Frequently I get days at a time of morning readings <> 178/96 which is even higher than when first diagnosed 2 years ago.I'm not due to have another check up until June. My dr always looks at the average and as the evenings are mostly fine the average is also within limits. i worry about these high morning readings which have risen recently due in part [probably] to a lot of stress. How important are the diastolic numbers, they seem to get little attention yet when I was first diagnosed 2 yrs ago I was told both systolic and diastolic numbers were too high. Am I right to worry? I take Losartan 25mg.
Hi Jane. I always worry when I get a higher than expected reading, at any time of day. I then find a reason why it is high.....and I can ALWAYS find a reason! My GP has always said I should look at the averages and so that's what I do. It could be that you need to "shock" your system (in a nice way) I suggest you look at your lifestyle and see if you can make any dramatic changes that could have a beneficial effect on your bp.
As for the importance of the readings....I always thought they were BOTH important.
I find my morning BP readings are often higher thean those later in the day. I put it down to lack of exercise overnight, and did not consider it a problem.
Jane, it seems as though your body is still struggling to get back to absolutely normal following your earlier stress. A cardiologist once told me that once a body develops high blood pressure, it only recognises high blood pressure! A bit deep sounding, and I wish I'd questioned him on that comment, but it sort of makes sense to me because it seems that once people go on to blood pressure lowering meds they are generally never able to come off them. I'm sorry if this sounds like gobbldegook, but at least I know what I mean!
Years ago we were always told to feel more concerned about the systolic reading than the diastolic. Now they tell us both are important. Hmmm.
Whether you're "right to worry"? Well, it can never be right to worry as that makes for more stress, but that's easier said than done, I know.
If you are taking your BP pill in the morning and your BP is normal by the evening, then it could just mean that the effects of the pill aren't lasting 24 hours to the next morning, hence higher morning readings. Just a thought for what it's worth - I'm not a medic.
If you're getting a daily average of normal readings on just Losartan 25mg, it sounds as though you're doing quite well considering the very low dose.
My dr too always looks at the average but did comment on some of the high numbers, both systolic and diastolic, this was 3 weeks ago when I went for routine check up. When first diagnosed 2 years ago I did all the things they tell you to do but probably don't expect you to stick to: cut out salt, alcohol only occasionally, lost weight, exercise daily etc. There really isn't a lot more I can do in that respect. My feeling too is that both of these numbers are too high.
Thank you Mrs.O for your reply. i sort of understand what you are saying and I do understand that the darned pills are for life. 
They call it 'essential hypertension' indicating that they don't really know the cause then you read about all the hardening of the arteries, plaque and all sorts of other nasties which scares one half to death for the risk of strokes and heart attacks. 3 people I know have very recently had TIAs or heart attacks and none of them had either hypertension or diabetes so it all seems rather random to me.
My dr reduced the Losartan from 50 mg to 25 mg at the end of July and until mid November my readings were averaging around 122/75, much the same as with the higher dose and there was little difference between am and pm.
Then at the end of Nov my husband was ill and the BP was all over the place. It's never come right down to what it was before, just settled around 130/78 which satisfied the dr. 3 weeks ago although she was concerned at some high morning readings,Since then they have become higher: especially in the morning and I'm not sure why. An average of morning readings for the past week was 145/88 which is much higher than it should be, When I had a check up 3 weeks ago I had half expected to have my pills raised back to 50 mg but she didn't and merely said to keep an eye on it and come again in June. You could well be right about the pills not lasting the full 24 hours, that would indicat a higher dose is needed perhaps. Quandary!