Blood Pressure Guidelines
To help medical professionals diagnose and treat patients more accurately, blood pressure guidelines were implemented by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. With high blood pressure a prevalent issue in today’s health, these guidelines provide invaluable information designed to help individuals live longer.
High blood pressure is the precursor and key factor of many diseases, including heart disease, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. Adding to that dire news is the fact that currently approximately 1 out of 4 people suffer from the disease. Since high blood pressure is the “silent” disease, often present for years with no symptoms or indications, this is particularly disturbing. It is crucial for all individuals to see their physicians on a regular basis and to include blood pressure screenings as part of their health regime.
While doctors must be aware of the blood pressure guidelines, it is important for individuals to also be aware of them, as well as their own blood pressure readings. Having knowledge is the first step in preventing and treating the disease, and living a healthier life. A few basic elements to know regard blood pressure readings, which involve systolic and diastolic numbers. Systolic pressure is the amount of pressure in the arteries at the precise moment the heart beats. Diastolic pressure is the amount of pressure in the arteries between heart beats. A normal, healthy blood vessel is open and flexible, while an artery in a person with hypertension is narrow and more rigid.
Some of the key features in the blood pressure guidelines that everyone should know are as follow:
●A systolic reading for adults 50 and older that is higher than 140 requires closer attention than the diastolic pressure as a risk factor. Previously, professionals thought the bottom or diastolic number was the important reading.
●A systolic reading of 120 to 139 OR a diastolic reading of 80 to 89 in any individual should place that person in the status of pre-hypertensive. These individuals should be modifying their lifestyles and diets to a healthier format as an attempt to prevent heart disease.
●Most patients with hypertension require two or more antihypertensive medications to reach their ideal blood pressure.
●Doctors must foster a positive relationship with hypertensive patients to provide motivation that will result in the most effective therapy.
While there are many more clinical blood pressure guidelines, these items demonstrate the close attention that hypertension receives from the medical experts.
More understanding and better control of blood pressure will help individuals to live longer and healthier lives. Heart disease, kidney disease, heart failure and stroke incidences could be drastically reduced with more available information in the form of blood pressure guidelines to both medical professionals and individuals.