A new study from the University of Exeter has found that blood pressure tends to drop gradually in older adults, starting about 14 years before the end of life.
This discovery helps us better understand how blood pressure behaves in people as they age, and it may change how doctors care for older patients.
The research was led by Professor George Kuchel and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine. While it is well known that blood pressure usually rises from childhood through middle age, what happens in later life has been less clear.
Earlier studies suggested blood pressure may fall in older adults, but some thought that was mainly due to the effects of high blood pressure treatment.
This new study looked at detailed medical records of 46,634 people in the UK who died at the age of 60 or older. The group included both healthy people and those with conditions like heart disease, dementia, and serious weight loss in late life.
By reviewing health records, the researchers were able to follow how blood pressure changed in the years leading up to each person’s death.
They found that blood pressure drops were most noticeable in people who had dementia, heart failure, major weight loss, or a history of high blood pressure. However, the surprising part was that blood pressure also declined over time in people who did not have any of these health problems.
This means the drop in blood pressure isn’t just because people are sick or dying early due to high blood pressure. It seems to be a broader trend that happens in many older adults, even those who appear to be healthy.
This finding is important for doctors who care for older patients. It suggests that when an elderly person’s blood pressure starts going down, it could be a sign of changes in their overall health, not just a good response to medication.
Doctors may need to think carefully about how they treat blood pressure in people as they get older and watch for other signs of health decline.
That said, the study does not suggest stopping blood pressure medications for older adults. Instead, it highlights the need for more research to understand why blood pressure drops before death and how to use that information to improve care.
For people managing their own blood pressure, it’s still important to follow medical advice and be aware of things that can raise blood pressure, like poor diet, stress, and lack of exercise. Some research also shows that certain drinks, like black tea, might help lower blood pressure.
It’s also worth noting that some medications for high blood pressure can have side effects or increase the risk of other health issues, like heart failure. That’s why regular checkups and open conversations with healthcare providers are so important.
In short, this study adds to our understanding of aging and heart health. It shows that blood pressure behaves differently in later life and that a sudden or steady drop might be an important signal. With more research, doctors hope to provide even better care for older adults and help people live healthier lives as they age.
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