Diastolic high blood pressure (hypertension): Causes, symptoms, and treatment

High blood pressure or hypertension is a long-term condition in which the blood pressure within the arteries is persistently elevated. Blood pressure is expressed by two measurements, the systolic and diastolic measurements represented by the top number and bottom number received when measuring blood pressure, respectively. These numbers are measured according to the actions of the heart. Systolic blood pressure is the measurement created as the heart contracts during each heartbeat. Diastolic blood pressure is the measurement of blood pressure as the heart relaxes. The optimal blood pressure currently accepted is to have a blood pressure in the range of 120/80. Having diastolic high blood pressure is a sign that your blood vessels have become less elastic, hardened, and scarred. Blood pressure is not a static reading as it tends to fluctuate throughout the day with the normal rate of diastolic blood pressure ranging betwee 60 to 80 mmHg. Having flexible blood vessels allows your body to appropriately manage oscillations in blood pressure. However, when your blood vessels are rigid, the chances of vessel rupture or obstruction is more likely to occur.