Isolated Systolic High Blood Pressure

Topic Overview

In isolated systolic high blood pressure (isolated systolic hypertension, or ISH), systolic blood pressure is elevated (130 mm Hg or higher), but diastolic blood pressure stays below 80 mm Hg. This type of high blood pressure is more common in older adults, especially older women. In fact, the majority of people older than 60 who have hypertension have isolated systolic hypertension.

A systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or higher is an important risk factor for stroke and heart disease.

Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure. Depending how high your blood pressure is and your overall risk for a heart attack or stroke, your doctor may also talk to you about taking medicines to help lower blood pressure more.

Lifestyle changes include eating healthy with the DASH diet, losing weight, being active, limiting sodium, and limiting alcohol.

Medicines include:

• Diuretics.
• ACE inhibitors.
• ARBs.
• Beta-blockers.
• Calcium channel blockers.