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New guidelines published for managing high blood pressure
Posted By Howard LeWine, M.D. On December 18, 2013 @ 4:54 pm In Heart Health,Hypertension and Stroke | Comments Disabled
When it comes to your “health numbers,” your two blood pressure values are important to know—and keep under control. But experts have different opinions about what optimal blood pressure control. It’s good to go back and review the high blood pressure guidelines for adults released in 2013.
Millions of Americans have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. It is the most common risk factor for heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure can also lead to kidney failure, aneurysm (weakening or bulging of blood vessel walls), damaged blood vessels in the eyes, and vascular dementia (the second leading cause of memory loss and thinking problems). Unfortunately, barely half of Americans with high blood pressure have it under control.
First, some background information. Blood pressure is the force exerted on the arteries by a wave of blood propelled from the heart. It is given as two numbers, each measurement recorded in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), like 122/78. Systolic pressure (the top number of a blood pressure reading) gauges the pressure in the arteries at systole (SIS-tuh-lee), the instant when the heart contracts and pushes a wave of blood along the arterial tree (think “s” for squeeze). Diastolic pressure (the bottom number of a blood pressure reading) is the pressure during diastole (die-AS-tuh-lee), the brief period of relaxation between beats.
What the 2103 guidelines failed to specify is what is “normal” blood pressure and what is high blood pressure. I continue to stick with the current standard definitions:
In a nutshell, here is what was recommended:
The expert panel that put together the guidelines also weighed in on how best to get to these targets. It recommended that everyone with high blood pressure, as well as those in the gray zone between normal and high blood pressure, adopt healthy lifestyle changes known to control blood pressure. These include losing weight if necessary, limiting salt intake, eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and keeping physically active.
When drug therapy is needed, the guidelines recommend starting with slightly different medications depending on race. For nonblacks, including those with diabetes, it’s okay to start with an ACE inhibitor, angiotensin-receptor blocker, calcium-channel blocker, or thiazide-type diuretic. Among blacks, including those with diabetes, a calcium-channel block or thiazide-type diuretic is the best initial medication. Among individuals with declining kidney function, it’s best to start with a low dose of an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin-receptor blocker, since these types of medications help protect the kidneys from further damage.
The previous set of blood pressure guidelines, published 10 years ago, were put together by a panel assembled by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and carried the gravitas of a federal recommendation. The current panel was assembled by the NHLBI in 2008, but then was essentially cut loose when the institute announced it was getting out of the business of developing clinical practice guidelines.
The panel set out to base their guidelines only on data from randomized controlled trials, the gold standard of medical research. They openly acknowledged that this wasn’t possible, and instead had to base some of the recommendations on expert opinion. The recommendations are sure to draw criticism and create some controversy. To their credit, the panelists have said they would share all of the prepublication comments and communications between experts within and outside the panel.
I applaud the panelists for what they have accomplished. This was an incredibly difficult task.
Although the new guidelines address an area of controversy—how low should blood pressure go—they don’t change the basics:
Know your blood pressure. Take advantage of any chance you have to get your blood pressure checked. For example, many pharmacies have blood pressure devices that you can use for free. Or consider using a home blood pressure monitor.
Consider high blood pressure to be a reading of 140/90 or greater. If you have high blood pressure, you need to act. This might mean just getting another couple readings in the next few weeks. If it is much above 140/90, call your doctor’s office to arrange an appointment soon.
Lifestyle changes are important. Since our lifestyles are often what lead to high blood pressure, changes can help control blood pressure. Key places to focus are getting more exercise, improving diet, losing weight if needed, not smoking, and reducing stress.
Tailor treatment to your needs. No matter what the guidelines say, your blood pressure treatment and goals should be tailored to you personally. For example, a very old and frail person is more likely to feel better and have less fall risk with fewer medications and a blood pressure higher than 150 or even 160.
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