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Lynn Kane posted an update in the group
Is our community healthy? 6 years ago Did you know the standards for high blood pressure have been lowered.
Blood pressure categories in the new guideline are:Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg;
Elevated: Systolic between 120-129 and diastolic less than 80;
Stage 1: Systolic between 130-139 or diastolic between 80-89;
Stage 2: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90 mm Hg;
Hypertensive crisis: Systolic over 180 and/or diastolic over 120, with patients needing prompt changes in medication if there are no other indications of problems, or immediate hospitalization if there are signs of organ damage.According to the American College of Cardiology:
High blood pressure should be treated earlier with lifestyle changes and in some patients with medication – at 130/80 mm Hg rather than 140/90 – based on new ACC and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for the detection, prevention, management and treatment of high blood pressure.
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Thanks for sharing that information, Lynn! It’s important to get that info out to people, especially since the 120/80 was the “gold standard” for years. I was shocked to hear this at my last physical. Do you know if there is any local data available on the number of newly diagnosed hypertension cases since the update? It would be interesting to see if there has been any significant change.
So if I am reading this correctly Lynn, those with “elevated” BPs (systolics >120 but < 130) should have accurate repeat measurement to be certain, and in addition, integrate lifestyle changes so that they do not progress into Stage 1 hypertension or beyond? With lifestyle changes alone, many would be able to get out of the hypertension pipeline.