High blood pressure, or hypertension, happens when the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high.
Doctors measure this pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), with two numbers recorded for each reading: systolic pressure (the top, higher number) and diastolic pressure (the bottom, lower number).
For adults, a normal reading is generally considered below 120/80 mmHg. When blood pressure stays above 130/80 mmHg over time, it’s often considered high, though this definition can vary based on a person’s age, health, and other factors.
Many factors contribute to high blood pressure, including family history, poor diet (especially high salt and low potassium intake), lack of exercise, stress, and specific health issues.
High blood pressure puts people at greater risk for serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
It’s sometimes called a “silent killer” because it often has no symptoms, which is why it’s essential to check blood pressure regularly and take steps to manage it if it’s high.
For people over 60, the question of the ideal blood pressure target is essential. A recent study published in Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications brings new insights into this issue.
The researchers wanted to determine the best systolic blood pressure (SBP) target for older people with high blood pressure.
To do this, they analyzed data from multiple studies using a method called Bayesian network meta-analysis, a statistical approach that helps combine information from different studies for more reliable conclusions.
The research team looked at six different studies focused on older patients with high blood pressure. They grouped the patients based on the blood pressure target they aimed to achieve: below 130 mmHg, between 130-139 mmHg, and 140 mmHg or higher.
Then they compared how these different blood pressure levels affected people’s health outcomes. They specifically looked at the rates of major heart problems, deaths from heart disease, overall death rates, heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes.
The results suggested that aiming for a systolic blood pressure below 130 mmHg reduced the chances of serious heart problems more effectively than aiming for higher targets.
This finding is particularly encouraging for older adults who are managing high blood pressure, as it suggests that more intensive blood pressure control could help prevent major health problems.
Although the study showed that keeping blood pressure lower was generally beneficial, the differences between groups for outcomes like heart attack, heart failure, and stroke were not large.
Based on this analysis, the researchers concluded that a target of less than 130 mmHg could be ideal for blood pressure control in people aged 60 and above.
They noted, however, that more research is needed to confirm these findings and guide recommendations for managing blood pressure in older adults.
How to Manage High Blood Pressure
Managing blood pressure is vital for preventing heart disease, stroke, and kidney issues. Here are some tips to help:
- Check Blood Pressure Regularly: If you have high blood pressure, it’s essential to monitor it consistently, either at home with a blood pressure monitor or at a clinic.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Extra weight can raise blood pressure, so losing weight through diet and exercise can help keep it in check.
- Eat a Healthy Diet: Focus on eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. Cut back on saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars, and salt.
- Exercise Regularly: Physical activity, like brisk walking or cycling, can lower blood pressure. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking raises blood pressure and harms blood vessels. Quitting smoking has many benefits for blood pressure and overall health.
- Limit Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can increase blood pressure, so it’s best to limit it to one drink a day for women and two for men.
- Manage Stress: Stress can raise blood pressure temporarily. Activities like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can help reduce stress.
- Follow Prescribed Medications: If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to manage blood pressure, doctors may prescribe medication. It’s essential to follow these prescriptions carefully and check in with a healthcare provider regularly to see if adjustments are needed.
By following these guidelines, you can lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.
In addition, if you’re interested in natural ways to improve heart health, some studies suggest that foods like apple juice and yogurt may have heart benefits.
However, certain foods, like black licorice, can cause blood pressure to spike dangerously high, so it’s best to avoid them if you have hypertension. On the other hand, some plant-based nutrients could help reduce blood pressure.
This recent study, led by Yuling Yan and colleagues, is an important step forward in understanding optimal blood pressure targets for older adults.
While the findings are promising, continuing research is necessary to provide even clearer guidance for managing blood pressure in older populations.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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