High Systolic Blood Pressure Can Damage Weak Arteries
When a person's blood pressure is checked it is read as two numbers, the systolic blood pressure, the top number and the diastolic blood pressure, which is the lower bottom number. The systolic blood pressure is the amount of pressure placed on the inside of the arteries when the blood is pumping and forcing blood out of the heart and the diastolic pressure is the amount of force being placed on the inner walls of the arteries between beats of heart while it is at rest.
Another way to look at blood pressure is like a garden hose. If a nozzle is attached to the hose and closed, when the water is turned on the hose will have pressure inside from the force of the water being pushed into the hose, similar to the systolic blood pressure. When the nozzle is opened and water flows through the hose, it will represent the diastolic blood pressure. Any weaknesses in the hose will likely show when the water is being forced into the hose, much like weak arteries are affected by the systolic blood pressure.
If the nozzle on the hose is only partially opened, similar to a partially clogged artery, the pressure in a hose, while lower than when the nozzle is open, will still be higher than usual and damaged areas of the hose are more susceptible to breaking open. If the systolic blood pressure and diastolic pressure remain high and uncontrolled there is a better chance the arteries will break leading to a heart attack or stroke.
Determining Cause Helps Define Treatment Options
There are many potential causes of high systolic blood pressure including foods and beverages that can cause the heart to beat faster or a build up of cholesterol, making the blood thicker, causing the heart to have to work harder to push the blood through the arteries. Going back to the garden hose, water will flow easier and faster with less pressure than thicker substances such as oil or molasses.
If the garden hose becomes thicker in some areas due to damage, or silt in the water builds up on the inside of the hose, water flow will be slowed, and in the heart this type of circumstance can slow th flow of blood causing an increase in the systolic blood pressure. It will be important for the doctor to try to determine why the systolic blood pressure is reading high to effectively find a means of making it lower.
