Which statement describes pulse pressure with aging?

• A. Pulse pressure increases with aging due to arterial stiffening
• B. Pulse pressure decreases with aging
• C. Pulse pressure remains the same
• D. Pulse pressure becomes negative

Answer: (A)

Arterial stiffening with age changes how pressures ride on the pulse. When arteries lose elasticity, the aorta can’t expand as well during each heartbeat, so systolic pressure tends to rise. At the same time, stiff vessels don’t recoil as effectively, and diastolic pressure may stay the same or drop a bit. The net result is a larger difference between systolic and diastolic pressures—pulse pressure increases with aging. This is why the statement describing pulse pressure as increasing due to arterial stiffening is the best description. The ideas that it decreases, stays the same, or becomes negative don’t fit the typical vascular changes seen with aging.