What Counts as High Blood Pressure?

Think you have a healthy blood pressure reading? Think again. According to new blood pressure guidelines released by the American Heart Association around half of US adults fall into the "unhealthy" range.

The new guidelines were announced in November and represent the first major update since 2003. Drawing on modern research, they redefine the definition of high blood pressure. The researchers stress that instead of a single reading, results should be gathered using the average of two or three readings taken on two or more different occasions.

The new 130/80 benchmark

So what's changed? Basically, blood pressure readings measure systolic pressure. This indicates how much pressure blood is placing on the walls of the arteries as the heart beats. Diastolic pressure is also factored in, which measures the level of force when the heart is resting between beats.

In the past 140/90 was considered high, which indicates systolic pressure of 140 millimetres or higher and diastolic pressure of 90 millimetres or higher. This placed around one in three American adults in the "hypertension" category. Now, new guidelines classify 130/80 as an "unhealthy" range. This means that in the US alone around 103 million people fall into a high-risk category. It represents a huge 31 million increase, which means hypertension is now diagnosable in 46% of US adults. With almost half of US adults now on the risk spectrum, hypertension can be classified as a nationwide health crisis.

Experts stress "lower is better”

The results were quickly published in Hypertension and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, with lead author of the guidelines Paul Whelton commenting, “It’s very clear that lower is better.”

He goes on to assert that the updated recommendations “will improve the cardiovascular health of our adult community in the United States."

As well as highlighting the importance of preventing hypertension, the new guidelines will open up new doors for treatments and medication.

Robert Carey, a co-author of the new guidelines explains that the new approach “will help target the medication to the people who stand to benefit the most.” He also stresses that beyond medication, the absolute best way to combat high blood pressure is to actively improve diets and increase physical activity across America.

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