High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common health problem that can lead to serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems.
For many older adults, managing blood pressure is an important part of staying healthy.
Doctors often recommend changes in diet, exercise, and medication to keep blood pressure under control. But what should the ideal blood pressure target be for people aged 60 and older? A new study has tried to answer that question.
The study, recently published in the journal Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications, looked at the best systolic blood pressure (SBP) level for older people with high blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading and shows how much pressure is in your arteries when your heart beats.
To get a clear answer, researchers used a method called Bayesian network meta-analysis. This method combines data from many different studies to find reliable results. The team looked at six different studies that focused on outcomes like major heart problems, deaths from heart disease, deaths from any cause, heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes.
The study found that aiming for a systolic blood pressure of less than 130 mmHg helped reduce the number of serious heart problems compared to keeping blood pressure at 140 mmHg or higher.
People with lower blood pressure targets also had fewer heart attacks, strokes, and deaths. However, the differences between the groups were not always big enough to be called significant in every category.
Still, the overall conclusion is that keeping systolic blood pressure under 130 mmHg might be the best goal for people aged 60 and above. It’s important to note that more studies are needed to confirm these results. And everyone is different, so patients should always talk to their doctor about what target is right for them.
Besides medication, making healthy lifestyle choices can really help manage high blood pressure. Eating a diet low in salt and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a great start. Getting regular exercise like walking, biking, or swimming also helps.
Stress can raise blood pressure, so activities like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can make a difference. Quitting smoking and drinking less alcohol are also important steps. And don’t forget the value of a good night’s sleep—poor sleep can raise your blood pressure, too.
In short, this new research suggests that aiming for a systolic blood pressure under 130 mmHg may be the most effective way to protect the heart and health of older adults with hypertension. But always check with a healthcare provider to find the best plan for you.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that changing blood pressure readings is a hidden sign of heart disease and switching blood pressure drugs may treat the condition better.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about the arm squeeze test: could your blood pressure reading be wrong and bedtime medication more effective for high blood pressure.
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