New guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology recommend earlier treatment to address high blood pressure.
That includes lifestyle changes and medication, to lower those risks of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and dementia.
The update, released Thursday, emphasizes healthy habits such as eating a nutritious, low-sodium diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress.
It also highlights the importance of close blood pressure monitoring before, during and after pregnancy to reduce serious complications like preeclampsia.
A key addition is the use of the PREVENT risk calculator, which estimates a person’s 10- and 30-year risk for cardiovascular disease by factoring in blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney health and other measures.
The tool is designed to help patients and health care providers tailor treatment to individual needs.
“High blood pressure is the most common and most modifiable risk factor for heart disease,” said Dr. Daniel W. Jones, who chaired the writing committee.
He added, "Prevention, early detection and management of high blood pressure are critical to long-term heart and brain health, which means longer, healthier lives.”
Blood pressure categories remain the same as the 2017 guideline:
- Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg
- Elevated blood pressure is 120-129/80 mm Hg
- Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139 mm Hg or 80-89 mm Hg
- Stage 2 hypertension is ≥140 mm Hg or ≥90 mm Hg
