Along with body temperature and pulse rate, blood pressure is one of the primary vital signs and something your doctor invariably assesses during a physical exam. Although many of us are concerned about hypertension, or high blood pressure, few people pay attention to pulse pressure -- what it means and the implications of a low value for exercise and health. Low pulse pressure can signal a serious cardiovascular disorder.
Definitions
A blood pressure measurement includes two numbers expressed as a fraction: a systolic pressure, which is the pressure in an artery measured in millimeters of mercury during the contraction of the heart, and a diastolic pressure, which is the arterial pressure between beats. According to PubMed Health, hypertension is present if your blood pressure is above 140/90. Although known contributors to hypertension include obesity, smoking, diabetes and excess salt in the diet, the cause is unknown in most cases. Pulse pressure is simply systolic pressure minus diastolic pressure, and a low or "narrow" value is associated with potentially dangerous heart problems.
Aortic Stenosis
Aortic valve stenosis is a narrowing of the valve between the left ventricle of the heart and the aorta, the vessel from which all systemic arteries originate. When this happens, the heart muscle must work extra hard in an effort to pump blood to the body. The condition may be congenital, or, less commonly, can result from calcium build-up on the valve or from rheumatic fever. Symptoms include chest pain, feeling faint with exertion, heart palpitations and weakness. It often goes undetected into adulthood, so if you have these symptoms while or after exercising, see your doctor.
Hypovolemia
Low blood volume, or hypovolemia, is a common cause of low pulse pressure. While this normally occurs as a result of blood loss, including internal bleeding, it can also happen after excessive sweating and diarrhea, both of which can result from prolonged, intense exercise in warm conditions. Symptoms include anxiety or agitation, cool clammy skin, confusion, weakness and pallor. If fluid loss is pronounced enough, it can lead to hypovolemic shock, in which victims lose consciousness. Treatment includes intravenous fluids and drugs to increase blood pressure.
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart, often called CHF or simply heart failure, refers to the inability of the heart to pump with sufficient force to keep the circulation flowing smoothly. It can arise from coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes and other chronic conditions. Common findings in CHF include, in addition to low pulse pressure, fluid build-up in the lungs and ankles, shortness of breath that is most severe when lying down, general tiredness and low exercise tolerance. Medications such as diuretics to help prevent fluid build-up can improve your ability to exercise to some extent even if you have CHF.
