Blood pressure of 120/80 is not safe
May 19, 2003
So now all of a sudden you no longer have healthy blood pressure under new U.S. guidelines released on Wednesday. Better hit the pavement and the salad bar
So now all of a sudden you no longer have healthy blood pressure under new U.S. guidelines released on Wednesday. Better hit the pavement and the salad bar, experts advise.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) added 46 million Americans to the list of people who should worry about their blood pressure by defining a level of 120/80 as “pre-hypertension,†although people do not need to take drugs until their level reaches 140/90.
So, what can people do who now find themselves in this “pre-hypertension†borderland of blood pressure? These are the recommendations of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure:
Lose weight: Losing 20 pounds (10kg) can lower blood pressure by five to 20 points.
Eat right: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and using only low-fat dairy products, low in saturated fat and salt, can reduce blood pressure as much as taking one of the many blood pressure drugs on the market.
Exercise: Walking briskly for 30 minutes most days of the week can lower blood pressure by four to nine points.
Drink only moderately: Taking two drinks a day, or one drink for small people, can keep blood pressure under control.
One study found that exercise can act like a drug on the arteries, keeping them supple and free of inflammation and thus preventing the hardening and swelling that mark heart disease. Experts are not sure why eating fruits and vegetables lowers blood pressure and prevents heart disease, but say it may have to do with their high content of vitamins and minerals. A plant-based diet also reduces the risk of cancer, diabetes and stroke.
“Even little changes in blood pressure are important,†Dr. Aram Chobanian, a member of the committee and dean of the Boston University medical school told a news conference.
“Let’s do something early on that will prevent it, and that doesn't mean medication,†Chobanian said.
The researchers said people who suddenly fall into the pre-hypertension category are likely to feel a little disbelief and it may be difficult to persuade them to make changes.
“Sure, it is going to be hard to do,†said Dr. Edward Roccella of the NHLBI. Education will be key, he said. Chobanian noted that in the United States, people have a 90% chance of developing high blood pressure, especially after the age of 50. But this does not happen in other countries, especially where people exercise more and eat less salt.
Roccella said the group supported the American Public Health Association’s call to lower the overall levels of salt in the U.S. food supply by 5 percent a year over the next 10 years.
“By slowly reducing sodium in the food supply, Americans can begin to adjust their tastes for salt,†he said.
Reuter
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) added 46 million Americans to the list of people who should worry about their blood pressure by defining a level of 120/80 as “pre-hypertension,†although people do not need to take drugs until their level reaches 140/90.
So, what can people do who now find themselves in this “pre-hypertension†borderland of blood pressure? These are the recommendations of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure:
One study found that exercise can act like a drug on the arteries, keeping them supple and free of inflammation and thus preventing the hardening and swelling that mark heart disease. Experts are not sure why eating fruits and vegetables lowers blood pressure and prevents heart disease, but say it may have to do with their high content of vitamins and minerals. A plant-based diet also reduces the risk of cancer, diabetes and stroke.
“Even little changes in blood pressure are important,†Dr. Aram Chobanian, a member of the committee and dean of the Boston University medical school told a news conference.
“Let’s do something early on that will prevent it, and that doesn't mean medication,†Chobanian said.
The researchers said people who suddenly fall into the pre-hypertension category are likely to feel a little disbelief and it may be difficult to persuade them to make changes.
“Sure, it is going to be hard to do,†said Dr. Edward Roccella of the NHLBI. Education will be key, he said. Chobanian noted that in the United States, people have a 90% chance of developing high blood pressure, especially after the age of 50. But this does not happen in other countries, especially where people exercise more and eat less salt.
Roccella said the group supported the American Public Health Association’s call to lower the overall levels of salt in the U.S. food supply by 5 percent a year over the next 10 years.
“By slowly reducing sodium in the food supply, Americans can begin to adjust their tastes for salt,†he said.
Reuter