The pulse pressure is the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures and it is considered to be abnormally wide when it exceeds 70 mmHg.

An abnormally wide pulse pressure may be found in a variety of conditions, including the elevated peripheral vascular resistance of hypertension and the sclerotic vasculature of old age. It may also reflect an increased stroke volume such as occurs in aortic regurgitation, patent ductus arteriosus, chronic anemia and hyperthyroidism.

The combination of an elevated systolic pressure and a low diastolic pressure suggests a lesion with an increased stroke volume and a rapid diastolic runoff.