High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common condition that affects many people around the world.
If not treated properly, it can lead to serious problems like heart disease, stroke, or kidney damage. For older adults, finding the safest and best way to control blood pressure is very important.
Doctors used to try to keep a person’s top blood pressure number, called systolic pressure, under 140. But a new study says that lowering it even more—to under 130—might be better for people aged 60 and older.
The study was published in the journal Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications. Researchers used a special method called Bayesian network meta-analysis. This method helps them combine results from different studies to get stronger and clearer answers.
They looked at six past clinical trials. All of them included older adults with high blood pressure. The researchers compared how different blood pressure targets affected people’s health. They wanted to see how likely people were to have heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, or death.
The results showed that people whose blood pressure was lowered to below 130 had fewer heart-related problems. They were also a little less likely to die from heart disease or other causes. This means that aiming for a lower blood pressure could help protect older people from serious health problems.
Even though the results are promising, the researchers said more studies are needed. Not everyone reacts the same way to treatment, so blood pressure goals should be different for different people. It’s important to talk to a doctor to find what’s right for you.
Treating high blood pressure usually means taking medicine and making healthy lifestyle changes. Doctors may choose different medications based on your overall health and risks. But there are also many things you can do on your own to help.
Eating healthy is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure. Try to eat less salt, more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and foods with potassium like bananas or sweet potatoes.
Exercise helps too. Try walking, biking, or swimming. Doing something active most days of the week can make a big difference.
Stress can raise your blood pressure, so finding ways to relax is important. You can try deep breathing, meditation, or yoga.
Other helpful changes include quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, and getting enough sleep every night. Even small changes can add up and help your heart stay healthy.
This study gives both doctors and patients more information to help decide how to treat high blood pressure in older people. Aiming for a lower blood pressure may help, but the final decision should always be made with your doctor. What works well for one person may not work for someone else.
The main goal is to lower the risk of serious illness and help people live longer, healthier lives.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
