Page 52 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2018

HEALTHY LIVING under pressure
BLOOD
PRESSURE
Beware: 130/80 is the new high in blood pressure
story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Dr. Paul Mullen
For the first time in 14 years, the guidelines have been redefined for high blood pressure. The new high is 130/80, according to the
American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology. With this new definition, almost half — 46 percent — of the U.S. adult population will have high blood pressure or hypertension.
A local physician, Dr. Paul Mullen with Coast Cardiovascular Associates, has practiced medicine 31 years and
is not surprised at the new finding. “We know that cardiovascular risk doubles when your blood pressure goes from 120/80-140/90. Now we have more robust recent studies,”
he said. “Probably 50 percent of the risk for hypertension is genetic and
50 percent is lifestyle. The increase in
much and do not get enough regular exercise.”
The guidelines, which are being published for detection, prevention, management and treatment of high blood pressure, also state that there will be only a small increase in the number of U.S. adults who will require anti hypertensive medication. They will also offer the first comprehensive guidance to physicians on managing adults with high blood pressure
since 2003 and are designed to help people address the potentially deadly condition much earlier.
Additionally, the new guidelines eliminate the category of pre hypertension, which was used for blood pressures with a top number (systolic) beween120-139 or a bottom number (diastolic) between 80-89. People with those readings now
89).
“With the pre hypertension category
we were content to watch and wait and not treat it, but with the new guidelines, if blood pressure is normal elevated or hypertensive, the cardiovascular risk is recognized and treatment can begin,” Mullen said.
The impact of the new guidelines is expected to be greatest among younger people. The prevalence of high blood pressure is predicted to triple among men under age 45 and double among women under age 45. “Guidelines are defining high blood pressure at a lower-level so now
we will attempt to treat with either lifestyle modifications or medication at a younger age,” Mullen said. “ For patients who do not need medication, I recommend a low salt diet, limiting alcohol intake, regular exercise and
diagnosed hypertension is related to patients’ poor lifestyle choices. What this says is we eat too much, drink too
will be categorized as having either elevated (120-129 and less than 80) or stage I hypertension (130-139 or 80-
potassium supplementation.”
Damage to blood vessels begins soon
after blood pressure is elevated,” said
DR. PAUL MULLEN
www.acc.org
American Heart Association
800.242.8721 • www.heart.org
American College of Cardiology
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