Technique
1. Difference between systolic and diastolic pressures
Normal pulse pressure
1. Range: 30-40 mmHg
Widened (high) pulse pressure (>40 mmHg)
1. Pathophysiology in Isolated Systolic Hypertension
  1. Suggests reduced large artery vascular compliance
  2. Best Blood Pressure marker for cardiovascular risk
2. Causes
  1. Isolated Systolic Hypertension
  2. Aortic Regurgitation
  3. Thyrotoxicosis
  4. Patent Ductus Arteriosus
  5. Arteriovenous fistula
  6. Beriberi heart
  7. Aortic Coarctation
  8. Anemia
  9. Emotional state
Narrowed pulse pressure (<30 mmHg)
1. Causes
  1. Tachycardia
  2. Severe Aortic Stenosis
  3. Constrictive Pericarditis
  4. Pericardial Effusion
  5. Ascites

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 5/10/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.