Government changes high blood pressure guidelines

Nearly 50 million Americans have high blood pressure, but that number may soon rise since millions of people with blood pressure once considered normal are at risk of hypertension, new government guidelines say.

Until now, ideal blood pressure was considered 120 over 80 or lower; normal was up to 130 over 85. Levels above that were called borderline until patients reached the high blood pressure range--140 over 90 and higher.

But scientists now say damage to arteries from the pressure of blood pounding through them begins to increase at levels as low as 115 over 75, and a small jump to 130 over 85 doubles the risk of death from heart disease. Hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attack and congestive heart failure and kidney damage.

In light of the new findings, the government has reclassified normal blood pressure as lower than 120 over 80. High blood pressure is still defined as 140 over 90 and higher, but levels from 120 over 80 to 139 over 89 are now "prehypertensive." This key change affects some 45 million Americans previously diagnosed with normal or borderline blood pressure, says the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which issued the guidelines.

The new category also could have a major impact on Blacks, since 1 in 3 has high blood pressure, the American Heart Association reports.

People with prehypertension are urged to lose weight if needed, get regular exercise, avoid a salty diet and have no more than two alcoholic drinks to stave off high blood pressure.