If the pulse pressure is extremely low, i.e. In trauma, a low or narrow pulse pressure suggests significant blood loss (insufficient preload leading to reduced cardiac output). The most common cause of a low (narrow) pulse pressure is a drop in left ventricular stroke volume. normal 15mmHg - 8mmHg = 7mmHg 46.7% high 25mmHg - 10mmHg = 15mmHg 60% Values and variation Low (Narrow) Pulse Pressure Ī pulse pressure is considered abnormally low if it is less than 25% of the systolic value. It is measured by right heart catheterization or may be estimated by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) Normal pulmonary artery pressure is between 8mmHg -20 mm Hg at rest. Pulmonary (Heart-Lung) pulse pressure (PAP) is normally a lot lower than systemic blood pressure.

normal 120mmHg - 80mmHg = 40mmHg or 33% of systolic pressure high 160mmHg - 80mmHg = 80mmHg or 50% of systolic pressure

Systemic pulse pressure (usually measured at upper right arm artery) = P systolic - P diastolicĮ.g.

If the aorta becomes rigid because of disorders such as arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis, the pulse pressure would be very high because the aorta becomes less compliant due to the formation of rigid lesions to the (otherwise flexible) aorta wall. This serves the important function of damping the pulsatile ( max pump pressure) output of the left ventricle, thereby reducing the initial systolic pulse pressure but slightly raising the subsequent diastolic phase (a period rather similar to Dwell time). The aorta has the highest compliance in the arterial system due in part to a relatively greater proportion of elastin fibers versus smooth muscle and collagen. The systemic pulse pressure is approximately proportional to stroke volume, or the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle during systole (pump action) and inversely proportional to the compliance (similar to Elasticity) of the aorta. Pulse pressure is the (higher) systolic blood pressure minus the (lower) diastolic blood pressure.

2.2.1 High values during or shortly after exercise.

Diastolic blood pressure chart