Pulse Pressure
Pulse Pressure (PP) is an indicator of cardiovascular health. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Evaluating pulse pressure by a healthcare professional may help predict the risk of a heart event, including a heart attack or stroke.
How Pulse Pressure is calculated
The BPTrakr app calculates Pulse Pressure by subtracting the diastolic pressure measurement from the systolic pressure measurement:
Pulse Pressure = SP – DP
Where:
SP = systolic pressure
DP = diastolic pressure
Significance of Pulse Pressure
A normal pulse pressure range is between 40 and 60 mm Hg. A high pulse pressure of more than 60 mm Hg means either your heart is working harder, your arteries are less flexible, or both. A higher pulse pressure may indicate an increased risk of heart disease, heart rhythm disorders, stroke and more. A low pulse pressure of less than 40 mm Hg happens when your heart isn’t pumping enough blood, which is seen in heart failure and certain heart valve diseases.
See also
- Pulse Pressure on Wikipedia.
- Physiology, Pulse Pressure on the National Library of Medicine.