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Doctors fail older patients

Americans over 60 years old with high blood pressure are less likely to receive advice from their doctors on managing health through lifestyle, compared to younger patients.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina analyzed data from over 28,500 adults with high blood pressure to find the disparity.

Lead author of the study Dr Viera said, "Lifestyle modification advice should always be the doctor's first step in treating a patient with high blood pressure, and this advice should not be abandoned at any point, in any group of hypertension patients."

The study showed that patients with hypertension received advice on a number of lifestyle factors including:

• eating habits
• reducing alcohol
• exercise advice
• reducing salt intake
• medications advice

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