What causes high diastolic blood pressure?
Nov 12, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Tian Hongbo
Introduction
Long-term high-salt and high-fat diets may lead to elevated diastolic blood pressure. A high-salt diet increases blood volume, thereby placing additional strain on the heart and raising diastolic blood pressure. A high-fat diet may cause lipid deposition in the vascular walls, reducing vascular elasticity, which can also lead to increased diastolic blood pressure. It is recommended to adjust dietary habits, focusing on low-salt and low-fat foods, and consuming more potassium-rich foods such as button mushrooms, bananas, and soybeans.
Generally speaking, high diastolic blood pressure refers to elevated diastolic pressure. High diastolic pressure can be caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits, lack of exercise, hyperthyroidism, primary aldosteronism, heart valve disease, and other factors. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention, identify the underlying cause, and follow medical advice for treatment. Specific causes are as follows:
1. Poor dietary habits: Long-term high-salt and high-fat diets may lead to elevated diastolic pressure. A high-salt diet increases blood volume, thereby increasing the workload on the heart and raising diastolic pressure. A high-fat diet may lead to lipid deposition on blood vessel walls, reducing vascular elasticity and increasing diastolic pressure. Adjusting dietary structure to mainly include low-salt and low-fat foods, and consuming more potassium-rich foods such as button mushrooms, bananas, and soybeans is recommended.
2. Lack of exercise: Long-term physical inactivity and obesity can lead to fat accumulation, increasing the burden on the heart and affecting blood pressure levels. Individuals with obesity have higher body fat content, increased blood viscosity, and greater blood flow resistance, which can elevate diastolic pressure, often accompanied by weight gain. Increasing physical activity appropriately, such as walking, jogging, or swimming, can help improve cardiovascular function and reduce diastolic pressure.
3. Hyperthyroidism: Patients with hyperthyroidism experience an increased metabolic rate, increased cardiac workload, enhanced cardiac contractility, and reduced vascular dilation capacity, all of which can lead to elevated diastolic pressure and symptoms of palpitations. Medications such as propranolol hydrochloride tablets, methimazole tablets, and propylthiouracil tablets should be taken as directed by a physician to lower blood pressure and inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis.
4. Primary aldosteronism: Excessive aldosterone secretion by the adrenal cortex causes sodium retention in the body, increased blood volume, and the heart needing to pump more blood to maintain normal circulation, resulting in elevated blood pressure and diastolic pressure, often accompanied by muscle weakness. Under a physician's guidance, medications such as nifedipine tablets, amlodipine besylate tablets, and nicardipine hydrochloride tablets may be used to inhibit aldosterone secretion.
5. Heart valve disease: Heart valve disease may impair the heart's pumping function, leading to inefficient blood circulation and elevated diastolic pressure. Additionally, heart valve disease may activate the sympathetic nervous system, causing vasoconstriction, further elevating blood pressure, and causing palpitations. Under medical guidance, surgical treatments such as valve repair, valve replacement, or percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty may be considered.
Maintaining healthy lifestyle and dietary habits in daily life, such as low-salt and low-fat diets, moderate exercise, and emotional stability, plays an important role in preventing and managing elevated diastolic pressure.
