https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/888560
http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/early/2017/11/10/HYP.0000000000000066
Basically, hypertension started at 140 systolic or 90 diastolic in the old recommendation, but the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association now say that it starts at 130 systolic or 80 diastolic.
I’m glad I’ve got my physical in 2 weeks so I can discuss this with my doctor. I’m already treated for hypertension, but my BP is not always under 130/80.
My ex-husband’s BP is really high and as far as I can tell, he’s not doing much about it. It’s distressing. My dad had a massive stroke and while he survived only one month, that was plenty of time to see the devastation of a stroke’s effects.
I am sure I saw recent guidance about higher numbers being ok for those over 50. This seems rather contradictory.
My bp is so low I’m practically dead. 110/60.
90/60 here. Meanwhile, ex’s top number is 180!
^gosh, you’re even deader than me!
The new guidelines, from what I’ve read, don’t make any distinction based on age. They’re saying that everyone should be under 130/80.
My BP has been steadily rising. I used to run on the low side (115/70). I am not overweight. I exercise. I have a normal amount of stress in my life, certainly not overwhelming. Never smoked. Drink occasionally. I lead a pretty healthy life. With these guidelines, I will probably need to go on medication. I was trying to avoid this.
My reading showed only small number would add meds - recommendations besides losing weight and exercising are to reduce sodium in diet and increase potassium- bananas, avocados, salmon, etc.
If I remember correctly, the new guidelines are for people who have a greater than 10% risk of heart attack. Once a person is over 65, one automatically is at that risk level. I think I was reading the New York Times.
I went to the clinic 2 weeks ago and my numbers were low 90s/mid 60’s. I hadn’t eaten yet nor had any coffee and was feeling pretty good.
I was in today with a soul crushing migraine, 2 cups of coffee in me, and having eaten. My numbers were about 117/90.
So, my point is to consider if you have any environmental circumstance that would skew your numbers. I am assuming the caffeine free number is my true number.
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This is your BP though, your BP isn't always going to be good because of an optimal environment LOL. Like those who talk about white coat hypertension, this is the BP you have under stress/with coffee/having eaten ......AKA normal life. Most people don't spend time fasting/avoiding normal beverages etc to optimize BP.
I’m normally about 90/60, so other chronic health issues will likely impair my health before my heart and blood pressure. I’m on a VERY low dose of a cardiac selective beta blocker to slow my otherwise fast heart rate, even though I have low blood pressure.
I am about 130/80 and have been for years. I run 3x/week, walk a lot, practice yoga 3-4 days a week, normal healthy weight, good diet. Not sure what else I can do. Genetics is a factor in my case.
Sounds like someone wasn’t selling enough BP medication. There should be a nice bump in sales.
Similar to when the upper level for fasting the glucose level was lowered from 110 to 100.
Most BP meds are generics and don’t cost much, so I’m not sure that would be the motivation.
Your caffeine-free BP is only your true number if you stay caffeine-free. I know that my BP is caffeine sensitive, so I gave up coffee, caffeinated beverages. I drink one cup of green tea, which does raise my BP, but not as much as coffee, but I’ll be talking to my doctor about whether to continue doing that.
Many of us coffee drinkers get up in the morning and have our coffee first thing-- without sufficiently hydrating ourselves. For me, this makes my BP drop and I get lightheaded or dizzy, especially if I am doing any light housework or gardening. I now always drink water WITH my coffee.
I take just 2.5 mgs of Amlodipine daily. Previously was taking Lisinopril in a higher dose (5mg) without the diuretic. I would be curious to hear from any of you that have had experience switching from one to the other. So much depends on what other meds you are taking and how they interact.
That’s a pretty low dose of Lisinopril. That’s what I take to keep my systolic in the teens. I’m thinking that at my next appointment, he may suggest getting off it altogether (I’ve recently lost a lot of weight) and seeing how I do without it.
My nephrologist tried to put me on a BP med to keep my kidneys flushed not for the BP. I said no thanks, once you start BP meds they are hard to get off. My great granddad and gradad died from a strokes, and my mom is on BP meds. My mom is 5’ 9 and weighs about 140 not overweight at all. Hypertension is very common for Blacks.
@VMT, same with me. And I will not go on BP meds. I lead a healthy lifestyle, and I have no family history of stroke. (I will admit to being stressed a lot, thanks to my job). My BP goes up when a blood pressure cuff comes near me. I will not accept side effects of meds just because my BP is a bit high in the doctor’s office. Thankfully, my doctor is not concerned with my BP (which is close to/not over the new guidelines in her office). She had me monitor at home, and it is lower. But if I had one of those insurance plans that “rewards” you for taking meds, I would need to do that to get the lower premium, since the reading has to be the one from the doctor’s office.