The number of adults with high blood pressure, or hypertension, will rise to 103 million from 72 million under the previous standard. High blood pressure is second only to smoking as a preventable cause of heart attacks and strokes, and heart disease remains the leading killer of Americans. The previous guidelines defined high blood pressure as 140/90. That study, called Sprint, explored whether markedly lower blood pressure in older people — lower than researchers had ever tried to establish — might be both achievable and beneficial. But, he added, “If a patient comes in with a blood pressure of 180, I will not get him to 130.” Lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can help many patients lower blood pressure.

Source: thestar November 14, 2017 00:22 UTC