A recent study by scientists at Yale University has revealed a troubling trend.
Over the past 20 years, the number of older Americans being hospitalized for sudden and severe spikes in blood pressure has more than doubled.
These spikes, known as hypertensive emergencies, can lead to serious health problems like heart attacks, strokes, and damage to organs if not treated right away.
The study looked at data from Medicare patients aged 65 and older between 1999 and 2019. Instead of seeing improvements, researchers found that hospitalizations for dangerous blood pressure levels increased by 5.6% each year.
The problem was even worse among Black Americans, who saw a 6% annual rise and had three times the hospitalization rate between 2017 and 2019 compared to other groups.
Hypertensive emergencies happen when blood pressure rises very quickly to extremely high levels. These situations can become life-threatening without fast medical care. According to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, blood pressure readings of 130/80 mm Hg or higher can indicate a serious issue when they spike suddenly.
Dr. Yuan Lu, the lead author of the study, and her team say that the rise in these hospital visits means many people either don’t know they have high blood pressure or are not managing it well. Some may not be getting the medical attention they need.
The study also found that people living in the southern U.S.—a region often referred to as the “stroke belt”—had the highest hospitalization rates. This is concerning because it shows that not everyone has equal access to good healthcare or the tools to manage their health. Things like income, access to doctors, and lifestyle choices all play a part.
The sharp rise in hospitalizations was especially noticeable among Black Americans. This group has long faced higher rates of high blood pressure and the health problems it causes. The study highlights the need for more support and targeted programs to help reduce these health inequalities.
Even though there have been improvements in how we treat and understand high blood pressure, this study shows that we still have a long way to go—especially when it comes to helping the people most at risk.
Experts say we need stronger efforts to raise awareness, improve access to care, and provide better tools for people to manage their blood pressure before it becomes an emergency. Special focus should be placed on helping older adults and communities with fewer resources.
This research was published in the journal Circulation and is a wake-up call for doctors, public health leaders, and communities. High blood pressure is a treatable condition, and with the right care and support, many of these emergencies could be avoided.
If you care 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.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about why checking blood pressure while lying down is very important and lowering top blood pressure number to less than 120 mm Hg effectively prevents heart disease.
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