Ask a doctor on the topic of Internal medicine

Diastolic blood pressure

July 25, 2012 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good evening.

I would like to know if a very low diastolic value is concerning in any way?

Just a heads up: I had an echocardiogram a few months ago and there is no insufficiency or other abnormalities. I had a long-term ECG and blood pressure monitoring back then because I had high blood pressure due to panic disorders at that time.

In the evening, I often have a blood pressure of, for example:
116/54 or 125/61
the lowest diastolic value I have ever measured was around 46. (PS: yes, the devices - there are 2 - are new and in good condition and are used correctly)

I generally feel fine with these values. These low values mainly occur when I have consumed even small amounts of alcohol. My normal relaxed values without consumption are between 71 and 85... as soon as the beer comes: boom - down to the 50s/60s range.

For the past 2 weeks, I have also been taking Symbicort Turbohaler 160/4.5 powder inhaler twice a day for allergic asthma. But I have had these values before.

What's going on? Is this dangerous?

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good evening,

In most actually healthy patients, the diastolic blood pressure drops significantly when there is a lack of water, or when the circulation is disrupted by alcohol. This is not dangerous; alcohol is just strongly sedative and also diuretic, causing the body to sometimes lose water, both of which at most lead to accompanying fatigue or dizziness. Symbicort actually increases heart rate and blood pressure, so it is not responsible for this.

Low blood pressure is actually much healthier than high blood pressure, as it relieves the veins.

Wishing you all the best and best regards, Dr. F. Höllering. Doctor of Internal and General Medicine.