See the gap between your systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings, and what that gap can indicate.
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Most people only look at their systolic and diastolic blood pressure numbers separately. The gap between them, called pulse pressure, is a number worth understanding too.
Pulse pressure is simply your systolic blood pressure minus your diastolic blood pressure. If your reading is 120/80 mmHg, your pulse pressure is 40 mmHg. It reflects the force your heart generates with each beat relative to the resistance in your arteries at rest.
A pulse pressure that is persistently too wide (generally over 60 mmHg) or too narrow (under 40 mmHg) can be a signal worth paying attention to:
A single reading is just a snapshot. Track your pulse pressure over time, alongside your regular blood pressure readings, to see patterns rather than reacting to one number.
Log your blood pressure readings over time with our Health Tracker, and check your Heart Rate Zones if you are also training regularly.
Not necessarily on its own, it is one signal among many. Persistent, significantly elevated pulse pressure is worth discussing with a doctor, especially alongside other risk factors.
Yes, arteries naturally stiffen somewhat with age, which tends to widen pulse pressure over time even in generally healthy people.
Yes, pulse pressure rises during and shortly after exercise since the heart is pumping harder. Take resting readings, ideally seated and relaxed, for a consistent comparison.