1986 Volume 23 Issue 4 Pages 401-405
“Basal blood pressure”defined as the average of multiple readings obtained during a two hour observation at supine rest was compared with a casual blood pressure in middle and old-aged 46 patients (40-78 years) with mild essential hypertension (diastolic blood pressure, 90-104mmHg) in a outpatient setting. After approximately 60 minutes of supine rest, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were reduced to a minimum level. Basal systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly less than casual blood pressures by 21.1±12.5 and 12.1±8.6mmHg respectively. Since basal blood pressures in these patients were almost normal, it is indicated that they should be offered close observations and appropriate non-drug therapies at first. Age was not related to the extent of the differences between the casual and basal values in either blood pressures or heart rate. On the other hand, plasma norepinephrine level was significantly higher in the patients who showed a greater extent of the differences between casual and basal blood pressures than those with a less extent of the differences, suggesting that sympathetic nervous activity may be involved in the variability of blood pressure in these patients.
