When Should Healthy Adults Be Treated for High BP?

MONDAY, Jan. 16, 2017 (HealthDay Information) -- Two main medical organizations are recommending a much less aggressive goal for the remedy of hypertension in adults 60 and older who're in any other case wholesome.

Historically, the brink for hypertension has been set at 140 mmHg systolic blood stress (the highest quantity in a studying).

However the brand new guideline says medical doctors ought to now start remedy when adults 60 and older have persistent systolic blood stress that is at or above 150 mmHg, to scale back their danger of coronary heart issues, stroke and demise.

A much less aggressive goal like this presents an appropriate stability of advantages and potential harms for these sufferers, in keeping with the brand new guideline from the American School of Physicians (ACP) and the American Academy of Household Physicians (AAFP).

Any extra profit from extra aggressive remedy is small, the teams say.

Medical doctors specializing within the cardiac care of older sufferers mentioned the brand new pointers could also be warranted.

"A number of latest research have advised that tighter management of blood stress in wholesome older adults could produce extra hurt than good," leading to occasions reminiscent of too-low blood stress or fainting, mentioned Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein. She directs geriatric schooling at Northwell Well being in Nice Neck, N.Y.

Nonetheless, cardiovascular care isn't a one-size-fits-all endeavor, and the authors of the brand new guideline say that aiming for a decrease goal should still be advisable for some sufferers.

For instance, the rules state that for adults 60 and older with a historical past of stroke or "mini-stroke," medical doctors ought to purpose to realize a systolic blood stress of lower than 140 mmHg, to scale back these sufferers' danger of recurrent stroke.

And primarily based on particular person evaluation, medical doctors also needs to contemplate doing the identical for adults aged 60 and older who're deemed to be at excessive danger for coronary heart issues, the rules mentioned.

Dr. Kevin Marzo is chief of cardiology at Winthrop College Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. He famous that "greater than half of the inhabitants over the age of 60 have hypertension. When under-treated, the danger of great cardiovascular issues reminiscent of stroke, coronary heart assault and coronary heart failure will increase."

Marzo mentioned that for wholesome folks over 60, the 150 mmHg goal could also be applicable. However he additionally agreed with the rules that "a decrease objective of below 140 mmHg could also be most well-liked for adults with identified heart problems, reminiscent of a previous stroke or coronary heart assault, or vital danger elements for coronary heart illness."

The rules had been printed Jan. 16 within the Annals of Inside Drugs and the Annals of Household Drugs.