Which statement describes isolated systolic hypertension in aging?

• A. It does not occur in aging
• B. It is caused by decreased arterial stiffness
• C. It increases due to thickening and stiffening of arteries
• D. It always decreases diastolic BP

Answer: (C)

Isolated systolic hypertension in aging mainly comes from the arteries losing their elasticity over time. As we get older, large arteries like the aorta thicken and stiffen due to changes in the vessel wall—more collagen, less elastin, and sometimes calcification. When the heart pumps, those stiff arteries don’t dampen the pressure as well, so the systolic pressure rises. At the same time, diastolic pressure often falls or stays lower because the stiff vessels don’t hold pressure as effectively during diastole, leading to a widened gap between systolic and diastolic pressures. That combination—higher systolic with normal or lower diastolic pressure—is the hallmark of isolated systolic hypertension.

So the best description is that it increases due to thickening and stiffening of arteries. The other statements don’t fit because aging does occur, arterial stiffness increases (not decreases), and diastolic pressure is not universally decreased in every case.