The mean arterial pressure ( the average pressure ) and pulse pressure ( the difference between the systolic and diastolic ) are other important values . In the past , most attention was paid to diastolic pressure ; but nowadays it is recognized that both high systolic pressure and high pulse pressure ( the numerical difference between systolic and diastolic pressures ) are also risk factors . In some cases , it appears that a decrease in excessive diastolic pressure can actually increase risk , due probably to the increased difference between systolic and diastolic pressures ( see the article on pulse pressure ) .