What was considered high blood pressure 20 years ago?

Many years ago, high blood pressure (hypertension) was defined as a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. However, during the last 20 years, multiple long-term studies have shown that blood pressures higher than 120/80 are linked with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

When did blood pressure ranges change?

In 2017, new guidelines from the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and nine other health organizations lowered the numbers for the diagnosis of hypertension (high blood pressure) to 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and higher for all adults.

What’s the new normal for blood pressure?

A new definition of high blood pressure (hypertension) The guidelines, in a nutshell, state that normal blood pressure is under 120/80, whereas up until Monday, normal was under 140/90. Now, elevated blood pressure (without a diagnosis of hypertension) is systolic blood pressure (the top number) between 120 and 129.

What should a 67 year old blood pressure be?

The ideal blood pressure for seniors is now considered 120/80 (systolic/diastolic), which is the same for younger adults.

Does normal blood pressure change with age?

“As you age, the vascular system changes. This includes your heart and blood vessels. In the blood vessels, there’s a reduction in elastic tissue in your arteries, causing them to become stiffer and less compliant. As a result, your blood pressure increases,” Nakano said.

What is considered high blood pressure in the US?

The guidelines also redefined the various categories of hypertension. It eliminated the category of prehypertension, which had been defined as systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 mm Hg or diastolic pressure (the lower number in a reading) of 80 to 89 mm Hg.

What happens when your blood pressure changes throughout the day?

Your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities. Having blood pressure measures consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure (or hypertension). The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

What happens if your blood pressure is too high?

A 20-point higher systolic blood pressure or a 10-point higher diastolic blood pressure is associated with double your risk of death from a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular complication (like abdominal aortic aneurysm or heart failure).

What do the new blood pressure guidelines mean for You?

“The goal now with the new guidelines is to help people address high blood pressure — and the problems that may accompany it like heart attack and stroke — much earlier.”