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New hypertension guidelines released

New Canadian guidelines are a warning to those people with 'high-normal' blood pressure.

The new guidelines suggest to treat people early to help prevent those with high-normal blood pressure from developing full-blown high blood pressure.

Guidelines

The new guidelines were released on the Heart and Stroke Foundation website.

Dr Sheldon Tobe from the Heart and Stroke Foundation said, "This is the first year we have focused on the significance of high-normal blood pressure. Now we're saying, let's prevent hypertension from occurring. It's a big step forward."

High-normal blood pressure is considered a blood pressure reading of 130-139/85-89 mm Hg. It is not high enough to necessarily require medication in people who do not have diabetes or kidney disease.

However, Dr Tobe added, "It is time for doctors to take the next step: to recognize the risks of high-normal blood pressure and treat it before it develops into high blood pressure."

Dr Tobe also said, "People with blood pressure in the high-normal range have double the risk of heart disease and stroke compared to those with normal blood pressure."

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