About 70 percent of U.S. adults 65 and older have high blood pressure, but many do not know they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hypertension is one of the primary modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) disease and its prevalence and severity both increase with age. According to the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 70% of adults ≥65 years have hypertension.
ELDERLY BLOOD PRESSURE RANGES
Recently, the American Heart Association (AHA) updated their guidance to indicate that people age 65 and older should ideally have a blood pressure reading lower than 130/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). The first number (systolic) measures artery pressure when the heart is pumping.
The previous guidelines set the threshold at 140/90 mm Hg for people younger than age 65 and 150/80 mm Hg for those ages 65 and older. This means 70% to 79% of men ages 55 and older are now classified as having hypertension.
While only 25% of men ages 35 to 44 have high blood pressure, 64% of men from age 65 to 74, do. Women suffer from the condition at similar rates, but surpass men after age 75.
Rates of High Blood Pressure Control Vary by Sex and Race
Uncontrolled high blood pressure is common; however, certain groups of people are more likely to have control over their high blood pressure than others. A greater percentage of men (50%) have high blood pressure than women (44%).
It's important to remember that high blood pressure is not usually a death sentence. As long as you're regularly working with your doctor on treatment and managing your blood pressure levels, you will likely live a long life. This includes making significant changes to your health and lifestyle for the better.
The ideal blood pressure for seniors is now considered 120/80 (systolic/diastolic), which is the same for younger adults. The high blood pressure range for seniors starts at hypertension stage 1, spanning between 130-139/80-89.
Even if you do not have hypertension by age 55 to 65, your lifetime risk for developing it is a whopping 90 percent. “But doctors no longer consider hypertension inevitable or untreatable with age,” says Samuel Durso, M.D., director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at Johns Hopkins.
Data from the Framingham Heart Study show that over 90% of middle-aged people will eventually develop high blood pressure, and at least 60% will go on to take medications to lower blood pressure.
According to the Heart Foundation of Australia, as a general guide: blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg can be classified as 'optimal'; blood pressure between 120/80 and 129/84 mmHg is 'normal'; and. blood pressure between 130/85 and 139/89 mmHg is classified as 'high-normal'.
Blood pressure has a daily pattern. Usually, blood pressure starts to rise a few hours before a person wakes up. It continues to rise during the day, peaking in midday. Blood pressure typically drops in the late afternoon and evening.
Take it first in the morning before eating or taking any medications. Take it again in the evening. Each time you measure, take two or three readings to make sure your results are the same. Your health care provider might recommend taking your blood pressure at the same times each day.
About 70 percent of U.S. adults 65 and older have high blood pressure, but many do not know they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Causes of High Blood Pressure
Lack of physical activity. High-sodium diet. Heavy alcohol consumption (more than 1 to 2 drinks per day)
Elderly blood pressure range for men and women
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) updated their guidelines in 2017 to recommend men and women who are 65 or older aim for a blood pressure lower than 130/80 mm Hg.
Normal blood pressure: generally less than 120/80 mmHg that is, systolic blood pressure less than 120 and diastolic blood pressure less than 80 mmHg). Normal to high blood pressure: between 120/80 and 140/90 mmHg. High blood pressure: 140/90 mmHg or higher.
While both numbers in a blood pressure reading are essential for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure, doctors primarily focus on the top number, also known as systolic pressure.
Most of the time, blood pressure medicines do not cause side effects. Some people have mild side effects, including dizziness, headaches, swelling in the legs or feet, or stomach problems.
It's All About Lifestyle Change
It probably just means its working! W – Manage a healthy weight: Make changes to your diet and activity level – even a small amount will help! D – Eat a healthy diet: Start by adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet. S – Stop smoking and manage stress.
Anxiety doesn't cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in blood pressure.
About 9 out of 10 Americans will develop high blood pressure during their lifetime because blood pressure tends to rise as we get older. And women are about twice as likely as men to develop high blood pressure during their lifetime. Black people develop high blood pressure more often than most other races.
Blood Pressure Cuff Placement
If the cuff is too small, it can add 2 to 10 points to your bp measurement. Be sure to roll up your sleeve for a blood pressure test and also let your doctor know if the cuff feels too tight around your arm.
For 30% of them, the systolic pressure—the first number of a blood pressure reading—was 5 mm Hg or more different from the office reference measurement. The diastolic pressure (second number) was similarly inaccurate. "In one patient, the pressure was off by 21 mm Hg," Dr. Hiremath says.