High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a health problem that affects millions of people around the world. It happens when the force of the blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is too strong.
Over time, this extra pressure can damage your arteries and increase your risk of serious problems like heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. Many people with high blood pressure do not even know they have it because it usually has no symptoms, which is why it’s sometimes called a “silent killer.”
Doctors measure blood pressure using a cuff that wraps around your arm. It gives two numbers. The top number is called systolic blood pressure. It shows the pressure in your arteries when your heart is beating. The bottom number is called diastolic blood pressure. It shows the pressure when your heart is resting between beats.
For years, doctors believed it was important to keep the bottom number, the diastolic pressure, in a certain range—usually between 70 and 90. If it dropped too low, they worried it could be dangerous, especially for older adults.
But now, a large new study may change that thinking. A group of researchers, led by Dr. Bill McEvoy and based at NUI Galway in Ireland, looked at the health records of more than 47,000 people from different countries. Their goal was to better understand the link between blood pressure and serious health problems like heart attacks and strokes.
The researchers found that having a high systolic blood pressure—above 120—was clearly linked to a greater risk of heart disease and stroke. This confirms what doctors already knew.
However, they also discovered something new: having a very low diastolic pressure did not seem to cause harm. In other words, even if the bottom number was much lower than the traditional range, it didn’t increase the risk of health problems.
This finding is important because it means doctors may not need to worry as much about the diastolic number when treating people with high blood pressure.
Instead, they can focus on lowering the systolic pressure to a safer level, between 100 and 130. This could make it easier to treat high blood pressure and prevent serious illnesses without overcomplicating the treatment plan.
So what can people do to avoid high blood pressure in the first place? There are several simple steps that can help. Keeping a healthy weight is one of the most important. If you’re overweight, your heart has to work harder to pump blood, which raises your blood pressure.
Eating healthy foods also makes a big difference. Try to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products. Also, try to eat less salt, because too much salt can raise blood pressure.
Getting regular exercise is another great way to keep your blood pressure under control. Just 30 minutes of walking or light activity most days of the week can help. It’s also smart to limit alcohol and avoid smoking.
Alcohol can raise your blood pressure if you drink too much, and smoking harms your blood vessels and heart. Reducing stress is helpful, too. Stress can make your blood pressure rise, so learning to relax through breathing exercises, meditation, or gentle activities like yoga can help.
Finally, make sure to get your blood pressure checked regularly, even if you feel fine. Catching high blood pressure early means you can treat it before it causes serious problems. With studies like this one changing how we understand blood pressure, doctors may be able to treat it more effectively and safely in the future.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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