Well - Spring 2014 - (Page 12)

New Blood Pressure GUIDELINES I n December 2013, The Journal of the American Medical Association published new guidelines for the treatment and management of hypertension, more commonly called high blood pressure. The committee was appointed to provide health care professionals with updated recommendations on how to treat and respond to high blood pressure. "These new guidelines provide reliable, evidence-based recommendations that can reduce the burden of stroke and heart disease in our country," says Sidney Smith, MD, Adults 18 to 60 should aim for a blood pressure of less than 140/90 mmHg. 12 Spring 2014 Well a member of the committee and a professor of cardiology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Blood pressure is the force applied to the inner walls of blood vessels as the heart pumps blood throughout the body. Hypertension affects almost a third of Americans, and it can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and death, if not detected early and treated appropriately. The new recommendations suggest that patients 60 and older should not begin blood pressure medication unless their levels are 150/90 mmHg or higher as opposed to the 140/90 mmHg recommendation of 10 years ago. This increase will protect many patients with mild hypertension from overtreatment of their condition. For those younger than 60, the committee recommends a target blood pressure of less than 140/90 mmHg. Hypertensive adults with diabetes and nondiabetic adults with kidney disease are advised to maintain a target blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg, as well. In addition, the committee drew upon recent blood pressure studies to make its recommendations for appropriate treatment of hypertension. Such studies suggest that while using medication to lower blood pressure does help patients control their levels, it does not automatically lower their risk of heart attack, stroke and other health issues that stem from hypertension. In the 2003 guidelines, authors highlighted diuretics, or water pills, as the primary drug for reducing blood pressure, but in recent years many physicians have found that water pills are not the only effective way to treat hypertension. In fact, physicians nationwide have successfully treated the condition using a variety of medications. As a result, authors of the 2014 guidelines broadened the recommended treatment options for high blood pressure, no longer limiting them to just diuretics. For all patients suffering from high blood pressure, the panel recommended lifestyle changes, which not only improve a person's blood pressure control but also can reduce the need for medication, both now and in the future. As always, decisions concerning the care and treatment of hypertension should be decided by a doctor who can evaluate each patient's condition individually. Meg McNeill and Toni Bowerman contributed to this article. PHOTO: THINKSTOCK Recommendations evolve to prevent overtreatment.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Well - Spring 2014

Well - Spring 2014
Contents
UNC Health Care News
The Gift of Sound
Creature Comforts
Rehabilitation: Reclaiming Life After Injury
New Blood Pressure Guidelines
Nutrition
Calendar

Well - Spring 2014