A New, Normal Blood Pressure

Thursday, September 04, 2003

ROCHESTER, Minn. — What used to be considered a normal blood pressure reading is now a category called prehypertension. The September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter explains recent changes in blood pressure guidelines.

In May 2003, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute released stricter guidelines for high blood pressure. That's because research shows that having blood pressure readings at the old normal or high-normal ranges increase your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Your blood pressure is the force exerted on your artery walls by blood flowing through your body. Measuring it is important, primarily because elevated blood pressure puts extra stress on your arteries and heart. Over time, high blood pressure may cause your arteries to become injured or damaged — or it may overwork your heart. An overworked heart may wear out, losing the strength to effectively pump blood and contributing to other serious cardiovascular concerns.

The new guideline lowers normal to below 120/80 mm Hg, which was the old optimum level. A new category, called prehypertension, covers a systolic range of 120 to 139 mm Hg and diastolic range of 80 to 89 mm Hg. (Systolic pressure, the first number in your blood pressure reading, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The second number, diastolic pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries between beats.)

If you're in the prehypertension range, you're at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The risk increases steadily the higher your blood pressure is within the prehypertension range. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure into the normal range. It works best if you can make two or more lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, reducing salt intake, getting more active, limiting alcohol and stopping smoking.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Carol Lammers
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511(evenings)
email: newsbureau@mayo.edu

Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville
Erik Kaldor
904-953-2299

Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale
Anne Tewksbury
480-301-4368

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll-free 800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.

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