Some people think that the older they are, the higher blood pressure can be tolerated. If they add 80 to their age, they think this is a tolerable blood pressure range, so they don’t care. Some people usually have blood pressure exceeding 160. This kind of thinking and practice is very dangerous ,and should take medicine on time as prescribed by the doctor.
Hypertension is also known as the ‘invisible killer’. On average, 1 in 4 adults suffers from hypertension. Patients are often exposed to risks without knowing them. A normal person’s systolic blood pressure should be less than 120 mmHg and Diastolic blood pressure should be less than 80 mmHg (both must meet the standard), if the systolic blood pressure measured exceeds 140 mmHg or the diastolic blood pressure exceeds 90 mmHg, it is high blood pressure, and if it is in the middle, it is called a little high blood pressure or prehypertension.
According to the latest standards in Europe and the United States, the average blood pressure at home exceeds 135/85 mmHg (Europe) or 130/80 mmHg (United States), that is, high blood pressure. The Taiwan Society of Hypertension and the Society of Cardiac Medicine recommend that the basic ‘722 principles’ should be followed when measuring blood pressure: 7 days a week, 2 times a day in the morning and evening, 2 times each time (1-minute interval between each time), if there is arrhythmia, need to measure three times each time.
In terms of secondary prevention of blood pressure control standards, blood pressure should be controlled below 130/80 mm Hg, and some high-risk groups must even more strictly control systolic blood pressure below 120 mmHg unless it is primary prevention or recent stroke patients, are controlled below 140/90 mmHg, but if there are patients taking anticoagulants, it is maintained below 130/80 mmHg.
As for whether the blood pressure control of the elderly should be so strict, recent studies have found that if the blood pressure is controlled at 110-130 mmHg compared to 130-150 mmHg, it is found that strict blood pressure control can reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by nearly 30%.
With diet and exercise, you don’t have to take medicine for a lifetime
In addition, do you have to take blood pressure medicine for a lifetime? The key depends on whether one’s own living habits and diet can be effectively adjusted. The guidelines suggest that every 1 gram of sodium intake can be reduced by an average of 2.5 mmHg; every 1 kg of weight loss can reduce systolic blood pressure by 1 mmHg; A diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat can reduce systolic blood pressure by 10-12 mmHg; regular exercise can reduce systolic blood pressure by 3-7 mmHg; reducing alcohol intake can reduce systolic blood pressure by 2-4 mmHg; quit smoking to maintain blood pressure stable and less floating. If the more goals that can be achieved, when blood pressure falls within a reasonable range, it may not be necessary to take medicines for a lifetime.