Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : November 15, 2017 11:54 AM IST
According to the new guidelines for detection, prevention, management and treatment of high blood pressure reported by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) [1], high blood pressure is redefined as 130 mm Hg and not 140 mm Hg as per the JNC 7 (Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure) guidelines. And if statistics are to be believed, the number of people suffering from hypertension has increased in the US. The guidelines indicate that blood pressure reading of 120/80 is considered normal. If your systolic blood pressure is between 120-129 mm Hg and diastolic pressure is 80- 89 mm Hg, then it is considered as elevated blood pressure. It is stage 1 hypertension if your systolic blood pressure is between 120 -139 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure is 80-89 mm Hg. The stage 2 hypertension is defined as having systolic blood pressure higher than 140 mm Hg and diastolic pressure higher than 80 mm Hg (but not more than 100 mm Hg). Here's everything you need to know about hypertension.
So if you have high blood pressure or if your family member is hypertensive, does the reading change? Do you need to take antihypertensive medicines even if your blood pressure is 130/80 m Hg (which was considered normal earlier)? Well, before you start worrying, here are few things you need to know before blindly believing the study when it comes to Indians. Also read there is no perfect blood pressure reading plus other facts about hypertension.
Firstly, If you have clearly read the study, you will now that the study participants are from the US. As the study was not done on Indians, extrapolating the conclusions on Indians is not a reliable method. So think twice before you believe the research studies that are not done in India or done on Indians as the results might not be the same.
Secondly, there have been cases when the studies are funded by renowned pharmaceutical companies to up the sale of a particular drug. So if you are ever So before you tend to believe the reports always read the research study in detail about who has funded the study. If you do not know how to read and interpret the findings, it is wise to ask your family doctor about the same to help you know about the statistics in a better way.
Thirdly, with the brief knowledge of health and medicine that I have, normal blood pressure reading might not be the same for all. If you have any comorbid conditions like diabetes, heart disease or obesity, then a reading of 130/80 mm Hg, which is considered normal for others might be high for you. Also, if your blood pressure reading is 130/80 mm Hg all your life and you didn't have any health problems due to it, then that could be your normal blood pressure reading. So talk to your doctor in detail about your blood pressure before calling your doctor to increase your dose of medications. Here are warning signs of high blood pressure you should NEVER ignore.
Reference: 1. Goff DC Jr, Lloyd-Jones DM, Bennett G, Coady S, D'Agostino RB, Gibbons R, Greenland P, Lackland DT, Levy D, O'Donnell CJ, Robinson JG, Schwartz JS, Shero ST, Smith SC Jr, Sorlie P, Stone NJ, Wilson PW, Jordan HS, Nevo L, Wnek J, Anderson JL, Halperin JL, Albert NM, Bozkurt B, Brindis RG, Curtis LH, DeMets D, Hochman JS, Kovacs RJ, Ohman EM, Pressler SJ, Sellke FW, Shen WK, Smith SC Jr, Tomaselli GF; American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. 2013 ACC/AHA guideline on the assessment of cardiovascular risk: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2014 Jun 24;129(25 Suppl 2):S49-73. doi: 0.1161/01.cir.0000437741.48606.98. Epub 2013 Nov 12. Erratum in: Circulation. 2014 Jun 24;129(25 Suppl 2):S74-5. PubMed PMID: 24222018.
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