Systolic blood pressure is the pressure experienced by the walls of the arteries of the body when blood flows through them at the time when the heart muscle contracts (at the time of systole). In the general indicator of blood pressure, this is the first, or upper number (upper blood pressure).
The magnitude of the systolic pressure depends on three main factors:
- force, with which the heart is contracted;
- the resistance exerted by the walls of the blood vessels (their tone and elasticity);
- the number of cardiac contractions per unit time.
The norm of systolic pressure is values from 110 to 120 mm Hg. Art. But the value of this indicator tends to change with the age of a person, therefore for each of us the norm is an individual value, at which the well-being is noted. A certain role in this is played by heredity. If systematic pressure measurements show stable deviations from the norm in one direction or another by 20%, you should consult your doctor.
Causes of low systolic pressure
Low systolic pressure may be temporarily noted due to the following factors:
- pregnancy (first trimester);
- overwork;
- physical exercise;
- sudden changes in weather or climatic conditions.
In such cases, low upper pressure is not something dangerous and normalizes itself after the elimination of the above factors. Serious reasons for lowering the upper blood pressure are:
- disruption of the heart valve, as a result of which the heart pumps blood poorly;
- bradycardia (a decrease in the frequency of cardiac contractions, which may be associated with sclerotic changes in the myocardium, a decrease in thyroid function, an increase in intracranial pressure, etc.);
- diabetes mellitus (due to decreased vascular tone and increased blood viscosity);
- intoxication (poisoning with alcohols, barbiturates, ethylene glycol, etc.);
- trauma of the brain and spinal cord, etc.
With reduced systolic pressure, a person can experience symptoms such as:
- irritability;
- drowsiness;
- apathy;
- dull pain in the head;
- dizziness;
- forgetfulness;
- sweating.
Causes of high systolic pressure
Increased systolic pressure in healthy people can be recorded as a result of:
- strong emotional overstrain;
- drinking alcohol;
- drinking coffee, strong tea, salty foods.
The pathological causes of a persistent increase in the upper blood pressure index can be:
- excessive activity of the thyroid gland or adrenal glands;
- obesity;
- disruption of the aortic valve;
- kidney disease;
- obliteration of the arteries with cholesterol plaques , etc.
For a long time, increased systolic pressure may not produce symptoms, but still more often the following signs are noted:
- headache (often in the occipital region);
- dizziness;
- "Flies" before the eyes;
- nausea;
- difficulty breathing.
Diagnosis with a decrease or increase in systolic pressure
To understand what caused the change in pressure indicators,
- physical examination of the heart by means of a phonendoscope;
- cardiac electrocardiogram;
- echocardiography;
- dopplerography of vessels ;
- blood test (general, biochemical).
In some cases it may be necessary to visit doctors of narrow specialties - cardiologist, gastroenterologist, nephrologist, etc.