Diastolic blood pressure: Worth a second look?
Current blood pressure guidelines define an ideal reading as less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). According to some research, an even lower systolic value (the first number in the reading) may help prevent even more heart attacks and strokes. But more aggressive treatment to lower systolic blood pressure makes sense only as long as you don’t develop symptoms such as feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
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