In its simplest meaning, the force exerted by the circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels is “Blood Pressure (BP)”. The term ‘blood pressure’ generally refers to the arterial pressure, the pressure in the larger arteries. The highest pressure in the arteries is known as the “Systolic Pressure” and the lowest pressure in the arteries is known as the “Diastolic Pressure”.

Age is directly related with many problems and blood pressure is one of these. Age normally brings many changes in lifestyle, body functions, and other aspects. As we get older the blood pressure also increases like the cholesterol. At the same time people are getting fatter. Blood pressure is also an important risk factor for heart attacks like cholesterol. Now the evidences shows that like cholesterol the level of blood pressure considered being normal should be brought down from the normal level.

“Blood Pressure” levels are expressed in a relative, ratio based expression which demonstrates the “Systolic Pressure/ Diastolic Pressure” relationship. The 120/80 readings of blood pressure was considered as normal and it was the ideal blood pressure. The readings 135/88 were thought to be as fine. But it is always good to keep the blood pressure lower to the normal 120/80 and the reading 135/88 is too high blood pressure.

The previously considered normal blood pressure is not the ideal one anymore according to the new ‘hypertension guidelines’ in 2004 published by the ‘National Heart, Lung and Blood institute’. According to these guidelines when the systolic pressure is above 115 mmHg and the diastolic pressure increases above 75 mmHg, the risk of heart and strokes increases. Similarly, the risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases doubles for every 20mmHg increase in systolic pressure or 10mmHg increase in diastolic pressure. A large number of people with readings 120-139 over 80-89 as “prehypertensive” which indicates that some action is needed not necessarily drugs to bring those readings down, defined by the new guidelines.

According to lot of physicians, mostly the hypertension experts are giving too much of stress on the hypertension. Contrary to the common beliefs, several researches conducted by many hypertension experts show that the aggressive guidelines are correct as it happened in the case of cholesterol.

In 1991 patients with coronary artery disease and all of them with “normal” blood pressure were tested with two different drugs in 2004, says one of these studies. At the beginning of the two year study the average blood pressure was 129/78 mmHg.
The patients were assigned randomly to get a calcium blocker drug (amlodipine, also known as Norvase) or an ACE inhibitor (enalapril, also known as Vasotec) or a placebo. Systolic pressure lowered by about 5mmHg and diastolic pressure lowered by 2.5mmHg using both drugs.

Cardiovascular complications has seen in 23% of the patients took placebo when compared to the 17% of the patients who received amlodipine and 20% of the patients who received ‘enalapril’ during the two years of follow-up.

The findings on atherosclerosis in the patients’ coronary arteries were of special interest. In patients who received placebo, the atherosclerosis has progressed but those who had received either blood pressure lowering drug, the atherosclerosis does not show any progress.

The study on blood pressure gets more importance because it indicates that blood pressure levels set by us are not low enough. The importance of setting low level is stressed as it has not been possible to even bring people with diagnosed hypertension with in the range of 140/90.

Through the use of medications and without causing any side effects most people can lower their cholesterols today. But this is not easy in the case of reducing blood pressure. Before people get dizzy, the blood pressure can be pushed to low and possibly even pass out. When the systolic pressure goes below 80-90, most people started to get symptoms like these. Only a few patients with hypertension have blood pressures anywhere near the range.

The main message to bring blood pressure under control like cholesterol is that the patients and the doctors have to work hard. Blood pressure drugs become more effective through weight loss, regular exercise and diet rich in fruits and vegetables with less salt. Choices of medications are plenty for blood pressure. But choose the right drug and the one that work for the body of a patient and have to take every day. It is also evident at the same time that a change in lifestyle and diet pattern along with the regular physical exercise would be helpful in keeping blood pressure under controllable limits as the age increases.

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