High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is one of the most common health problems in the world.
It happens when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls stays too high for too long.
If it is not controlled, it can damage the heart, brain, and kidneys, and increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other serious illnesses.
A new study has shown that lowering blood pressure more than usual can greatly reduce the risk of heart problems, especially in people who are already at high risk of heart disease.
Doctors usually aim to keep systolic blood pressure — the top number in a blood pressure reading — below 140 mm Hg. But in this study, researchers aimed for a stricter goal of below 120 mm Hg.
The study, called the Effective Systolic Pressure Reduction Intervention Trial (ESPRIT), was carried out in China. It tested how well intensive blood pressure management could prevent major heart problems in people at higher risk.
The results were impressive. People who got intensive treatment had a 12% lower chance of experiencing major heart-related events. These events included heart attacks, strokes, deaths from heart problems, surgeries to open blocked blood vessels, and hospital stays for heart failure.
The benefits went even further. Intensive blood pressure control reduced deaths from cardiovascular problems by 39%, meaning far fewer people in this group died from heart-related causes. It also lowered the risk of dying from any cause by 21%, showing that this approach can improve overall health, not just heart health.
The researchers also checked whether this more aggressive treatment caused more serious side effects. They found no significant increase in problems like dangerously low blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, injuries from falls, or kidney failure. There was a slight rise in fainting incidents in the intensive treatment group, but these were uncommon.
These findings show just how important it is to manage blood pressure carefully, especially for people who already have a higher risk of heart disease.
Lowering blood pressure below the usual target can save lives and prevent serious illnesses. For many people, this means working closely with their doctor to find the safest and most effective way to reach a healthier blood pressure.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that new research challenges conventional blood pressure guidelines and scientists make a big breakthrough in high blood pressure treatment.
For more information about blood pressure, please read studies that widely used blood pressure drug may increase eye disease risk and common blood pressure drugs linked to cognitive decline.
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