Which blood pressure pattern is more common in the elderly?

Prepare for the Engage Fundamentals RN Vital Signs Test. Master vital sign measurement with detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions, each paired with hints and explanations. Elevate your nursing proficiency!

Multiple Choice

Which blood pressure pattern is more common in the elderly?

Explanation:
With aging, arteries become less elastic and more stiff. That stiffness makes systolic pressure climb because the heart has to pump blood into less compliant vessels. Diastolic pressure tends to stay the same or drop because the stiff vessels don’t recoil as much during diastole. The result is a widened pulse pressure: elevated systolic pressure with normal or lower diastolic pressure. This isolated systolic hypertension is the pattern most commonly seen in older adults.

With aging, arteries become less elastic and more stiff. That stiffness makes systolic pressure climb because the heart has to pump blood into less compliant vessels. Diastolic pressure tends to stay the same or drop because the stiff vessels don’t recoil as much during diastole. The result is a widened pulse pressure: elevated systolic pressure with normal or lower diastolic pressure. This isolated systolic hypertension is the pattern most commonly seen in older adults.

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