After considering new studies and the controversies resulting from the JNC 8
guidelines, in 2017, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart
Association (ACC/AHA) produced new hypertension guidelines for diagnosis and
treatment of hypertension. The new definitions lower the thresholds for a
diagnosis of hypertension. This increases in the proportion
of adults in the U.S. defined as having hypertension from 32% to 46% and a substantial
31 million more adult Americans (to a total of more than100 million) being
defined as hypertensive. Most of those newly categorized as being hypertensive
will be advised to treat their condition by adopting a healthier lifestyle, but about
4.2 million more Americans will be advised to use drugs to treat their hypertension.
The guidelines recommend optimizing lifestyle and especially if cardiovascular disease is present, treatment for those with stage 1 or higher hypertension.
ACC/AHA Guidelines for Diagnosis of Hypertension
Elevated (formerly prehypertension) Systolic blood pressure (SBP) 120-129 or Diastolic BP 80-89
Stage 1 hypertension, SPB 130-139 or DBP 80-89
Stage 2 hypertension, SBP 140 or higher or DBP 90 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis, SBP 180 or higher and/or DBP 120 or higher
This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel
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