as the two numbers that define your blood pressure (i.e. 120/80, respectively). The top number (the higher of the two values) is your...
Oct 25, 2023 · Pulse pressure is the difference between your upper (systolic) and lower (diastolic) numbers in a blood pressure reading. You can calculate your pulse pressure by subtracting the diastolic...
The pulse pressure formula is the difference between the higher number and the lower number of your blood pressure. Example: If your blood pressure was 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), the pulse pressure would be 120 - 80 = 40. A normal pulse pressure is 40 mmHg.
Nov 21, 2023 · Learn to define what pulse pressure is. Discover the normal range of pulse pressure. Learn about systolic and diastolic pressure. See causes of abnormal pressure. Updated: 11/21/2023
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What is a pulse pressure?
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Jul 10, 2023 · Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressures. [1] [2] [3] The systolic blood pressure is defined as the maximum pressure experienced in the aorta when the heart contracts and ejects blood into the aorta from the left ventricle (approximately 120 mmHg).
