The hidden pulse pressure: a key to heart and brain health
Pulse pressure is the gap between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and reflects arterial stiffness. Elevated pulse pressure independently signals higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia-related death, a link supported by recent research showing that people with higher genetic risk for elevated pulse pressure had about 16% greater dementia mortality. Normal pulse pressure is around 40 mm Hg; values above 60 mm Hg are riskier, and very low values can impede blood flow. Pulse pressure can be lowered by treating hypertension, following the DASH diet, and regular exercise, making it a useful metric alongside traditional blood pressure checks.
