Definition of pulse pressure

The measurement of blood pressure includes two types of readings known as systolic and that of diastolic pressures. These two readings are taken at the two extreme ends of a cardiac cycle and are considered to be the person’s highest and lowest blood pressure levels. The pulse pressure is nothing but the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures. For example if the normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm of mercury then the normal pulse pressure is 40 mm of mercury during rest condition.

A person having a normal blood pressure will have a pulse pressure of 40 mm but that does not mean that a person with 40 mm pulse pressure will have a normal blood pressure. Some information revels that pulse pressure is an important clinical tool to determine the blood pressure, how ever it becomes complicated and is risky some times.

Pulse pressure is a strong indicator of heart ailments. A high pulse pressure indicates risk of heart failure and low pulse pressure indicates that the heart is weak and significant blood loss. Low pulse pressure causes trauma and low stroke volume in heart leading to a congestive heart failure. A pulse pressure which is lower than 25mm of mercury and more then 45 mm is extremely dangerous and causes serious health hazards. A high pulse pressure leads to stiffness of pulse pressure leading to rupture of arteries. A patient suffering from elevated blood pressure should undergo medications such as Anzio tension converting enzyme inhibitor.