Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is not actively beating. This number is the lower of the two blood pressure measurements and normally is less than 80 mm of mercury. High diastolic blood pressure puts a person at risk of developing a variety of conditions, including heart failure. There are many different potential causes of high diastolic blood pressure, which is commonly included as a part of a more general problem known as hypertension.
Lifestyle
A number of lifestyle factors can predispose a person to developing hypertension, the Patient Education Institute explains. High diastolic blood pressure is more common in people who consume a diet high in salt, who are overweight and who engage in little or no physical activity. The high salt content causes the body to retain more water and the excess weight puts additional strain on the arteries, resulting in the pressure in them being higher even when the heart is not pumping.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is another factor in the development of high diastolic blood pressure. Atherosclerosis is caused by cholesterol accumulating in the walls of arteries, resulting in the development of cholesterol-rich masses known as atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques block off parts of the artery, making it more narrow and causing an elevation in diastolic blood pressure.
Hormonal Diseases
Some diseases that affect the levels of different hormone in the body can also result in elevated diastolic blood pressure, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute explains. The kidneys are involved in regulating blood pressure; kidney disease often causes the kidneys to underestimate the blood pressure in the body, resulting in the secretion of hormone that elevate diastolic blood pressure. Hyperthyroidism, a disease in which the thyroid produces abnormal amounts of thyroid hormones, can also result in diastolic hypertension.
Stress
Emotional stress can result in elevation of the diastolic blood pressure in the body. This is especially common for patients who experience hypertension when they go to the doctor's office but not when their blood pressure is measured elsewhere. This condition, known as white coat hypertension, is caused by the patient's anxiety at having to see the doctor, MayoClinic.com explains.
Drugs
Many medications can result in elevated diastolic blood pressure. Birth control pills, for example, can disrupt the body's natural balance of hormones, which can cause a person's diastolic blood pressure to be abnormally high. Medications used to treat colds and allergies, such as decongestants and other cold medicines, can also raise blood pressure MayoClinic.com reports. Certain pain relievers and other prescription medications can also result in elevated blood pressure. In addition, the use of cocaine, amphetamines or other stimulants can result in dangerously high diastolic pressure.
