Advice would put fewer Americans on blood pressure meds
Fewer older Americans would take blood pressure medications under new guidelines published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects 78 million American adults. Only about half have their blood pressure under control.
Current guidelines define high blood pressure as above 140/90 millimeters of mercury. Doctors now advise patients to take medications and make lifestyle changes — such as exercising, losing weight and consuming less salt — with the goal of getting their blood pressure under this level.
While the new guidelines continue to recommend a blood pressure reading of under 140/90 for people ages 30 to 59, they suggest putting people age 60 and over on drugs only if their blood pressure is at least 150/90.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/18/new-guidelines-on-blood-pressure/4077085/
danelabonte 