Nearly 50% of Americans have hypertension, a condition caused by high blood pressure. It is the top risk factor for heart disease and stroke, and increases the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
What's more shocking and concerning is that only 1 in 4 people with a history of high blood pressure have the condition under control.Recently, in August this year, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released new guidelines on the prevention and management of hypertension.
These findings and suggestions are based on a comprehensive analysis of literature published over the past 10 years.Below, find the key takeaways from the guidelines as analysed by Dr William Cornwell of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus with The Conversation U.S.What are the key takeaways from the new guidelines?The definition of hypertension has seen a shift in the past few years.
Now, the criteria are stricter and the target blood pressures are lower than before. The criteria depend on the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
While the former, the top number, represents the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart is pumping blood in the body, the latter, the bottom number is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart is relaxing.The new guidelines have removed the category of “prehypertension,” which was defined by a…
Published: September 19, 2025 5:17 pm
Source: The Times of India — Read original