Nearly half of the U.S. adult population will have high blood pressure, according to an updated definition of the condition.
New guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association lowered the threshold for what constitutes high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
Under the old guidelines, high blood pressure was defined as a reading of 140/90 mm Hg. The new guidelines define it as anything over 130/80 mm Hg. These adjusted numbers put 46% of adults above the threshold for what’s considered safe. The group most impacted is people under the age of 45, while nearly triple the number of men and double the number of women will now be considered hypertensive.
Why does it matter?
High blood pressure is a major risk factor in heart attack, stroke, heart failure and dementia and can lead to kidney disease, vision loss and sexual dysfunction. The condition makes it harder for the heart to pump blood through your body, causing significant damage your heart and brain.
The aim of the new guidelines is to help people detect the condition earlier and control it through lifestyle changes or medication, thus decreasing the risk of serious health effects.
“People don’t realize that the long-term damage of hypertension is so devastating,” says NYC cardiologist Jennifer Haythe, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and co-director of the Women’s Center for Cardiovascular Health at Columbia University Medical Center. “By lowering the guidelines and capturing more people in the danger zone, the hope is that more people will be treated.”
Blood pressure categories in the new guidelines are:
· Normal (optimal): Less than 120/80;
· Elevated: Systolic between 120-129 and diastolic less than 80;
· Stage 1: Systolic between 130-139 or diastolic between 80-89;
· Stage 2: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90;
· Hypertensive crisis: Systolic over 180 and/or diastolic over 120.
The “Silent Killer”
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms and can’t be detected without being measured — hence the reason it’s called the “silent killer.”
“People don’t usually feel high blood pressure — and when they don’t feel it, they don’t pay attention to it,” says Haythe. Since blood pressure often inches up gradually over the years, it should be checked regularly. The American Heart Association recommends screenings at each healthcare visit and at least once every 2 years if blood pressure is less than 120/80.
Will You Need Meds?
Not necessarily. People can often lower their numbers by making lifestyle changes like eating a well-balanced, low-salt diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, limiting alcohol and quitting smoking. Even if you don’t hit the target guidelines through lifestyle changes, it’s worth the effort to try: Chances are you’ll need to take milder drugs — and lower doses.