It would seem that the only thing that stays the same in life is knowing that things will always change. And so it is with recent expert opinions about blood pressure numbers, and what is considered healthy.
For more than 3 decades, the pharmaceutical giants have pushed Western health care providers to ‘treat’ blood pressure that escapes the boundaries of 140/90, for every age and demographic.
New opinions are published recently, though, that challenge these numbers for one group in particular- the group that comprises the highest rate of prescription medication consumption than any other.
In an online recommendation recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a panel of 17 leading experts on cardiovascular health gave the whole world pause with their new assertions.
For more than 30 years, the standard of what blood pressure numbers were to be considered too high has always been a systolic (top) number of 140 or higher, and diastolic (bottom) number of 90 or higher.
For people under the age of 60, this is still the upper limits of when intervention is needed. However, the panel suggests that millions of people over 60 are likely being over-medicated as their systolic upper limits could actually be 150 instead.
The panel, after reviewing data of thousands of patients over 60, now believes that this older population can actually do fine with blood pressure up to 150/90. The implications being that those whose systolic is less than 150 without medication may be taking dangerous blood pressure medications unnecessarily.
Not only are these medications not needed, they also cause serious side effects that are actually harming your health.
It is unclear based upon the study how many people this new recommendation actually affects, but it is estimated to be in the millions.
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I’m waiting to see how this translates to Federal/State Dept of Transportation CDL licensing health examinations — required to get or retain a CDL driving license. For years, hard-working men and women with slightly elevated BP have been forced to take BP medications and suffer the side effects — some of which are dizziness and related effects that hamper driving: the cautions on these medications even advise against operating machinery — in order to get their CDL licenses. Now, suddenly, the random BP numbers have been changed as far as medical RX is concerned, but not the CDL medication requirements. So Drivers on unnecessary medication (who already knew they didn’t need it) will be forced to continue on medication in order to keep a license? How about drivers over 60? Many in this age group have the safest driving records. Will there be “Special” physicians who now ignore AMA guidelines and continue to prescribe unnecessary BP medication to guys in the big rigs? This is a huge issue. Millions of truck drivers are medicated unnecessarily for this, and they share the highways with everyone else.
Thanks for your educating writeup. I am 60 yrs old. I always suffer some head ache the moment my systolic measurement goes above125. I feel relieved when I go for medication that would bring down my measurement. Letting it reach 150 before I start thinking of my medication will be suicidal.
I am 72 years old and I have had doctors trying to put me on HBP medicines for the last 15 years and I have refused, because during that time, my BP was 135/75. My BP has increased with age, but, I find that unless my BP is a little higher, I don’t feel well. I have lack of energy, feel lethargic and tired. When it gets into 140/80, I feel much better. I have always known it has been the drug companies that have set the standards and unfortunately our doctors go along with it. I had a doctor, who told me unless I take statins, I may die. He said they should be put in the drinking water. I never went back to see him again!!!! We are at the mercy of doctors and drug companies. We need to research, research, research and find what is best for us. It’s our body and we know best!!!!
I am 94 and if my BP gets below 130 I have SOME dizzynes. Feel better when in the 140’s. I still have my liscence and also ride my bike every day
I am 44year how can I know that i have high blood p
Study this subject as I might, one thing I can’t get to the bottom of – what is the significance of the gap between diastolic and systolic readings..? The magic diastolic figure that the industry gives us is 80. I am 77 y.o., and 90% of the time I’m well below that, sometimes in the 60’s. But systolic is another story – they give us 120, but I can never get near that – if I can get in the 140’s I’m over the moon. When I first became aware of the importance of BP more that 50 years ago, one spoke mainly of systolic pressure, and it was “one hundred plus your age” The pharmaciuticals have buried that one, but I suspect that it is far closer to the truth than the myth that a person in his seventies must not exceed 120/80. That would put 95% of that sector of the population in the hands of the medical profession and the pharmacies – wouldn’t they just love that..!
Another unexplained statement that one will hear from time to time is that it is the diastolic figure that is the important one, but I have never seen an explanation. I have nothing to go on, but for what it is worth, I am comfortable if my diastolic figure is under 80 and the systolic figure is less than double it.