The new guidelines stress the importance of using proper technique to measure blood pressure. These guidelines, the first update to offer comprehensive guidance to doctors on managing adults with high blood pressure since 2003, are designed to help people address the potentially deadly condition much earlier. adults who will require antihypertensive medication, authors said. However, there will only be a small increase in the number of U.S. adult population (46 percent) having high blood pressure, or hypertension. adults having high blood pressure (32 percent) with the previous definition, the new guidelines will result in nearly half of the U.S. The guidelines were presented today at the Association’s 2017 Scientific Sessions conference in Anaheim, the premier global cardiovascular science meeting for the exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians. The guidelines are being published by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for detection, prevention, management and treatment of high blood pressure. 13, 2017 - High blood pressure should be treated earlier with lifestyle changes and in some patients with medication – at 130/80 mm Hg rather than 140/90 – according to the first comprehensive new high blood pressure guidelines in more than a decade.

By lowering the definition of high blood pressure, the guidelines recommend earlier intervention to prevent further increases in blood pressure and the complications of hypertension.Įmbargoed until 12:30 p.m.

While about 14 percent more people will be diagnosed with high blood pressure and counseled about lifestyle changes, there will only be a small increase in those who will be prescribed medication.

guidelines on blood pressure detection and treatment since 2003, the category of prehypertension is eliminated.

In the first update to comprehensive U.S.

That is a change from the old definition of 140/90 and higher, reflecting complications that can occur at those lower numbers.

High blood pressure is now defined as readings of 130 mm Hg and higher for the systolic blood pressure measurement, or readings of 80 and higher for the diastolic measurement.

Blood pressure chart for older seniors