The generally accepted norm for blood pressure is a tonometer reading of 120/80, but deviations in both directions of these numbers are considered acceptable if they are isolated and do not accompany a deterioration in a person’s well-being. Regular pressure surges in one direction or another, if they occur at least several times a month, are considered hypertension or hypotension. But what if the device recorded a pressure of 110 over 90? What to do, whether you need to see a doctor right away and whether this condition is dangerous - today we will talk about this in detail.
What does the strange combination of numbers on the blood pressure monitor mean?
The normal upper limit for a person's blood pressure is 120 mmHg, but it can be lowered by several factors. This is hot weather, general malaise due to a cold, the first trimester of pregnancy and simply chronic lack of sleep. Therefore, if the systolic reading has dropped to 114–115 units, there is no reason to panic.
But a lower pressure of 90 against the background of a normal upper pressure, especially if such instrument marks are recorded regularly, already indicates existing malfunctions in the body. What do the numbers on the tonometer mean? Pressure measurement indicators characterize two phases of cardiac muscle activity:
- the first indicator describes the functioning of the heart at the moment of its tension, with what force the blood is pushed from the ventricles into the arteries - it is called systolic (or upper);
- the second indicator indicates the moment of relaxation of the main organ of the human body, when the heart is ready to accept a new portion of blood - it is called diastolic (or lower).
No less important is the pulse pressure indicator - this is the difference between the upper and lower blood pressure numbers. Normally, the difference between systole and diastole is 35-55 mmHg. A single deviation from the indicators is not pathological. But how do you understand that a pressure of 110 over 90 is observed on a regular basis?
Doctors may suspect the cause of such tonometer readings in the following factors:
- borderline norm of pulse pressure with a minimum difference of 20 units;
- the initial stage of isolated diastolic hypertension, when only the lower pressure indicator increases;
- absence of serious diseases, but a signal from the body about the need to change lifestyle - give up junk food, play sports, quit smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages;
- the first signs of severe pathologies such as malignant neoplasms, atherosclerosis of the heart and blood vessels and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.
In any case, if blood pressure constantly rises only at lower levels, you should not delay visiting a doctor. Isolated diastolic hypertension is a diagnosis that doctors are increasingly making due to poor nutrition, frequent stress, and bad habits.
First aid for high blood pressure
If you don't have medications on hand, and before consulting your doctor, there are a few steps you can take to lower your blood pressure. Also, these methods help relieve vascular spasm and restore cerebral blood flow. Doctors at the Clinical Brain Institute recommend following a number of simple steps:
- provide the patient with rest in a cool room;
- sufficient oxygen access - simple ventilation often helps to relieve pain, nausea and dizziness;
- massage of the neck and head is a way to relax the muscles and reduce their pressure on the blood vessels; you can do it yourself;
- a cool compress applied to the temples and soles of the feet.
Doctors advise limiting yourself to only those drugs that are indicated in the prescription. If they do not help, you should contact for a second consultation and adjust the list of medications. In addition, the patient should not independently increase the dosage of drugs to increase blood pressure and take additional drugs for a quick effect.
Causes of pathology
If a cardiologist diagnoses isolated diastolic hypertension, this means that the pathology occurs in one of two types. The disease can be symptomatic, that is, it is considered as a response to internal problems and pathological processes occurring inside vital organs. Or the pathology is independent, when an isolated increase in lower pressure entails consequences from other organs and systems.
What reasons can cause an increase in the lower reading of the tonometer:
Blood pressure 110 over 100 - what does this mean?
- Diseases of the kidneys and adrenal glands. Hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex take part in vital processes in the body. If too many substances are produced, various diseases develop, for example, hypertension or excess potassium in the blood plasma. To determine the relationship between isolated diastolic hypertension and problems with the renal system, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is performed. Although not only an increase in the production of hormones by the adrenal glands is dangerous for humans, their deficiency also adversely affects the condition of all organs and systems.
- Pathologies of the thyroid gland. Women are more susceptible to them than men due to constant changes in hormonal levels (during body growth, gestation, menopause). The thyroid gland directly affects a person’s emotional and physical health, his mood, appearance and well-being. Fluctuations in diastolic pressure may indicate an excess of hormones produced by the thyroid gland (thyrotoxicosis) or a lack of them (hypothyroidism).
- Excess fluid in the body. Lower pressure in this situation increases due to improper functioning of the kidneys, which control the level of fluid in the tissues. If the balance between sodium ions and water is disturbed, the body tries to dilute the amount of the element in the cells and accumulates water. The most common causes of fluid stagnation and increased diastolic pressure are pregnancy, menstruation, hot weather, allergic predisposition and excessive consumption of salty foods.
- Diseases of the spinal column. The spinal canals narrow due to congenital or acquired diseases, and problems arise more often in old age. The pathology is indicated by constant pain in the lumbar region, radiating to one leg, which is aggravated by physical activity. At a young age, increased lower pressure and problems with the spine are caused by congenital defects in the structure of the organ.
- Atherosclerosis. If the body's production of renin (a hormone that controls blood pressure levels) is impaired, diastole surges can be permanent. In addition to isolated diastolic hypertension, the patient will experience signs of narrowing of the lumen of the capillaries, a decrease in vascular tone and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
Less serious causes of pathology include poor diet, exposure to stress, smoking, alcohol abuse and obesity. A person is able to regulate such factors himself, after which blood pressure levels return to normal and general well-being improves.
Low blood pressure and high pulse: what to do
Low blood pressure: causes, possible pathologies, first aid
If a person has a high pulse (scientific names: tachycardia, rapid pulse) or low pulse (scientific names: slow pulse, bradycardia) along with low blood pressure, he needs to undergo a comprehensive examination, as these combinations often indicate serious health problems. Start by visiting a therapist. After making an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will recommend what needs to be done to improve your well-being and treat the identified pathology.
Low blood pressure and increased heart rate after drinking coffee or alcohol
There are many reasons why the pulse quickens, but at the same time the pressure drops. This can happen in the background:
- alcohol abuse;
- taking medications, including beta blockers, diuretics;
- consumption of tonics, coffee;
- insufficient physical activity.
Caffeine, energy drinks, alcohol, and nicotine cause increased heart rate, but each body’s reaction to them is individual. For some people, coffee increases blood pressure, while for others it decreases. Even if the appearance of a high pulse and low blood pressure is caused by the factors mentioned above, it is necessary to consult a therapist, since drinking coffee or smoking can increase the manifestation of hidden pathologies.
Vegetative crisis
This condition has a paroxysmal nature and develops in most cases with excitement or overheating. An attack can occur even in a sleeping person - in this case, unpleasant sensations force one to wake up.
Symptoms of a vegetative crisis:
- severe weakness;
- pale skin;
- trembling, tremor;
- profuse sweating;
- dull pain throughout the body;
- nausea, vomiting;
- tinnitus;
- darkening of the eyes;
- dry mouth;
- difficulty speaking and gait disturbances with preserved consciousness;
- high pulse;
- low blood pressure.
It may seem to the observer that the person has suddenly become intoxicated: he has turned pale, his speech has become unclear, his gaze has become unfocused, and his gait has become unsteady. These symptoms are of an increasing nature; the crisis usually reaches its peak 10–15 minutes after the first signs appear.
What to do to help the victim:
- lay down or sit down;
- help remove warm clothes;
- put cold water and warm coffee or tea with sugar nearby;
- provide a flow of fresh air.
The crisis can last from 5 minutes to half an hour; in most cases, calling an ambulance is not required. If such attacks occur against the background of overheating in an apparently healthy person, it is necessary to make an appointment with a neurologist: this is how demyelinating diseases and other pathologies of the nervous system can manifest themselves. If there is no connection with changes in external temperature, you should be examined by a cardiologist and endocrinologist.
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
The combination of a high pulse and low blood pressure often indicates congestive heart failure. In this case, there is weakness of heart contractions, which is partially compensated by an increase in their frequency. Therefore, the pressure will be low, but the pulse will be high. Please note: without treatment, this pathology eventually leads to a heart attack.
High pulse and low blood pressure can also be caused by atherosclerosis. Due to the buildup of cholesterol plaques or stenosis, arterial resistance increases, causing the heart muscle to contract more to pump blood.
Hyperthyroidism
One of the manifestations of the disease associated with increased production of thyroid hormones is a high number of heartbeats. At the same time, some patients have low blood pressure rather than high blood pressure.
The development of hyperthyroidism may be indicated by:
- increased appetite with rapid weight loss;
- anxiety;
- heat intolerance;
- tremor.
If you have these symptoms, you need to be examined by an endocrinologist.
Impaired production of cortisol and other corticosteroids
Pathologies of the adrenal glands, including Addison's disease, lead to a decrease in the production of the hormone cortisol, which affects vascular tone. The body compensates for the resulting circulatory failure by increasing the heart rate.
Increased heart rate and low blood pressure are sometimes associated with high cortisol levels. Increased production of this hormone may be a consequence of pituitary or adrenal tumors.
Diabetes and other diseases of the endocrine system
A high pulse and low blood pressure sometimes indicate such a common and dangerous disorder as diabetes. Often patients do not know about their diagnosis for a long time, which leads to accelerated development of the disease due to lack of treatment.
The following signs may suggest the presence of diabetes:
- sudden, unexplained change in weight (with type 1 diabetes, weight usually decreases, with type 2 diabetes it usually increases);
- frequent urination;
- drowsiness;
- irritability.
Low blood pressure and low pulse: what to do
The combination of low blood pressure and low pulse can be caused by various reasons:
- isolated heart rhythm disturbances, coronary heart disease - you need to consult a cardiologist;
- constant intense training (athletes often experience a decrease in blood pressure and pulse at rest) - observation by a therapist is necessary to exclude the development of pathologies;
- hypothermia - in normal general condition, medical assistance is not required; in case of severe prolonged hypothermia with deterioration in general condition, the help of a doctor is needed;
- hypothyroidism (decreased levels of thyroid hormones) – treatment by an endocrinologist is necessary;
- intoxication, uremia, sepsis, some pathological changes during pregnancy - in all cases emergency medical care is required.
Thus, with low pressure in combination with changes in pulse, you cannot self-medicate. Such conditions can be signs of dangerous pathologies, each of which is treated in its own way. You need to make an appointment with a doctor and begin the examination.
Symptoms
Normal upper pressure and elevated lower pressure often go unnoticed at the initial stage. Even if a high diastole was once recorded during a routine examination by a cardiologist, a small number of patients pay attention to this and undergo the examination. Only in the second and third stages, during surges in lower pressure, does a person begin to experience pronounced symptoms of hypertension:
- attack of nausea with the urge to vomit;
- high pulse - 100 beats per minute;
- dizziness and nosebleeds;
- release of cold sticky sweat;
- noise and ringing in the ears;
- feelings of fear and anxiety;
- dyspnea;
- a rush of blood to the face, a feeling that the cheeks are burning;
- feeling of discomfort and pain behind the sternum.
When the lower pressure rises to critical levels, a person gets a headache, his vision may become blurred, and the picture before his eyes becomes double. Another characteristic symptom is a lack of coordination in space, when dizziness leads to fainting.
What to do if the pressure is 110 over 90
Without medical observations and a thorough examination, it is impossible to determine why diastolic pressure is high. If the lower pressure is increased, this is recorded repeatedly, the pathology must be treated. Many patients begin to take medications thoughtlessly. Taking a one-time pill is not a solution to the problem. Medicines are prescribed by a doctor after determining the cause of the high diastolic value. A sharp deviation in indicators may indicate oncological processes and other dangerous diseases.
Why is increased lower blood pressure dangerous?
With a constant increase in diastolic pressure to 85–90 mmHg, the vessels experience enormous stress. They lose their usual tone, become fragile and inelastic. As a result, a person develops new pathologies and worsens existing ones.
If you ignore the symptoms of isolated diastolic hypertension, when the lower value is constantly growing, the risk of atherosclerotic plaques forming in the vessels and completely blocking their lumen increases. Plaques form only in arterial capillaries; venous ones are not affected by this pathology, since they do not consist of muscle tissue and do not experience excessive stress.
If earlier diastolic pressure was not given due attention, believing that only the upper reading of the tonometer was important, now doctors have come to the conclusion that both numbers are important. Increased diastole has three stages:
- first - the lower indicator rises to 90–100 mmHg;
- second – diastolic numbers reach 101–110 units;
- third – the lower threshold exceeds 110 mmHg.
This condition is constantly getting worse, which is why the risk of developing atherosclerosis increases, the condition of the capillaries worsens, and the body experiences a lack of oxygen. Dangerous consequences of untreated isolated diastolic hypertension are hemorrhage in the brain and retina, loss of visual function, and myocardial infarction.
