Can systolic blood pressure equal diaslotic?

In most healthy adults, the systolic blood pressure is higher than the diastolic blood pressure. However, there are some cases where the systolic blood pressure may be equal to or even lower than the diastolic pressure. This is more common in older adults and people with certain medical conditions, such as aortic stenosis or mitral stenosis.

Causes of equal systolic and diastolic blood pressure

There are a number of factors that can cause the systolic and diastolic blood pressures to be equal. These include:

* Aortic stenosis: Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve, which is the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the body. Aortic stenosis can increase the systolic blood pressure and decrease the diastolic pressure, which can cause the two pressures to become equal.

* Mitral stenosis: Mitral stenosis is a narrowing of the mitral valve, which is the valve that controls blood flow from the lungs to the heart. Mitral stenosis can increase the systolic blood pressure and decrease the diastolic pressure, which can cause the two pressures to become equal.

* Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thickened. This can cause the systolic blood pressure to increase and the diastolic pressure to decrease, which can cause the two pressures to become equal.

* Other medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as kidney disease, diabetes, and thyroid disease, can also affect blood pressure and cause the systolic and diastolic pressures to become equal.

When to see a doctor

If you notice that your systolic and diastolic blood pressures are equal, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Your doctor may order some tests, such as an echocardiogram or a stress test, to determine the cause of your equal blood pressures.