Table : Acc/aha 2017 Blood Pressure Thresholds And Targets For Seniors
| Senior Age Classification | |
| BP Threshold for Pharmaceutical Treatment | 130/80 mmHg |
| BP Target | < 130/80 mmHg |
We do want to treat high BP, because it reduces the chance that an individual will have a stroke or experience heart problems, Dr. Leslie Kernisan acknowledges. However, clinical studies have shown that treating high BP is most beneficial when it helps people get their systolic BP down around 150. The JNC 8 guidelines support what we geriatricians have believed for quite some time: many older adults are taking too much BP medication, admits Dr. Kernisan.
In geriatrics, the goal is to balance the likely benefits of a medication with the likely burdens and risks. “The goal of 150 may seem high, but treating to a target of less than 150/90 brings on increased risks and may not offer additional benefits.
In addition to increasing an elders prescription drug costs and compounding the potential for medication mishaps, unnecessary BP medications can cause risky side effects in seniors. Orthostatic hypotension, or a temporary drop in BP upon standing, is one of the most dangerous side effects since it can cause dizziness and contribute to falls.
Discuss any concerns you may have about a seniors BP with their physician or, better yet, a geriatrician who specializes in treating older adults. They will be able to weigh the pros and cons of beginning or adjusting BP treatment and possibly suggest alternative measures for trying to get their numbers under control.
What You Should Know About Fluctuating Blood Pressure In The Elderly
As you help monitor your loved ones blood pressure, keep in mind that if numbers fluctuate slightly throughout the day, thats normal. Several factors influence your blood pressure numbers. For example, your blood pressure may be lower if youre resting and higher if youre stressed. This means you may have a normal reading in the morning and an elevated number in the afternoon.
If youre concerned about excessive fluctuation in your loved ones blood pressure numbers, keep the following tips in mind:
- Read the instructions to ensure youre using your home blood pressure monitor equipment correctly. Variations in how you measure your loved ones blood pressure can result in different readings.
- Bring your home monitor to your next doctors appointment to compare readings.
- Be aware of white coat hypertension. In some cases, a persons blood pressure may be high at a doctors office but normal at home. This could be attributed to the stress related to a doctors appointment.
Your loved ones doctor may want you to keep a blood pressure diary with several readings a day for a couple of weeks to monitor any variations.
Benefits And Harms Observed In Sprint
SPRINT randomly divided participants into an intensive-treatment group, which aimed for systolic BP less than 120, and a standard-treatment group, which aimed for systolic BP less than 140.
After one year, the average systolic BP among the intensive-treatment group was 121, compared to 136 among the standard-treatment group. The intensive group required an average of 2.8 medications to reach their lower BP goal the standard group required an average of 1.8 medications.
The follow-up period averaged about three years.
Benefits of intensive BP treatment:
During follow-up, 1.65% per year of people in the intensive-treatment group and 2.19% per year of people in the standard-treatment experienced a significant cardiovascular outcome event: a heart attack, a stroke, acute decompensated heart failure, or death from cardiovascular causes.
The study authors calculated that The numbers needed to treat to prevent a primary outcome event, death from any cause, and death from cardiovascular causes during the median 3.26 years of the trial were 61, 90, and 172, respectively.
In other words, if you are like the study participants, and if you decide to switch from a systolic BP goal of 140 to a goal of 120, over a few years youll have:
- A 1 in 61 chance of avoiding a cardiovascular event
- A 1 in 90 chance chance of avoiding death from any cause
- A 1 in 172 chance chance of avoiding death from cardiovascular causes
Harms of Intensive BP Treatment
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What Is A Good Blood Pressure Target For Elders
Blood pressure often rises with age, but experts agree that lower numbers are better for overall health. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers: systolic and diastolic. The top number is the systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure caused by the heart contracting and squeezing out blood. The bottom number is diastolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.
Checking Your Blood Pressure At Home
Measuring your blood pressure from home doesnt differ too much from what your doctor would do.
There is a variety of blood pressure monitors available for purchase that are reasonably priced and are accurate. You can pick up a quality digital monitor at a reasonable price online.
Digital Blood Pressure Monitor
Digital monitors do most of the work for you and a stethoscope is not needed. In some cases, you still need to inflate the cuff manually, but some models inflate automatically. The numbers are readily available on a small screen. These monitors are very easy to use and many are very accurate.
Some people prefer to use a wrist monitor to measure their blood pressure, but the general opinion is that these machines are not as reliable as upper arm monitors and I do not recommend them.
A few pointers for checking your blood pressure at home:
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If you have high blood pressure, check your blood pressure at least once or twice a day .
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Avoid food, caffeine, exercise, and nicotine at least 60 minutes before measuring.
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Make sure your arm is supported and at the level of your heart.
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Sit straight with your legs uncrossed and feet flat on the ground.
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Try to relax before measuring. Spend 5 minutes relaxing.
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Take a few readings each time to get the most accurate results.
Make sure to document your results every time you measure your blood pressure so you can closely monitor your condition.
If you have concerns or questions about your results, make sure to contact your doctor.
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Average Ranges Show Normal Pressure On The Arteries
Blood pressure measures the force pressed against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body.
Average blood pressure differs by sex and tends to rise with age. It’s important to know how blood pressure affects your health.
This article covers how healthcare providers differentiate between “normal” blood pressure and hypertension and includes blood pressure charts by age and gender. It will also discuss the health risks involved with hypertension, how you can monitor your blood pressure, and when you should call your healthcare provider.
Why Seniors Should Watch Out For Over
In my experience, many older adults are taking more BP medication than they need, meaning theyve reached a point at which the risks and burdens outweigh the benefits .
This can cause falls or dizziness due to orthostatic hypotension, and one of the most common medication changes I implement as a geriatrician is the cutting back of blood pressure medications.
If you want to read a longer article that I wrote on this topic, shortly after the December 2013 high blood pressure guidelines were released, see my post at AgingCare.com:
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Whats The Normal Blood Pressure For A 55 Year Old Man
Normal Blood Pressure for Men Age Average Low High 45 to 49 years 127/84 115/80 139/88 50 to 54 years 129/85 116/81 142/89 55 to 59 years 131/86 118/82 144/90 60 to 64 years 134/87 121/83 174/91
Whats the difference between 116 and 75 mm Hg?
116/75 blood pressure can also be read as 116/75 mm Hg, or 116/75 millimeters of mercury. The 116 mm Hg Systolic refers to the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, and the 75 mm Hg Diastolic is the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.
What should my blood pressure be right now?
A blood pressure reading of 116/75 is Normal. View the full blood pressure chart to learn more about blood pressure readings. Readings above 90/60 and below 120/80 indicate that the blood pressure in your arteries is Normal.
How To Check Your Blood Pressure At Home
Its common to get your blood pressure checked at the doctors office. But did you know you can check it at home too? Better yet, its easy to do!
First, make sure you find a quiet place where you feel relaxed. WebMD, also recommends emptying your bladder first as a full bladder may affect your reading. If youre wearing a long sleeve shirt, roll it up, or if youre wearing tight-sleeved clothing, youll want to remove it. If you have a digital blood pressure monitor follow the instructions in the booklet.
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How The Review Was Done
The researchers did a systematic review, searching for studies up until September 2016.
They found 21 randomized controlled trials and 3 cohort studies of different blood pressure targets.
The key features of the studies were:
- people were 60 years of age or older and had hypertension and
- the aim was to lower systolic blood pressure to less than 150 mm Hg or to less than 140 mm Hg.
How Do The New Guidelines Affect Me
The new guidelines might affect you if you were on the border of having high blood pressure before 2017. However, it wonât affect you if you already had high blood pressure. For example, around 75% of men over 55 now have high blood pressure with the new guidelines. Some of them did not have high blood pressure before this change.
To be exact, the old guidelines stated that high blood pressure was anything above 140/90. With the new guidelines, high blood pressure is defined as anything above 130/80.
The new guidelines also recommend that you get a system to test yourself at home. Usually, you can find a good system for under a hundred dollars, and some insurance providers will help you pay for them. The guidelines recommend that you measure your blood pressure a couple of times weekly and see your doctor if you notice any dramatic changes.
When you buy a blood pressure monitor, make sure to that it:
- Fits around your upper arm
- Has an automated monitor, and that the cuff inflates itself
- Contains a screen big enough for you to read your results
You can also try to find a monitor that automatically transfers your data over to your smartphone. This, however, is optional.
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What To Do If Your Blood Pressure Reading Is 140/60
A blood pressure reading of 140/60 can be cause for concern. The first step is to take another reading to confirm your blood pressure.
As an aside, home blood pressure monitors are amazingly affordable and great way to stay on top of your blood pressure. So invest in your health and check out .
Elevated blood pressure should be confirmed on at least 3 separate days before diagnosing hypertension.
Already diagnosed with hypertension? If so a blood pressure in this range may indicate the need to adjust your blood pressure medications.
Once you have been assessed by a medical professional there are a number of ways you can address a blood pressure reading of 140/60.
Finding The Right Blood Pressure Range For Seniors
Maintaining good blood pressure is vital to helping the older adults in your life stay vibrant and healthy. Sometimes it can be confusing as to how to assist a loved one reduce their hypertension.
At Frontier, our highly knowledgeable and compassionate team is here to help you become more familiar with the importance of maintaining a healthy blood pressure for your older loved ones. If you would like to learn more about our wonderful communities, we invite you to visit one of our properties, take a tour and speak with our friendly staff.
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Complications Of High Blood Pressure In The Elderly
High blood pressure causes the heart to work harder. Therefore, arteries take a beating and the chances of stroke, heart attack and kidney problems increase. When high blood pressure is left undiagnosed and untreated, it can cause:
- Enlargement of the heart, which may lead to heart failure.
- Small bulges in blood vessels called aneurysms. Common locations for aneurysms are the main artery from the heart , arteries in the brain, legs, and intestines, and the artery leading to the spleen.
- Blood vessels in the kidneys to narrow, which may cause kidney failure.
- Hardening of the arteries, especially those in the heart, brain, kidneys and legs. This can lead to a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure or amputation of part of the leg.
- Blood vessels in the eyes to burst or bleed, which may cause vision changes and can result in blindness.
Controlling Your Blood Pressure
An alarming one in three American adults has high blood pressure. Known medically as hypertension, many people don’t even know they have it, because high blood pressure has no symptoms or warning signs. But when elevated blood pressure is accompanied by abnormal cholesterol and blood sugar levels, the damage to your arteries, kidneys, and heart accelerates exponentially. Fortunately, high blood pressure is easy to detect and treat. In the Special Health Report, Controlling Your Blood Pressure, find out how to keep blood pressure in a healthy range simply by making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, increasing activity, and eating more healthfully.
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What Do The Readings Mean
As a general guide:
140/90mmHg or over you may have high blood pressureMost doctors use 140/90mmHg as the cut off for point for diagnosing . This is the point where your risk of serious health problems goes up. They might prescribe and advise you to make changes to your to bring your blood pressure down. 120/80mmHg up to 140/90mmHg pre-high blood pressureAlso called high-normal blood pressure. This is not high blood pressure, but it is a little higher than it should be and means you could go on to develop high blood pressure. See how you can make to lower it. 90/60mmHg up to 120/80mmHg ideal blood pressureAlso called normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure reading is healthy. At this level you have a much lower risk of heart disease and stroke. Following a will help you to keep it in the healthy range. 90/60mmHg or lower you may have low blood pressure usually isnt a problem, but it can sometimes make you feel faint or dizzy or could be a sign of another health problem.
The video below explains how your blood pressure numbers are linked to the risk of stroke and other disease.
What Is The Normal Blood Pressure Range For Different Age Groups
Scientifically, blood pressure is the measurement of the force applied by the blood against the artery walls. An uncontrollable rise in BP can harden and scar the arteries. Hence, it is essential to know what the normal blood pressure is age-wise.
Typically, two crucial factors are checked when measuring the pressure in arteries. The first number, or systolic blood pressure, is the measurement of pressure in arteries during the cardiac cycles contraction phase. Diastolic blood pressure is the measurement of pressure in arteries during the relaxation phase.
Let us now understand the normal blood pressure range for different age groups in detail.
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Causes And Risk Factors
You may be at an increased risk for high blood pressure if you smoke, areoverweight, eat a diet thats low on produce and fiber and/or high in fatand salt, drink alcohol to excess, live with chronic stress or dont getmuch physical activity. Some causes of hypertension cannot becontrolledincluding your genes and your race . Aging also plays a role. Even if you do not have hypertensionby age 55 to 65, your lifetime risk for developing it is a whopping 90percent.
But doctors no longer consider hypertension inevitable or untreatable withage, saysSamuel Durso, M.D., director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at JohnsHopkins.
In one Johns Hopkins study of 975 older women and men with hypertension,healthy lifestyle steps helped 40 percent stop taking blood pressuremedications. Other research has shown that lifestyle changes can lower therisk for hypertension in African-Americans and others at an increasedgenetic risk.
Study Sets Blood Pressure Target For People Over 80
Lowering an older persons systolic blood pressure to 120 mmHg or lower reduces the risk of heart disease, but increases the chance of kidney changes.
In the United States, over half of the people aged 60 and over have high blood pressure, or hypertension, and maintaining ones blood pressure at healthy levels can be crucial.
The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines recommend a systolic blood pressure of no higher than 130 milligrams of mercury for those over 65.
However, by the time many people reach 85 years old, they have developed health issues. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimate that by 2050, 10% of adults in the U.S. will be 85 or older. A team of researchers has now completed an exploration of blood pressure recommendations for these individuals.
Their study appears in the
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