Journal of the American Heart Association. Twenty-four-hour central pulse pressure for cardiovascular events prediction in a low-cardiovascular-risk population. To keep your heart and blood vessels healthy, try these tips: Studies also need to be done to learn if lowering pulse pressure can protect against heart attacks and strokes or reverse damage from such events. More research is needed to understand how medicines affect pulse pressure in different people. The greater the pulse pressure, the stiffer and more damaged the blood vessels are thought to be.īlood pressure medicines may not lower pulse pressure.
High blood pressure and a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls can make the arteries stiff. Stiffness of the body's largest arteries is the leading cause of increased pulse pressure in older adults. A pulse pressure greater than 60 is a risk factor for heart disease, especially for older adults. Generally, a pulse pressure greater than 40 mm Hg is unhealthy.Ĭhecking your pulse pressure may help your care team predict your risk of heart and blood vessel events, such as heart attacks and strokes. This is considered a healthy pulse pressure. So if the resting blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg, the pulse pressure is 40.
The top number minus the bottom number is the pulse pressure.
