New guidelines for managing high blood pressure could help millions of Americans manage blood pressure earlier according to PBS News.
Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure, which is a leading contributor to heart disease, stroke, and dementia, and only 25% have it under control, the outlet reported.
In August 2023, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology published updated guidelines for the management of high blood pressure, based on updated scientific findings collected during the previous decade, PBS news said.
The guidelines eliminated the old “prehypertension” group and stiffened the diagnostic criteria for hypertension as well as reduce the target values for managing blood pressure, the report described.
Now, readings of 120–129 mm Hg systolic and under 80 mm Hg diastolic are designated “elevated.”
Stage one hypertension would start at 130/80 mm Hg and stage two at 140/90 mm Hg, with a hypertensive emergency starting at 180/120 mm Hg.
According to PBS News, the stricter definitions could mean more Americans who need treatment could receive it sooner before the potentially serious consequences of high blood pressure arise.
Written into the guidelines is an emphasis on lifestyle changes, such as a sodium intake of less than 2,000 mg/day, smoking cessation, and the DASH diet which focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, the outlet noted.