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Article: Top number important in blood pressure
- Article from:
- New Pittsburgh Courier
- Article date:
- March 21, 2001
CopyrightCopyright New Pittsburgh Courier Mar 21, 2001. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Top number important in blood pressure
HOUSTON--When reading the results of blood pressure measurements, many people focus on the bottom number or diastolic blood pressure, to determine their risk for heart attack or stroke.
But paying attention to the often-ignored top number or systolic blood pressure, could be as important, according to researchers at Baylor College of Medicine's High Blood Pressure Research Clinic.
"The public's perception is that diastolic blood pressure is more important than systolic blood pressure," said Dr. James L. Pool, a professor of medicine and pharmacology at Baylor. "However, people with normal diastolic blood pressure, but even slightly elevated systolic ...