Blood pressure question

BenEadir

For someone to have prehypertension do both the systolic and diastolic readings have to be in the respective ranges (if the diastolic reading is 81 – 89 mmHg and systolic reading is 121 – 139 mmHg) or does prehypertension exist if one of the readings is in the prehypertension range but the other is in the normal range e.g. 131 systolic and 71 diastolic?

exgp

BenEadir wrote: »

For someone to have prehypertension do both the systolic and diastolic readings have to be in the respective ranges (if the diastolic reading is 81 – 89 mmHg and systolic reading is 121 – 139 mmHg) or does prehypertension exist if one of the readings is in the prehypertension range but the other is in the normal range e.g. 131 systolic and 71 diastolic?

I would be absolutely delighted if my BP was 131/71. That is perfectly normal.

Taco Chips

Usually a diagnosis of hypertension is made when there is a sustained elevation in blood pressure. i.e, if you go to your doctor's office and your pressure is high and has been persistently so over the last couple of months. Not everyone's BP is going to be 120/80, so the important thing is to know what is normal for you.

BenEadir

I've been on medication for hypertension for over 20 years. It used to be off the scale but lifestyle changes (more exercise less drinking, no salt) mean it's under control. I use a proper Omron arm cuff blood pressure monitor to take readings periodically and it ranges from a systolic reading of 126 to 155 and diastolic from 70 to 90. The average over the last week (8 readings) is 139 over 80 with an average heart rate of 66.

I guess I'll settle for that!!

Gael23

<mod snip>
No medical advice as per forum charter


The diastolic reading is the one that can be most dangerous to have elevated.

gctest50

ryanf1 wrote: »

139/80 is fine.

.

RobFowl

Mod note
Just a quick note here. It's great to see a lively discussion but asking "is my BP ok?" or telling some that theirs is ok is not allowed as per the forum charter and indeed boards.ie guidelines on giving or asking for medical advice.
It's far from the worst thing we see here but I'll have to delete any such comments.
Rob

BenEadir

Sorry Mods, I'm not looking for advice on my BP at all. I consult regularly with my GP for that. I was just curious as to whether both readings had to be in the prehypertension range or just one for the condition criteria to be met.

El_Dangeroso

Isn't pre-hypertension a manufactured disease?

exgp

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Isn't pre-hypertension a manufactured disease?

Personally I have never heard of it before.

Jezek

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Isn't pre-hypertension a manufactured disease?

It's not a disease entity at all . It's a descriptor of a range of peripheral blood pressure reading values.

exgp

exgp wrote: »

Personally I have never heard of it before.

To go further it wold be fair to say that modern life is a pre hypertensive disease.

El_Dangeroso

Jezek wrote: »

It's not a disease entity at all . It's a descriptor of a range of peripheral blood pressure reading values.

Disease is the wrong word. Manufactured risk-factor is more appropriate.

Jezek

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Disease is the wrong word. Manufactured risk-factor is more appropriate.

There seems to be at least some evidence for it as a risk factor. This meta-analysis looked at the association between prehypertension and the risk of stroke.
http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2014/03/12/WNL.0000000000000268.short

El_Dangeroso

Jezek wrote: »

There seems to be at least some evidence for it as a risk factor. This meta-analysis looked at the association between prehypertension and the risk of stroke.
http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2014/03/12/WNL.0000000000000268.short

The literature is rife with studies like that. Although they demonstrated statistical significance, I'd wonder about clinical significance.

Basically has there been a good large study that uses BP meds to establish an NNT to prevent stroke or other event in those with prehypertension?

Only then will we know if it's something worth treating with medication. (though improving BP through lifestyle modification is almost never a bad thing)

Jezek

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

The literature is rife with studies like that. Although they demonstrated statistical significance, I'd wonder about clinical significance.

Basically has there been a good large study that uses BP meds to establish an NNT to prevent stroke or other event in those with prehypertension?

Only then will we know if it's something worth treating with medication. (though improving BP through lifestyle modification is almost never a bad thing)

I agree with you. Luckily I think in Ireland, at least , these people are not being treated with drugs wily-nily. Okay if you have other risk factors then you might get medication for pre-hypertension (and I have seen some clinical studies on this).

If following something like NICE guidelines then you're not giving meds to the pre-hypertensives.

From what i've seen these people are given lifestyle advice.