Pertaining to the relaxation phase of the heartbeat, or period when the heart muscle is resting and filling with blood. When used in blood pressure readings (for example 120/80), it refers to the second/lower number.

	Coronary Disease / Heart Attack Our Question about how long your blood pressure has been elevated "While systolic blood pressure is a better predictor of cardiovascular events than diastolic blood pressure or pulse pressure, all three measures are strongly and directly related to the risk of coronary and cerebrovascular events..." Garlic As A Treatment "...2gm per day reduced total and LDL cholesterol, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure..." Hypertension The Condition "Blood pressure is measured with a blood pressure cuff and recorded as two numbers that represent systolic (peak pressure, shown first) and diastolic (base pressure, shown second)..." Our Question about your age "...If persons with ISH and diastolic hypertension are considered, over 50% of black and white men and over 60% of women over age 65 have hypertension..." Recommendation Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) "A 1999 study found that in systolic and diastolic hypertension as well as elevated pulse rate, blood plasma vitamin C levels were reduced..." Recommendation Salt Intake Reduction "...Several studies have shown that diets containing 1600 to 2300mg of sodium per day are associated with average reductions in systolic pressure of -9 to -15mm Hg and in diastolic pressure of -7 to -16mm Hg in salt-sensitive individuals..." Recommendation Raw Food Diet "In a study of 32 patients whose diets were changed to include 62% of calories from raw foods, their mean diastolic pressure reduction was 17mm Hg..." Recommendation Magnesium "...In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, it was demonstrated that oral magnesium resulted in a significant dose-dependent reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure..." Recommendation Garlic "...2gm per day reduced total and LDL cholesterol, as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure..." Recommendation Increased Fruit/Vegetable Consumption "Fruit and vegetable consumption (a minimum of five portions daily) was associated with modest reductions of systolic and diastolic blood pressures in a controlled study of 690 healthy people ages 25-64..." Rheumatoid Arthritis Recommendation Lei Gong Teng "...Three patients withdrew during the first 16 weeks of dose escalation, including one patient who developed diastolic hypertension at a dose of 180mg per day..." Test for Cardiac Risk Factors As A Treatment "...Although current guidelines for the management of high blood pressure rest almost completely on the measurement of the systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) values, a new study has found that something known as the "pulse pressure" may actually be a better predictor of heart disease risk..." Vitamin CoQ10 Need The Condition "...Diastolic dysfunction - one of the earliest identifiable signs of myocardial failure - is often found in mitral valve prolapse, hypertensive heart disease and certain fatigue syndromes..."

Last updated: May 10, 2007