High BP redefined as 130, not 140

High blood pressure should be treated earlier when it reaches 130/80 mm Hg rather than 140/90, according to the first comprehensive high BP guidelines for more than a decade. The guidelines are being published by the  Heart Association for detection, prevention, management and treatment of high blood pressure.

Rather than one in three adults having high blood pressure (32 per cent) with the previous definition, the new guidelines will result in nearly half of the  adult population (46 per cent) having high BP, or hypertension, doctors said in a statement.

However, there will only be a small increase in the number of adults who will require antihypertensive medication, it said. High blood pressure is now defined as readings of 130 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) and higher for the systolic BP measurement, or readings of 80 and higher for the diastolic measurement.

That is a change from the old definition of 140/90 and higher, reflecting complications that can occur at those lower numbers.

The new guidelines stress the importance of using proper technique to measure blood pressure. Blood pressure levels should be based on an average of two to three readings on at least two different occasions, doctors said.

High blood pressure accounts for the second largest number of preventable heart disease and stroke deaths, second only to smoking, it said. It is known as the “silent killer” because often there are no symptoms, despite its role in significantly increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke.

The lead author of the guidelines, noted the dangers of blood pressure levels between 130-139/80-89 mm Hg. “You have already doubled your risk of cardiovascular complications compared to those with a normal level of blood pressure,” he said.

“We want to be straight with people – if you already have a doubling of risk, you need to know about it. It does not mean you need medication, but it is a yellow light that you need to be lowering your blood pressure, mainly with non-drug approaches,” he said.

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