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What exactly is blood pressure in the first place? And how can you know if your blood pressure is either high OR low?...
Millions of American have blood pressure problems. Learn what can put you at risk of high or low blood pressure here....
High blood pressure and low blood pressure manifest physical symptoms. Learn the signs of hypertension and hypotension here....
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Q: systolic and diastolic readings
asked by: jenswolf on May 17th, 2008
New User
Hi, what does it mean when persons blood pressure readings vary in both directions at the same time?
If the Systolic # is high while the diastolic # is low - 139/55
This person has also been experiencing headaches for 3 days
They are 56 yrs old - and diabetic - and are not on meds for diabetes type 2
They are not real physically fit or very active

Thank you
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MandMs
replied on May 20th, 2008
Extremely eHealthy
In people older than 50, the main abnormality is high systolic blood pressure, often associated with low diastolic pressure.
After midlife, the diastolic blood pressure often falls.
The change in blood pressure as you age is caused by progressive stiffening of the aorta and its main branches.
As the aorta stiffens with age, it expands less when blood from the heart enters it, causing higher systolic blood pressure. Also because of the stiffening, more of the blood in the aorta and its main branches is forced into other smaller blood vessels when the heart beats, thus, less is present between heartbeats to support the diastolic blood pressure, which becomes lower.

Does this person have a history of hypertension?
Does it take antihypertensive drugs?
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