Isolated systolic hypertension: A health concern?

Date Updated: 04/29/2020

Answer Section

Yes. If your systolic blood pressure rises, but your diastolic blood pressure stays normal, you have a condition called isolated systolic hypertension.

Isolated systolic hypertension happens when your diastolic blood pressure is less than 80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and your systolic blood pressure is 130 mm Hg or higher. Isolated systolic hypertension is the most common form of high blood pressure in people older than age 65. Younger people can have this type of high blood pressure too.

Isolated systolic hypertension can be caused by underlying conditions such as:

Artery stiffness
An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Diabetes
Heart valve problems
Obesity

Having a high systolic blood pressure for a long period of time can increase your risk of strokes, heart disease and chronic kidney disease.

The recommended goal for systolic pressure for adults younger than age 65 with a 10% or higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease is less than 130 mm Hg. For healthy adults who are age 65 or older, the recommended treatment goal for systolic pressure is also less than 130 mm Hg.

You'll need medications to control isolated systolic hypertension in order to prevent health problems. But, it's important that your systolic blood pressure treatment doesn't cause your diastolic blood pressure to drop too low. If that happens, you can develop other complications.

In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can also help improve your systolic blood pressure reading. Important changes include:

Eating a healthy diet
Decreasing the amount of salt in your diet
Losing weight if you're overweight or obese
Increasing physical activity to at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity
Limiting alcohol to no more than one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and under

Your doctor will ask you to come back for a follow-up appointment to make sure your treatment and lifestyle changes are improving your blood pressure.