New European High Blood Pressure Guidelines
- The European Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Cardiology have come out with new guidelines for the management of high blood pressure.
- In patients with diabetes, the lower blood pressure should be kept below 85 mm Hg
- The new recommendation is that all blood pressure patients should be treated to keep the upper blood pressure lower than 140 mm Hg.
- In patients with diabetes, the lower blood pressure should be kept below 85 mm Hg
- In patients younger than 80 years, the upper blood pressure can be kept 140-150 mm Hg
- Blood pressure higher than 140/90 increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- The salt recommendation is 5 to 6 gram per day.
- Reducing salt to 5 gram per day can reduce upper blood pressure by up to 2 mmHg in normal persons and 4 to 5 mmHg in patients with high blood pressure.
- Loosing 5 kg of weight can reduce upper blood pressure (systolic) by 4 mmHg.
- Regular aerobic exercise training in high blood pressure patients can reduce upper blood pressure by 7 mmHg.
- Drug therapy should be started typically within a few weeks if diet and exercise are ineffective in higher-risk patients. Low or moderate risk patients may be given a trial of lifestyle modifications for few months.
