100,000 American lives could be saved with improved blood pressure control

improved blood pressure controlA new study has revealed that tighter blood pressure control could save up to 100,000 American lives. Current blood pressure guidelines recommend a systolic reading – the top number – of 140 mm Hg or less. A 2015 study recommends that more lives would be saved if guidelines brought that number down to 120 mm Hg.

The study is known as the SPRINT trial which included adults over the age of 50 with systolic blood pressure readings between 130 to 180 mm Hg. These participants underwent either intensive treatment to reduce systolic blood pressure to 120 mm Hg or standard treatment to bring it to 140 mm Hg.

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The risk of all-cause mortality was reduced by 27 percent in the intensive treatment group, and heart disease mortality was reduced by 43 percent.
Although the results seemed promising, experts around the world are weighing in on the findings. Some suggest that the study is flawed because the doctors were not involved.

The American Heart Association is expected to review the current blood pressure guidelines some time in 2017. It is still unclear whether the new target number will be implemented.

Dr. Carl Pepine, president of the American College of Cardiology, said, “At the present time, I don’t think there’s a strong compelling reason not to shoot for a lower blood pressure target, even in an older patient, knowing this dramatic benefit that can result.”


Author Bio

Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.

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http://newsroom.heart.org/news/lowering-blood-pressures-top-number-could-prevent-100-000-plus-deaths-a-year

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