Blood pressure readings always include two numbers. The top number is called systolic pressure. It shows how much force your heart uses to push blood into your arteries.
The bottom number is called diastolic pressure, which measures the pressure in your arteries when the heart is resting between beats.
A study from the University of Southern Denmark looked at which of these two numbers is more important for predicting heart health. The answer depends on your age.
In the past, doctors used both systolic and diastolic pressure to understand heart disease risk. But in recent years, more attention has been given to systolic pressure, especially in older adults. That’s because high systolic pressure is linked to higher chances of heart problems, strokes, and early death.
This new study reviewed 26 years of health records from over 107,000 people between the ages of 19 and 97. None of them had heart disease at the start of the study. Over time, some experienced heart attacks, strokes, or died due to heart issues.
The results confirmed that high systolic pressure increases heart risk in all age groups. No matter your age or gender, higher systolic pressure means a higher chance of heart disease.
But there’s more. For people under the age of 50, diastolic pressure—the lower number—also plays a big role. The study found that younger adults with high diastolic pressure had a higher risk of developing heart disease later in life.
This means that for younger people, both numbers should be taken seriously. Ignoring diastolic pressure in this group could mean missing an early warning sign.
The study also highlighted another helpful number: mean arterial pressure, or MAP. This is the average pressure in your arteries during one heartbeat. It’s calculated using both the systolic and diastolic numbers. MAP turned out to be a strong predictor of heart problems and death for all age groups. This makes it a useful tool for doctors to assess heart health.
Understanding your blood pressure is more important than ever. Nearly half of all adults in the United States have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. It’s defined as having a systolic pressure of 130 or more, or a diastolic pressure of 80 or more.
And it’s not just older adults who need to pay attention. More than one in five people between ages 18 and 39 already have high blood pressure, according to the CDC. That’s why younger adults should check their blood pressure regularly and make healthy lifestyle choices.
Eating well, staying active, cutting down on salt and alcohol, and reducing stress can all help manage blood pressure. If you already have high readings, medicine may be needed. Always follow your doctor’s advice.
This study, led by Dr. Michael Hecht Olsen and published in the journal Hypertension, could help improve how doctors treat high blood pressure. By paying attention to both numbers and considering the patient’s age, doctors can take better steps to prevent heart disease before it starts.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and top 10 choices for a blood pressure-friendly diet
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about impact of vitamins on high blood pressure you need to know, and the powerful link between high blood pressure and a potassium-rich diet.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
